Physical Factors (Polar Regions)

• Where are polar regions located?

  North and South poles (at latitudes 60 degrees North and South).
• What is the climate like in the Polar regions?

  It is very cold having temperatures around -40 to 0 C. The South Pole is colder and drier than the North Pole.
• What are the names of the two Polar regions?

  The arctic - North Pole

  The antarctic - South Pole
• Are countries found in the North or South Poles?

  North
• Is the arctic or the antarctic a continent?

  The antarctic
• Land and sea features of the arctic include:

  1. Large areas are in permafrost.
  2. Sea surrounded by land.
  3. Is hospitable.
  4. Most of the sea is frozen.
  5. Some plants include: Lichen, moss, and grasses.
• Land and sea features of the antarctic include:

  1. Is a continent of ice surrounded by sea.
  2. A mountain range crosses the continent.
  3. Is inhospitable.
  4. Some animals live in the less extreme parts such as penguins.
• What is the arctic soil profile?

  1. Active layer: Thaws in the summer, becomes deeper as you move towards the pole.
  2. Permafrost: Permanently frozen all year, layer increases further north.
  3. Bedrock: Low temperatures slowly weathers rocks - leading to less nutrients.