Why Are the North & South Poles So Cold?

Typical weather at the North and South Poles.

Whenever you think about the weather and temperature at the North or South Pole, it is going to be cold. That is not an accident or a coincidence. The cold weather is due to factors that make the cold temperatures inevitable. It is only a question of how low the temperature will be at a given time of year.

Location

Location of the North Pole and Arctic Circle.

According to Windows to the Universe, when you think about the North or South Pole you may be tempted to think only of one specific spot on the planet, that is the exact top or bottom of the Earth. That would be the technically correct answer; however, it may be more helpful to consider the area inside the Arctic Circle for the location of the North Pole and the area inside the Antarctic Circle for the location of the South Pole.

Lack of Sunlight

The sun is not enough to warm the poles.

An article posted on Mad Scientist Network by a National Weather Service officer cites location as one of the factors affecting temperatures at the poles. Due to the fact that they are so far from the equator, they get very little or no sun during a significant part of the year, making those regions very cold. When they do get sunlight, it is not enough to make up for the cold.

Reflection

Reflection keeps the poles cold.

Mad Scientist Network notes that when the light from the sun reaches the Earth, how much of it warms the Earth depends on what the surface of the Earth is like. Some areas with trees and dirt absorb the sun's heat. At the North and South Poles, the ice reflects the sunlight back into the atmosphere; thus, the warming effect is lost. The result is cold temperatures year-round.

Lack of Warm Water

Cold ocean water keeps the poles cold.

Many locations on the Earth--including England and Seattle, Washington--are kept relatively warm by ocean waters. Mad Science Network notes that there are no warm ocean waters near either the North or South Pole; the result is there is no warming effect. Both poles are surrounded by cold ocean water that just never warms up.

Geography

There is no land to capture the energy of the sun.

The South Pole is much colder than the North Pole. According to LiveScience, the average temperature in the Antarctic region is a minus 56 degrees Fahrenheit, while at the opposite end of the globe, the average temperature is minus 29 degrees Fahrenheit. In the summer months, it does warm up at the North Pole; the same cannot be said for the southern polar region. The reason for the cold is directly related to the geography of the areas. There are no trees and other vegetation to capture the sun's energy and warm the area. What little sunlight that is received is lost.

References

• LiveScience: North vs. South Poles
• Mad Scientist Network: Why are poles the coldest on earth
• Windows to the Universe: Earth's Polar Regions

Resources

• Antarctic Connection: Weather