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
Being near water, even cold-ass water, moderates your temperature a bit. Cities next to the ocean usually don’t get ultra-hot summers or ultra-cold winters. In the desert, with no water to smooth things out, you broil all day and freeze all night.
The north pole is actually over the Arctic Ocean; when you’re standing there you’re standing on ice with 0^(o)C water underneath. But the south pole is in the middle of a continent, a couple thousand miles from water. Makes a difference.
Latest Answers