So, Antarctica is basically a horrific wasteland where it regularly reaches minus 70 degrees Celsius and where nothing can live except some penguins on the northern sealine. In contrast, the Arctic is pretty cold, at around minus 40. But 30 degrees is a massive difference, and they both get the same amount of sunlight.
So why is the coldest part of Antarctica so much colder than the coldest part of the Arctic?
In: Earth Science
Another thing not pointed out yet is that there is a complete ring of ocean without land between Antarctica and the other continents, whereas Asia, N. America and Europe break up this ring in the Arctic. Having that unbroken ring means there is a fast current going all the way around Antarctica, blocking warmer water from the north from getting to the continent. A similar thing happens with air currents.
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