Polar desert
the connection between climate and living conditions in different climate zones;
what is a hot desert;
that in winter plants in the temperate zone are at risk of draught.
to show the location of the Arctic and the Antarctic on the map;
to discuss the characteristics of the polar climate;
to explain the term “polar desert”;
to describe human scientific activity in polar regions.
Polar desert climate and landscape
The regions near both poles are areas that receive the least heat from the Sun. In these regions, beyond the polar circles, there is a polar daypolar day and polar nightpolar night. At the poles themselves, the day and night each last half a year. When one of the poles experiences polar night, the opposite pole experiences polar day.
Polar desertsPolar deserts near both poles are similar in terms of low air temperature and very low rainfall. No plant life can be found on most of these regions’ surface. At poles, air temperature varies from −20°C during the polar day to −80°C during the polar night and never reaches positive values. Temperatures above zero occur only in certain areas of land located near the polar circles – and only during the polar day. Strong winds are common throughout the year, blowing from the poles towards the polar circles.
Precipitation occurs only in the form of snow. Precipitation varies from several hundred mm per annum near the coast, around 100 mm per annum inland, and only 2 mm per annum at the poles. Therefore, these values are lower than in the case of a hot desert! Due to low temperature, the snow does not melt but rather becomes compressed into an increasingly thicker layer, creating an ice sheetice sheet. In Greenland, the ice sheet varies from 2 km up to 3 km in thickness. There’s even more ice on the Antarctic where the ice sheet’s thickness reaches 4–5 km in some places. There’s no mainland near the North Pole, but rather the ocean surface is covered by a several meter thick layer of ice.
Polar stations’ population and activity
Polar regions still remain not fully explored to a large extent. This is primarily due to the rough climate that is extremely unfriendly to humans. The scientific research on the Arctic began only in the 19th century. At present, all countries whose territories are located in the Arctic are conducting climate studies. They also study organisms that live on land, on the surface of drifting ice and in the water under the ice.
The Antarctic was discovered only in the 18th century by European whalers. Journeys towards the South Pole and scientific studies began in the 20th century. During the winter half‑year, it is extremely difficult to provide any form of assistance to researchers who spend the winter at polar stations. In winter, the region is characterised by extremely low temperature, gale force winds and covered in darkness. All land ares are surrounded by a wide zone of drifting ice that makes navigation difficult. Therefore, there is significantly less people in the Antarctic during the winter. At present, there are 82 research stations operating in the Antarctic, of which only 40 is active throughout the year.
In 1959, twelve countries signed the Antarctic Treaty regulating the legal situation of the Antarctic as a continent that cannot be divided betweem any countries. It’s also prohibited to carry out any military activities in the Antarctic. The said Treaty also regulates issues related to environmental protection and scientific research.
Complete the sentences using words from the list.
western, ice sheet, southern, mountainous, land, permafrost, northern, eastern, ocean, lake
The Arctic is a region located in its entirety in the ...................... hemisphere. The greater part of the Arctic is ...................... surface covered by ice. The Antarctic is located in its entirety in the ...................... hemisphere. The greater part of the Antarctic is covered in .......................
Decide if the following statement is true or false.
| True | False | |
| The circumpolar zone is known as the polar desert. | □ | □ |
| Polar desert and ice sheet are the same thing. | □ | □ |
| Polar regions are characterised by subzero temperatures and high precipitation. | □ | □ |
| No scientific research is being conducted in the Arctic. | □ | □ |
Match the pairs: English words with Polish definition.
zjawisko utrzymywania się Słońca przez przynajmniej całą dobę powyżej linii horyzontu, zjawisko utrzymywania się Słońca przez przynajmniej całą dobę poniżej linii horyzontu, rozległa pokrywa lodu przykrywająca duży obszar lądowy; występuje na Antarktydzie i na Grenlandii, obszar pokryty lodem, na którym z powodu niskich temperatur nie występują rośliny
| ice sheet | |
| polar desert | |
| polar day | |
| polar night |
Summary
The polar regions include the Arctic and the Antarctic along with its surrounding islands.
The polar regions are characterised by prevailing subzero temperatures, low rainfall and extremely strong winds.
Polar regions experience polar days and polar nights.
The circumpolar zone is called the polar desert.
Several dozen countries, including Poland, carry out scientific research at polar stations in the Arctic and the Antarctic.
Keywords
polar desert, ice sheet, the Arctic, the Antarctic
Glossary
lądolód – rozległa pokrywa lodu przykrywająca duży obszar lądowy; występuje na Antarktydzie i na Grenlandii
pustynia lodowa – obszar pokryty lodem, na którym z powodu niskich temperatur nie występują rośliny
dzień polarny – zjawisko utrzymywania się Słońca przez przynajmniej całą dobę powyżej linii horyzontu
noc polarna – zjawisko utrzymywania się Słońca przez przynajmniej całą dobę poniżej linii horyzontu