Why is it cold at the North and South poles?

Answer 1

The equator is at 0 degees latitude, the South Pole is at 90 degrees S latitude and the North Pole is at 90 degrees N latitude. As you move away from the equator towards the higher latitudes, sun light must travel further through the earth's atmosphere to reach the surface of the earth which subsequently weakens it. The temperature becomes progressively colder, so by the time you reach the polar regions, the temperature rarely gets above freezing.

Answer 2

There are THREE reasons that the temperatures are lower in the areas near the Earth's poles. # The amount of energy that reaches the polar regions is less, because the sun's heat strikes at a shallow angle (it is seen along the horizon, not overhead); most is reflected away and more is absorbed by the atmosphere before it can effectively heat the surface. # The reduction in solar heat allows the accumulation of snow and ice, which are more reflective of sunlight than darker surfaces. # The inclined angle of the Earth to its orbit means that we have seasons : the sun appears to travel a different path in summer than in winter. But for points north of the Arctic Circle, or south of the Antarctic Circle, the Earth's tilt means that the Sun is UP for six summer months (never appears to set) and DOWN for six winter months (never rises). The apparent motion is circling, barely above or barely below the horizon. During the winter, even the small heat from the Sun is not received, the only source of heat being ocean currents and winds. This drops temperatures and permanently freezes much of the precipitation into ice. At the North Pole, the lack of land area means the cold climate creates a winter ice pack on the surface of the Arctic Ocean, and this never fully melts again. At the South Pole (and in Greenland), centuries of accumulation have created immense ice caps, and glaciers. These features reinforce the colder temperatures year-round.

Answer 3

The equator is at 0 degees latitude, the South Pole is at 90 degrees S latitude and the North Pole is at 90 degrees N latitude. As you move away from the equator towards the higher latitudes, sun light must travel further through the earth's atmosphere to reach the surface of the earth which subsequently weakens it. The temperature becomes progressively colder, so by the time you reach the polar regions, the temperature rarely gets above freezing.

Answer 4

The North and South poles are cold because they receive less direct sunlight due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. This results in lower temperatures as the sunlight is spread out over a larger area, leading to colder conditions. Additionally, the presence of ice and snow at the poles reflects sunlight, further reducing temperatures.

Answer 5

umm cus the sun doesnt hit the north or south pole