Characteristics of the Arctic & Antarctica
- The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land and Antarctica is a continent surrounded by ocean
- Most of the Arctic's ice is sea ice, and this varies throughout the year
- Melting Arctic sea ice does not raise sea levels, but Antarctica's melting land ice does cause variation in global sea volume
| Arctic | Antarctica | |
| Location | Region within the Arctic Circle, from 66.5° to 90° north of the Equator | Landmass encompassing the South Pole and mostly south of the Antarctic Circle from 66.5° to 90° south of the Equator |
| Climate |
Fluctuating between 10° C in summer to -40° C in winter Annual precipitation is less than 500mm per year |
Colder than the Arctic with average summer temperatures of -28°C - coastal regions are warmer than the interior but winter temperatures have reached as low as -90°C (Vostok research station) Annual precipitation inland is 50mm and 200mm at the coast |
| Features |
The ocean is surrounded by continents and large islands, with drifting sea pack ice that extends in winter and icebergs. Ice reaches heights of 3m in places Mountainous regions on land, with areas covered in permanent ice and snow Includes the treeless, permafrost, tundra region where only the surface layer of the soil thaws each summer |
Antarctica is a continent covered by a permanent ice cap ice and surrounded by the Antarctic Ocean Mountains up to 3794km high with the Transantarctic Mountains running across the whole continent Ice reaches thicknesses of 4.5km in places In winter, Antarctica almost doubles in size due to freezing seawater |
| Flora |
Arctic region - lichen and mosses Tundra - sedges, grasses, low-growing shrubs and small flowering plants such as the Arctic poppy |
Mostly lichen and some mosses Phytoplankton in the ocean |
| Fauna | Whales, seals, fish, wolves, caribou/reindeer, polar bears and birds such as the Snow Goose - all are specifically adapted to live in the harsh Arctic |
No indigenous terrestrial mammals Penguins, seals and whales rely on the sea for their food and land provides a habitat for breeding |
| Soil |
Thin and poor quality, with very few plants Underlying rock weathers slowly due to low temperatures Permafrost sits below the active layer and remains frozen all year round The active layer melts in the summer months and ranges from 20-100cn To prevent damage to the permafrost, buildings are built on stilts |
Antarctic soils can be loose, soft, and sandy or frozen, hard, and rocky Very little organic matter to support more than mosses or lichens |
Location of the Arctic, Tundra, and Antarctica
- The tundra biome has about 400 varieties of flowers but only 48 different animals
- Plants in the tundra need to adapt to wet summers and dry winters:
- Summer: The top layer of soil thaws producing boggy and waterlogged land
- Winter: Frozen soil and long, dark winters
- Animals need to adapt to cold, dry, snowy conditions, as well as wet summers
Adaptations of Animals and Plants to Cold Environments
| Animal | Plant |
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Some animals hibernate to conserve energy and survive the winter, e.g. Arctic ground squirrels hibernate for 7-8 months of the year and can survive even if their body temperature drops below freezing. |
Most plants become dormant to survive the cold, dark winters |
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Animals are well-insulated e.g. thick fur like polar bears or blubber like seals. This reduces the amount of energy they have to use to keep warm. |
Plants are small and round-shaped to provide protection from the wind. |
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Many birds migrate to warmer areas during winter – Arctic terns live in the Arctic during the northern hemisphere summer and then fly to the Antarctic for the southern hemisphere summer. |
Most plants have shallow roots because the permafrost prevents any further growth. Leaves are generally small, and this limits moisture loss. The Caribou Moss has hollow stems and will become dormant until the next rainfall. |
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Many animals have white coats in winter for camouflage – this helps predators sneak up on prey, and for prey to hide in the snow. Arctic hares are white, which makes them harder for predators to spot against the snow. |
The warmer, wetter summer is very short, so most plants have adapted to a growing season of just 50-60 days. They are very bright and vibrant to attract as many insects as possible for pollination. |
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Many animals have physical adaptations, such as short legs: round, squat bodies: layers of fur and insulating blubber. The Musk Ox grows two layers of fur. Warm air is trapped in the shorter layer. The longer layer is over 60cm long. Its hooves are large and hard, allowing it to break the ice and drink the water beneath. |
Many plants use underground runners or bulbs instead of seeds to reproduce because the growing season is so short. |
