1. Ice Sheets and Glaciers: The Antarctic ice sheet holds the majority of the world's fresh water. It is the largest single mass of ice on Earth and covers approximately 98% of the Antarctic continent. The ice sheet contains an estimated 30 million cubic kilometers (7.2 million cubic miles) of ice.
2. Ice Shelves: Ice shelves are floating extensions of glaciers that extend out into the ocean from the coastline. They are found along the edges of the Antarctic continent and are made of freshwater ice. Ice shelves are constantly breaking off and calving into icebergs.
3. Subglacial Lakes: There are several subglacial lakes located beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. These lakes are formed by the melting of ice due to the geothermal heat from the Earth's interior. The largest known subglacial lake is Lake Vostok, which has an area of approximately 15,690 square kilometers (6,060 square miles).
4. Meltwater Streams and Rivers: During the short summer months, when temperatures rise slightly above freezing, some surface melting of snow and ice occurs. This meltwater can form streams and rivers that flow towards the coast before refreezing or emptying into the ocean. These meltwater streams are temporary and only exist during the summer season.
5. Atmospheric Moisture: The air in the Antarctic region does contain some moisture in the form of water vapor. However, due to the extremely cold temperatures, this moisture usually remains in the form of ice crystals or snow rather than liquid water.
It is important to note that the Antarctic desert is a dynamic environment and some of these water sources may be subject to change or may be discovered in the future as more research is conducted in the region.
