Antarctica is the coldest continent in the world, holding the record for the lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth. Even more surprisingly, its average temperature is far lower than that of the Arctic. Despite both the Arctic and Antarctica being located at the poles, the Antarctic ice sheet is significantly larger and thicker than the ice found in the Arctic. So, why is Antarctica so much colder than the Arctic? Here are the key reasons behind this extreme cold.
Why Antarctica Is Colder than the Arctic
The temperature difference between Antarctica and the Arctic comes down to several key factors, including geography, altitude, and climate patterns.
1. The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land. The Antarctic is land surrounded by ocean.
Geography plays a crucial role in the stark temperature difference between the two poles. Antarctica is a massive landmass, a continent, surrounded by the Southern Ocean, and covered by a thick ice sheet that reflects much of the sunlight it receives. This reflective quality, known as albedo, causes much of the incoming solar radiation to bounce back into space, preventing significant warming of the continent.
In contrast, the Arctic is not a solid landmass; it is an ocean covered by relatively thin sea ice. The ocean beneath the Arctic ice is quite cold but it is still warmer than the ice, and it acts as a heat reservoir, moderating temperatures and preventing extreme cold from reaching the levels seen in Antarctica.
2. Antarctica’s High Altitude
Altitude is another significant factor contributing to Antarctica’s colder climate. Antarctica is, on average, the highest continent on Earth, with an average elevation of 2,300 meters (7,545 feet). In some regions, such as the South Pole, the elevation reaches as high as 2,834 meters (9,300 feet).
As a general rule, temperature decreases with elevation, which results in Antarctica being much colder than the Arctic, where most of the ice sits at or near sea level. This higher elevation means that Antarctica experiences a significant temperature drop that contributes to its extreme cold, whereas the Arctic’s lower altitude allows for relatively milder temperatures.
3. Antarctica’s Massive Ice Sheet
With an average ice thickness of 2.16 kilometers (about 7,000 feet!), Antarctica’s enormous ice sheet contributes significantly to making it the highest-elevation continent on Earth. The Antarctic ice sheet contains about 90 percent of the world’s ice and holds 70 percent of all the world’s fresh water.
Antarctica is also almost twice the size of Australia, covering an area of 14.2 million km² (5.5 million square miles). This vast ice sheet reflects much of the sunlight, enhancing the continent’s already frigid conditions by limiting the absorption of solar heat.
4. Isolation by Winds and Currents: Why Antarctica Stays Colder
Climate patterns also play a major role in maintaining Antarctica’s extreme cold. The continent is isolated by the powerful circumpolar winds and ocean currents, which create a barrier that prevents warmer air and water from reaching the interior. This phenomenon, known as the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, effectively traps the cold air over the continent.
In contrast, the Arctic is influenced by surrounding landmasses and ocean currents that transport relatively warmer air and water into the region, contributing to milder conditions compared to Antarctica.
5. Antarctica is windier than the Arctic
Antarctica is the windiest continent on Earth, with winds reaching speeds of up to 320 kilometers per hour (200 mph)-faster than a Category 5 hurricane! These extreme winds make the apparent temperature even colder due to windchill, amplifying the already frigid conditions across the continent.
How cold are the Antarctic and Arctic?
The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth was in Antarctica, near Russia’s Vostok Station, at -93.3°C (-135.9°F). According to satellite data, temperatures on the East Antarctic Plateau can even reach nearly -100°C (-148°F) during the Antarctic winter.
In contrast, the lowest temperature in the Northern Hemisphere was recorded on December 22, 1991, at Klinck Automated Weather Station (AWS) in Greenland (72°18’N, 40°28’W, elevation: 3,216 meters or 10,551 feet). The recorded temperature was -69.6°C (-93.3°F).
On average, Antarctica is significantly colder than the Arctic. The average winter temperature in the Arctic (around the North Pole) is about -40°C (-40°F), while in Antarctica (at the South Pole), it is approximately -60°C (-76°F).
Antarctic summers are also colder than Arctic summers. The average temperature during the Antarctic summer is -28.2°C (-18°F) at the South Pole, while the Arctic summer temperature at the North Pole averages around 0°C (32°F).
Related: Interesting Antarctica facts
Sources
- Why is Antarctica colder than the Arctic? on the Aurora Expeditions website
- Which pole is colder? on the NASA Climate Kids website
- “Northern Hemisphere: Lowest Temperature” on the Arizona State University website
- Why is the South Pole colder than the North Pole? on the Scientific American website
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