Extreme Temperatures main content.

Why is it Always Cold in Antarctica?

Part of the Antarctica: The Farthest Place Close to Home Curriculum Collection.

These resources help students to analyze the factors that underline Antarctica’s extreme cold conditions.

Article Excerpt: The Last March by Robert Falcon Scott In November 1911, Robert Falcon Scott set out for the South Pole, hoping to be first. After the disappointment of coming in second,... Article Meteorology in the Poles It takes only about a month for any change in Antarctica's weather to be felt in North America—pretty remarkable when you consider... Article Sea Ice and Climate in Antarctica At the poles, it's possible to study sea ice that's 3,000 years old. Find out what scientists learn by cutting up ice cores and seeing... Article Temperature & Albedo Even during the summer months, the temperatures on Antarctica's coast range around freezing. Inland, it's even chillier. Discover... Educator Materials Amazing Albedo There's a good reason why your summer attire is lighter and brighter than your winter wardrobe. This easy experiment illustrates... Educator Materials What's the Angle? Why is there such a dramatic temperature change between the equator and the South Pole? Explore all the angles of sunlight with a...