Polar climate or glacial climate is a climate group that defines the climate of regions close to the Earth's poles, characterized by maintaining air temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius in the hottest months of the year.
According to the Koppen-Geiger climate classification, the polar climate (class E) can be divided into three subclimates: polar climate, tundra climate and alpine climate.
- Polar climate: characterized by the monthly average air temperature being below 0 degrees Celsius.
- Tundra climate: temperatures in the warmest months between 0 and 10 degrees Celsius.
- Alpine climate: climates in high altitude regions, with temperatures below 10°C, during the warmer months. It is characterized by having abundant rainfall.
The polar climate is present in some regions of the extreme north of Europe, Canada, northern Alaska, Siberia, Antarctica, Greenland and Scandinavia.
THE vegetation that predominates in this climate is the tundra, while the fauna is mainly formed by seals, polar bears, penguins, elephant seals, blue whales, among others.
Learn more about meaning of tundra.
Another peculiarity of the polar zones is the so-called “midnight sun”, when the sun stays on the horizon for periods of 24 hours during the summer.
During winter, however, the sun does not appear, causing the polar regions to remain in total darkness.
Polar climate characteristics
- It has large daily and annual thermal amplitudes;
- Tundra is the predominant vegetation in some regions with a polar climate (tundra climate);
- Low rainfall (due to low water evaporation);
- Extremely low average temperatures, with highs of -10 degrees Celsius and lows of -50 degrees Celsius;
- Low air humidity;
- Predominance of permanent glaciers (polar ice caps);
- Presence of intense winds.
See also:Tropical weather, equatorial climate and types of weather.
