Polar Climate Shapes Our World
Understanding how extreme cold affects geography Grade 6 Geography Exploring Earth's frozen regions
What Are Polar Climates?
Extremely cold temperatures year-round Average temperature below 50°F (10°C) Found at Earth's North and South poles Less than 10 inches of precipitation per year
Where Are Earth's Polar Regions?
Ice Sheets: Giants of Frozen Water
Massive layers of ice covering land Antarctica ice sheet is larger than the United States Greenland ice sheet is 3 times the size of Texas Formed over thousands of years from compressed snow
Arctic vs. Antarctic: Key Differences
{"left":"Arctic Ocean surrounded by land\nHome to polar bears and seals\nIndigenous people live here\nSea ice floats on ocean","right":"Antarctic continent covered by ice\nHome to penguins and whales\nNo permanent human residents\nLand ice up to 3 miles thick"}
Glacier Movement Activity
Use modeling clay to create a 'glacier' Place clay on a tilted board Observe how 'ice' moves downhill slowly Add small rocks to see how glaciers carve valleys
How Polar Ice Affects Sea Levels
Melting ice adds water to oceans Sea levels rise when land ice melts Floating sea ice doesn't change sea level when it melts Climate change is causing faster melting
Think About It: Polar Connections
How might melting polar ice affect your community? What animals depend on polar ice for survival? Why are polar regions important for Earth's climate?
Polar Weather Patterns
Polar highs create cold, dry air masses Cold air sinks and spreads outward Creates blizzards and ice storms Affects weather patterns worldwide
Our Polar Planet
"Polar regions are Earth's climate control centers, regulating temperature and weather patterns that affect every living thing on our planet."