Polar Climate Zone
Understand that polar regions belong to the polar climate zone — one of Earth's five main climate zones (tropical, arid, temperate, continental, polar) — characterised by temperatures rarely above 10°C even in summer, low precipitation (polar deserts receive less rain than the Sahara), and strong winds; know that latitude is the key factor determining climate zones, with polar regions above 60°N/S
What a learner can do afterwards
- Name the five main climate zones and place polar regions correctly within them
- State that polar regions are above approximately 60° latitude and explain that distance from the Equator is the main reason they are cold
- Describe polar climate characteristics: rarely above 10°C in summer, very low precipitation, strong winds
The lesson
Earth has five main climate zones: tropical, arid, temperate, continental, and polar. Which zone a place belongs to depends mostly on its latitude, how far north or south it sits from the Equator.
The polar zone covers land and ocean above about 60 degrees latitude, both in the north and the south. That is far from the Equator, so sunlight there hits the ground at a low angle and spreads out over a wide area. Weak, spread-out sunlight is the main reason polar regions stay so cold.
Zara visits the Arctic in July, its warmest month. The thermometer reads 4 degrees C, still below 10. A steady wind blows so hard she leans into it to keep her balance, while only a light dusting of snow has fallen since spring.
To remember the polar zone, think of three words: cold, dry, and windy. It sits farthest from the Equator of all five zones, so it gets the least direct sunlight.
The polar zone is Earth's coldest and driest climate zone, found above about 60 degrees latitude because it is farthest from the Equator's direct sunlight.
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