On Earth, there are hundreds of amazing places whose appearance is amazing. An example of this is the Arctic and Antarctica - large snow-covered territories located at the North and South poles, respectively. They are covered with snow, and the temperature does not rise above zero degrees.
However, while severe frosts are always present in the Antarctic, in the Arctic the climate is warmer and even suitable for some animals. Why does it happen if both territories are located symmetrically on the globe with respect to the sun? And if the climate in them is still different, why is it warmer at the North Pole than at the South?
Why is it cold in the Arctic and Antarctic?
First you need to figure out why, in principle, these places are the coldest on the planet. The temperature in a particular place on Earth depends to a greater extent on two factors: its distance to the Sun and on what angle the sun's rays fall on the surface. The closer to the Sun and to the right angle, the rays fall on the Earth, the warmer.
Since the North and South poles are located at the edges of the Earth, the sun's rays do not fall on them at right angles, as happens at the equator, but only briefly touch the surface.
Given that the radius of the Earth is 6371 km, it is precisely the distance of the poles from the Sun that is greater than that of the equator. It was found that with every kilometer into the atmosphere the temperature changes by 6.5 degrees. It turns out that at the poles the temperature should be about 41 degrees lower than at the equator. That is why these territories have a cold climate and are covered with ice.
Arctic
The Arctic is at the top of the planet, at the North Pole.The nearby islands of the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the upper edges of Eurasia and North America belong to the Arctic.
Interesting fact: the name Arctic came from the Greek word “arctos”, which translates as “bear”.
From the flora in the Arctic there are shrubs, grass, algae and other low plants. These lands are inhabited by polar bears, musk ox, lemmings, foxes, wolves and other animals adapted to the cold climate.
Antarctic
This territory includes the islands of Antarctica and the islands of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans located in this area.
Due to the harsh climate, there are no trees in Antarctica. Mosses, mushrooms and algae grow here. Of living creatures, mainly microorganisms live, which are not afraid of the cold.
Why is the Arctic warmer than the Antarctic?
Earth at the North Pole is warmer than at the South because of the peculiarity of their location on the planet.
Interesting fact: The Antarctic receives 7% more sunlight during the day than the Arctic, but this is not enough to make the climate warmer.
Gulfstream
The first reason the Arctic is warmer is the water sources around the poles. Antarctica is located in the middle of the Southern Ocean, which boasts harsh weather conditions: the coldest winds of the planet walk over it, some areas freeze in the winter months. As for the Arctic, it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, whose average temperature is 10-15 degrees.Moreover, water passes under the glaciers, heating them from the inside.
Height above sea level
The second reason is altitude. Antarctica is located at an altitude of about 2 km due to the thick layer of ice and hills. At the same time, the height of the Arctic above sea level is only a few meters. In this way, The South Pole is 2000 m higher than the North, because of which the average temperature on it is already by default lower by 13 degrees.
The Arctic is warmer than the Antarctic because these lands are 2 km lower than sea level. Being at such a high altitude, Antarctica does not receive enough heat from the planet. Also an additional factor is the Southern Ocean, in the middle of which it is located. These waters have a low temperature and harsh climate, which is transmitted to the glaciers. The Arctic, in turn, is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, whose average temperature is higher than the South.
