The Arctic vs. the Antarctic - Camille Seaman

Summary

The Arctic and Antarctic are Earth's two polar regions, each with distinct characteristics. The Arctic, a frozen ocean surrounded by land, is home to polar bears but no penguins, while Antarctica, a continent encased in ice, is inhabited by penguins but no polar bears. The Arctic experiences extreme cold, with temperatures as low as -40°C, but remains milder due to its oceanic environment. Antarctica, the coldest, driest, and windiest continent, is more extreme, with temperatures plunging to -89°C. Both poles play a crucial role in regulating the planet's climate, affecting weather patterns worldwide.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Arctic is in the Northern Hemisphere and consists of an ocean surrounded by land, while the Antarctic is a continent in the Southern Hemisphere surrounded by ocean.
• 😀 The Arctic has polar bears but no penguins, while the Antarctic has penguins but no polar bears.
• 😀 The Arctic region is defined by the Arctic Circle and the North Pole, with conditions including ice-covered seas and permafrost.
• 😀 At the North Pole, standing there would mean facing south in all directions, as it's surrounded by shifting sea ice.
• 😀 The average winter temperature in the Arctic can be as low as -40°C, and the coldest recorded temperature is -68°C.
• 😀 Despite extreme cold, humans have lived in the Arctic for thousands of years, and various life forms, including zooplankton, fish, birds, and mammals, survive there.
• 😀 Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent and contains the South Pole, with almost 98% of its land covered by ice.
• 😀 Antarctica is the coldest, windiest, driest, and highest-elevation continent, and is considered a desert due to very little precipitation.
• 😀 The coldest recorded temperature in Antarctica is -89°C, and no permanent human residents live there, though research stations host temporary personnel.
• 😀 Antarctica is colder than the Arctic due to its higher elevation, lack of warming ocean water beneath the ice, and its positioning during Earth’s aphelion in July, when the Earth is farthest from the Sun.
• 😀 Both the Arctic and Antarctic regions play crucial roles in regulating global climate and weather. As the Arctic’s sea ice diminishes due to climate change, global weather patterns become more unstable.

Q & A

What is the main difference between the Arctic and the Antarctic?

The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land, while the Antarctic is a continent surrounded by ocean. The Arctic has polar bears but no penguins, and the Antarctic has penguins but no polar bears.

Why is it difficult to stand at the North Pole for long periods?

The North Pole is located in the middle of an ocean covered by constantly shifting frozen sea ice, which makes it hard to maintain a stable position there for long.

What is the depth of the water beneath the ice at the North Pole?

The water beneath the ice at the North Pole is approximately 13,980 feet deep.

How cold can the Arctic region get during winter?

During winter, the average temperatures in the Arctic can drop as low as -40 degrees Celsius, and the coldest recorded temperature is approximately -68 degrees Celsius.

What is Antarctica's primary characteristic in terms of land and climate?

Antarctica is Earth's southernmost continent, nearly entirely covered by ice (about 98%) with an average temperature that makes it the coldest, driest, and windiest continent.

How does the climate in Antarctica compare to the Arctic?

Antarctica is much colder than the Arctic because it is a landmass at a higher elevation, whereas the Arctic is an ocean. The higher elevation in Antarctica causes colder temperatures, and the ice there is thicker.

Why is Antarctica considered a desert despite its ice coverage?

Antarctica is considered a desert because it receives very little precipitation—only about 200 millimeters annually along the coast, and even less inland, making it one of the driest places on Earth.

Why is the Arctic not as cold as Antarctica?

The Arctic is not as cold as Antarctica because the Arctic is a frozen ocean, and the water beneath it remains warmer than the land under Antarctica, which prevents temperatures from dropping as low.

What makes Antarctica's climate especially harsh during the Southern Hemisphere's winter?

During the Southern Hemisphere's winter, Antarctica experiences its coldest conditions when Earth is farthest from the Sun (aphelion), which contributes to the extremely cold temperatures.

How do the polar regions affect global climate and weather patterns?

The polar regions help moderate temperatures in the temperate zones and contribute to stable weather patterns. However, as sea ice in the Arctic declines due to climate change, weather patterns worldwide become more unstable.