2. Overview of Arctic and Antarctic#
Arctic and Antarctic definitions#
“The region surrounding the North Pole consists of a large ocean surrounded by land. This ocean, called the Arctic Ocean, is like no other ocean on Earth; and because of its special location and climate, the lands that surround it are unique.” – NSIDC All About Arctic Climatology and Meteorology
66° 34’ N
Summer and winter solstices
Arctic tree line
Average daily summer temperature is not higher than 10° Celsius (50° Fahrenheit)
Arctic and Antarctic geography#
Fig. 1 Arctic geography map. Source: Getty Images Art by Dorling Kindersley#
Fig. 2 Antarctic geography map. Source: The Geography of Antarctica#
Arctic and Antarctic climatology and meteorology#
Maritime vs continental climate
Factors
Location
Temperature
Pressure system
Ocean currents
Rivers
Clouds
Precipitation
Biosphere
Arctic and Antarctic climate change#
IPCC’s Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate – Chapter 3 Polar regions.
Arctic amplification
Sea-ice decline
Ice sheet and shelf
Atmospheric river
Atlantification
Biogeochemistry
Thawing permafrost
Snow
Freshwater system
Lightening
A Case Study - Record-Breaking Siberian Temperature in 2020#
Fig. 3 2020 June Land surface temperature anomalies relative to 2003-2018 mean. Source: NASA GISS#
Arctic and Antarctic exploration#
Brief histroy
Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC)
Dr Ying-Chih Fang was particitating in MOSAiC project.