Global Climate - Polar

General Characteristics - year round low temperature (average temperature of the warmest month is below 10°C (50°F))

Extent - northern coast areas of North America and Eurasia; Greenland and Antarctica

Major types: -

• polar tundra (ET)
  • ground is permanently frozen to depths of hundreds of meters - called permafrost
  • meager annual precip
  • very cool summers - low sun angle
  • extremely cold winters
  • example for Barrow, Alaska
• polar ice caps (EF)
  • average temperature for each month is below freezing
  • interior ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica
  • very meager precip - no moisture
  • example for Eismitte, Greenland