Scientists often have to work out in the cold to take weather readings in the Arctic.
Figure from the NSIDC Arctic Climatology and Meteorology Primer
Arctic Weather
The
Arctic or the area around the North Pole has pretty extreme weather!
Ok, so you know the Arctic is cold, right? Did you know that it can be -90°F (-68° C) in the winter in the Arctic? That's SO cold!
Not everywhere is that cold though. In summer, things warm up to 37-54° F (3-12° C). Still not warm enough to go to the pool! In winter things are very cold all over with an average Arctic temperature of -30° F (-34°C).
At least in the winter, it is least cloudy! The Arctic has the most clouds in the springtime. They are usually stratus and stratocumulus clouds.
Arctic places don't get much precipitation. What they do get is usually snow.
The Arctic can be windy! Winds sweep over big areas of land dropping loads of snow when a hill or building is hit. The summer months in the Arctic are the windiest.
Weather in the Arctic can be extreme, but many people have lived their for a long, long time.
Shop Windows to the Universe Science Store!
The
Spring 2010 issue of The Earth Scientist, focuses on the ocean, including articles on polar research, coral reefs, ocean acidification, and climate. Includes a gorgeous full color poster!
You might also be interested in:
In the Arctic, you will find the Arctic Ocean surrounded by the continents of Europe, Asia, and North America. You will find the geographic North Pole and the magnetic North Pole there; both are in the
...more
The low cloud group includes Stratus, Stratocumulus, and Nimbostratus clouds. Low clouds are made up of water droplets. The base of a low cloud is from the ground to 2000m.
...more
Wind is moving air. Warm air rises, and cool air comes in to take its place. This movement creates the winds around the globe. Winds move at different speeds and have different names based on their speed.
...more
Inuit Inuit people live in the chilly northern parts of Canada, Alaska (USA), Siberia (Russia), and Greenland. There are many different groups of people in this large area. Most have similar ways of living
...more
Stuff in the Polar Atmosphere There are some special things that happen in the atmosphere near the Poles of the planet. Here are a few of them. Particles from the Sun follow Earth’s magnetic field and
...more
Polar exploration includes the exploration of the Arctic and the Antarctic. The Arctic is the area around the Earth's north pole. Antarctica is a continent that surrounds the South Pole. When you think
...more
What Will You Find There? If you travel to the South Pole, you will find the continent of Antarctica surrounded by the Southern Ocean. The geographic South Pole is marked by a large sign that scientists
...more
