How Do Animals and Plants Survive in the Polar Regions?
Amongst all the natural landscapes that grace the earth, there is hardly anything that can fascinate the people as much as the polar region. The distant lands of the Antarctic and Arctic regions are practically the basis of queries for so many researchers and scientists.
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Some of the icy and snowy regions are still inaccessible for the people and hence remain unexplored. People don’t yet have answers to questions like what is hidden below the ice sheets in Greenland or Antarctica? What caused the Arctic Ocean to originate?
Polar Regions of Earth: What Is Known About Them?
Besides fascination, concern is another emotion that the world feels towards the polar regions of the earth. Although these regions act as cooling chambers, they are also crucial for the maintenance of the planet’s climate system. These regions can essentially impact the different patterns of ocean circulation and the air mass globally. Even small changes in the structure of a polar region can have disastrous consequences that reach far and wide. That can be held especially true for the large sheets of ice that exist in Antarctica and Greenland. Between these two regions, there is about 99% of the total ice in the world. In case these regions start to melt, there will be a rise in the sea level thus resulting in the increase of water levels all over the world. Most of the coastlines situated on the earth have a risk of flooding due to that.
What is Polar Region?
Most people have travelled far and wide to know what is polar region. These regions are defined as the coldest locations on earth. It also differs from other regions in terms of habitat, plantation, climate, flora, and fauna. During the months of summer, the days might receive even 24 hours of sun. The wintertime, however, eludes the sun from all the locations. Animals that are inhabiting these freezing locations are well adapted to these conditions and have a thick, fatty layer beneath their skin to be protected from the cold.
Basically, there are two main polar regions known as the Arctic and the Antarctic regions. The Arctic Tundra and the Arctic Circle are components of the North Pole, which cover about five million sq miles of the upper portion of the Northern Hemisphere. The Antarctic is situated in the South Pole. While the Arctic polar region is created with the floating pieces of ice on the Arctic ocean, the Antarctic is basically a rocky terrain of the mountain that is covered completely with ice.
Polar Region Climate
The conditions of the climate in the polar regions don’t seem to change throughout the year. This is due to the fact that the solar radiation in these parts of the planet is hitting in an oblique manner. In other words, it can be said that the rays of the sun reach the planet’s centre and then disperse towards the polar regions. But the radiation that reaches the regions isn’t really enough to warm the atmosphere. Hence, the temperatures remain cold in these regions. Hence, the polar region habitat is mostly based on the purpose of getting protection from the colder temperature.
Some characteristics of the climate in the polar region include:
Temperatures in the regions reach below zero degrees Celsius.
Due to the temperature being so low, the precipitation is really scarce and hence is difficult to measure. Usually, the precipitation falls in the form of hail or snow.
The South Pole tends to have more intense climatic conditions than the North Pole. In Antarctica, the temperature sometimes drops to -70 ° C. Till this date, the lowest temperature in the polar regions has been recorded at -89.2 ° C.
The humidity in these areas also tends to be very scarce. Hence, in the polar region people are more concerned about their protection from the effects of cold.
The winds in the polar regions are intense as well. These conditions tend to affect the development of forests, thus preventing them.
Plants in Polar Region
The presence of flora in the polar regions tends to vary according to the area. For example, the polar region vegetation in the Arctic areas is pretty varied. In the valleys of the Arctic region, there is more protection from the polar winds and hence there is the development of willow and birch forests. There are certain areas that also have non-vascular or bryophyte plants like moss. However, such growth can only take place in the summertime.
In the northern regions, however, there are certain areas with a scarce amount of flora. The polar deserts are the prime example of such regions. Polar deserts in Greenland have extreme conditions of the climate and that prevents the development of any species of plants. In the Antarctic regions, the vegetation reach is much smaller. This is due to the presence of extreme climatic conditions in the south pole. There are certain species of algae and lichens that can grow there.
Polar Region Animals
Just like the vegetation, just a few species of animals are able to survive in the polar regions. However, the animals that survive have actually adapted to the different extreme climatic conditions. Animals such as foxes and polar bears are the larger mammals that exist in the polar regions. However, there are also certain smaller animals such as rabbits and hares.
Conclusion
The polar regions of earth are undoubtedly some of the most fascinating regions of the planet. From the chilly lands of the Arctic to the silent regions of the Antarctic, these polar regions have a lot of areas that are yet to be explored and studied properly. With scientific advancements and research taking place on these locations, very soon, more information can be expected about the polar regions.
FAQs on Polar Regions: Climate, Flora, and Fauna Uncovered
1. What are the polar regions and where are they located on Earth?
The polar regions are the coldest areas on our planet, situated at the extreme north and south ends of the Earth. The region around the North Pole is called the Arctic, which includes the Arctic Ocean and parts of countries like Canada, Russia, and Greenland. The region around the South Pole is called the Antarctic, which consists of the continent of Antarctica surrounded by the Southern Ocean.
2. What are the main features of the climate in polar regions?
The climate in polar regions is characterised by extreme cold, with temperatures often staying below 0°C for most of the year. Another key feature is the variation in daylight; these regions experience about six months of continuous daylight in summer and six months of darkness in winter. They also receive very little precipitation, making them technically deserts, often referred to as 'polar deserts'.
3. What are some common examples of flora (plants) and fauna (animals) found in the polar regions?
Despite the harsh conditions, life exists in the polar regions. The flora and fauna are highly adapted to the cold.
- Fauna (Animals): In the Arctic, you can find polar bears, arctic foxes, seals, walruses, and caribou. The Antarctic is famous for its various species of penguins, seals, and whales.
- Flora (Plants): Plant life is sparse. It mainly consists of mosses, lichens, grasses, and some hardy, low-growing flowering plants like the Arctic poppy that can survive the short summer season.
4. How have animals adapted to survive the extreme cold of the polar regions?
Animals in polar regions have developed remarkable adaptations to survive. Key survival strategies include:
- Insulation: Many animals have thick layers of fat (blubber) and dense fur or feathers to keep them warm. For example, polar bears have both blubber and thick fur.
- Camouflage: Some animals, like the arctic fox and polar bear, have white coats to blend in with the snow and ice, helping them hunt or avoid predators.
- Behavioural Adaptations: Animals like penguins huddle together in large groups to conserve heat. Many bird species migrate to warmer regions during the harsh winter.
5. What is the key difference between the Arctic and Antarctic that affects their wildlife?
The primary difference is geographical. The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by continents, while Antarctica is a continent surrounded by an ocean. This means the Arctic's land animals (like bears and foxes) are connected to other landmasses. Antarctica is isolated, so its land fauna is very limited, and most of its life, like penguins and seals, is dependent on the surrounding sea for food. This is why you will never see a polar bear and a penguin in the same native habitat.
6. Why are the polar regions so important for the Earth's overall climate?
The polar regions act as Earth's refrigerators. Their vast white ice sheets are crucial for reflecting sunlight back into space, which helps regulate global temperatures (a phenomenon known as the albedo effect). The melting and freezing of sea ice also drive ocean currents that circulate water around the globe. Therefore, changes in the polar regions, such as melting ice caps, can have significant impacts worldwide, including rising sea levels and altered weather patterns.
7. How does plant life manage to grow in the polar regions despite the challenges?
Polar plants have special adaptations to overcome major challenges like frozen soil (permafrost), a short growing season, and low light. They are typically small and grow low to the ground to protect themselves from strong, cold winds. Many can perform photosynthesis at lower temperatures and have short life cycles, allowing them to produce seeds quickly during the brief summer. They often grow in clumps for protection and to trap heat.
