I am a 7th grade student and would like to know why is it always cold in Antarctica?
It is cold in Antarctica because the continent receives precious
little sunlight. During Southern Hemisphere winter, the area south of
the Antarctic Circle experiences darkness between the autumnal and
vernal equinoxes. During much of the rest of the year, the sun shines
but the solar elevation angle is low, which also contributes to the
cold weather.
The Arctic region is cold for the same reasons, but not as cold as
Antarctica because of different geographical and atmospheric
conditions. In the Arctic, winds carrying warm air from more
temperate latitudes sometimes prevail. This is less likely to occur
in Antarctica because of the relative symmetry of the Antarctic
continent, with vast southern oceans around it. This geometry creates
atmospheric motions that are somewhat isolated from the rest of the
world.
Furthermore, Antarctica has rather high topography. As you probably
know, it is usually colder at high altitudes that at sea level.
