Climate of the polar realms - The Global Climate System: Patterns, Processes, and Teleconnections - page 167

Table 5.4 Geographical and climate comparisons between the Arctic and Antarctica

Antarctica Arctic

Large continent surrounded by water Ice pack over water surrounded by land

High elevation continent (to 5000m) Low elevation (ocean/ice surface)

Ice and snow covered Ice and snow covered

Surrounded by seasonally variable ice pack Seasonal variability in ice pack size and thickness

Polar-equatorial temperature gradient ¼70 K Polar-equatorial temperature gradient ¼50 K

High albedo from snow pack (up to 80%) High albedo from snow cover (50-60%)

Minimum temperatures < 70 8 C Minimum temperatures 40 to 50 8 C

Snow accumulation < 50mm/y in interior,
much higher along the coast

Precipitation 100-150mm/y over basin, higher
where local terrain supports

Strong, persistent surface inversions Strong, persistent surface inversions

Strong, persistent katabatic winds from the
interior to the coast

Katabatic winds highly variable spatially

Semi-annual oscillation (AAO) main controller
of circulation

Semi-annual oscillation (NAO/AO) main controller
of circulation

Circumpolar trough around coastal boundary No well-defined circumpolar trough

Enhanced cyclogenesis in CPT Cyclogenesis over polar ice or from

mid-latitude lows

Little penetration of storms inland Regular penetration of storms into polar basin

Very strong late winter/early spring PNJ,
circumpolar vortex

Variable later winter/early spring PNJ, circumpolar
vortex

No meridional incursions of warm air in
winter/spring

Warm air meridional incursions at all levels in
winter/spring

Very strong stratospheric ozone depletion,
early spring

Weak stratospheric ozone depletion, early spring,
occurs in ''pockets''

5.15 Examples of polar websites
Antarctic Climate Evolution, www.ace.scar.org, describes proposals related to
climate research, paleoclimatology and so forth associated with the multidisci-
plinary Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR).
The Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, www.aari.nw.ru/main_en.asp,
focuses on the research activities of Russia's major polar scientific institute
(AARI).
Alaskan Climate Research Center (ACRC), http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/
provides climate and climate change data for Alaska and the North.
The British Antarctic Survey, www.antarctica.ac.uk/BAS_Science/Index.html,
studies climate change and variability, global warming, katabatic winds, and other
aspects of Antarctic climate.