Task: Question Answering
Input (English): Background Paragraph: East Antarctica is colder than its western counterpart because of its higher elevation. Weather fronts rarely penetrate far into the continent, leaving the centre cold and dry. Despite the lack of precipitation over the central portion of the continent, ice there lasts for extended periods. Heavy snowfalls are common on the coastal portion of the continent, where snowfalls of up to 1.22 metres (48 in) in 48 hours have been recorded. 
Story: Two teams of scientists were in Antarctica to study the weather. Camp Alpha was located in East Antarctica, while camp Omega was situated in West Antarctica. 
Question: Which camp observed that ice there lasts for extended periods?
Output (English): Alpha.