Although many people believe that the two polar caps of Earth, the north and the south, are basically the same, the truth is that there are many differences between the opposite poles, at all levels.
Even how climate change affects them also differs between both icy regions. Here are some of the characteristics that distinguish the Arctic Circle (to the north) from the Antarctic Circle (to the south).
8 differences between the opposite poles of the planet
1. Geography
Of the two polar caps, only Antarctica is a true continent formed by solid land, covered in ice, with a surface area of 14 million square kilometers that reaches 32 million km² in winter.
In contrast, the Arctic is a frozen oceanic space amidst other continents, composed of icy seas and parts of the Russian, North American, and Greenland coasts.
2. Human population
Antarctica has no permanent population, only scientists in temporary bases, reducing to about 1,000 people in winter and around 10,000 in summer.
In contrast, the Arctic has a significant population, especially in Russia, with around two million people, and other countries like Finland, Sweden, Norway, Greenland, and North America, totaling over 4,300,000 inhabitants, of which around 450,000 are indigenous.
3. Fauna
Biodiversity in the Arctic is greater due to its less extreme temperatures. The polar bear, humpback whales, walruses, seals, and Arctic foxes are some of its emblematic animals.
In Antarctica, penguins are characteristic, along with seals, Antarctic fur seals, elephant seals, and some seabirds.
4. Temperatures
Temperatures in the Arctic can drop to -50ºC, with extreme cases of -68ºC, while in Antarctica, temperatures as low as -89.3ºC have been recorded, partly due to its higher altitude, with an average of 2,000 meters above sea level.
5. Polar auroras
Both regions have polar auroras, known as northern lights in the north and southern lights in the south. The northern auroras are more famous due to the higher human population in that area, facilitating access for observation.
6. Sea level rise
The rise in sea level is a consequence of the ice that was on solid land entering the oceans, as in Antarctica and Greenland. In the Arctic, the ice is already mostly in the sea, but its accelerated melting causes global climate effects, altering the atmosphere and ocean currents.
7. Legal status
Antarctica is dedicated to research and science through an international agreement, exempt from industrial, economic, or military uses. In contrast, the Arctic is used for commercial, industrial, and military purposes by Russia and the US, with intensified commercial routes in summer due to thawing.
8. Recognized oceans
The Arctic Ocean is generally recognized with established boundaries, while the official recognition of the Southern Ocean remains a subject of dispute, although scientific entities have established precise limits for this ocean.
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