What is It?

Polar ice regions are the regions at the far north and south of the globe.  They are also known as the North and South Poles. The North Pole is located in an area called the Arctic, and the South Pole is located in an area called the Antarctic. Polar ice regions are made of ice, snow, and cold waters. The land found at the northernmost part of earth is called the polar deserts. Unlike most deserts, it is very cold, but like most deserts there is little rain and the soil is filled with rocks. Other biomes that border this one are taiga and tundra.  The entire polar ice region includes parts of the tundra as well as the polar deserts.

There aren't many plants that can survive in the polar deserts. Plants bringing biodiversity to this area are mosses and lichens (algae and fungi that live together).

The animals that live in the entire Arctic region are polar bears, penguins, and even the unusual Arctic tern that enjoys summer all year.  It migrates from north to south throughout the year.  Polar bears are the most popular animal that lives there.  But, penguins rule the southern end of the planet.  There are up to 20 species of penguins.  Most animals have a thick layer of blubber or fat so they can survive the subzero temperatures. 

Why is It Important?

The polar ice regions are important for many reasons. One reason they are important is because there is biodiversity at the poles.  There are plenty of animals that live on the two poles, so if they all die, there would be a large drop in population of those species. Another reason that the polar ice regions are important is that they provide 70% of the worlds’ freshwater.  Another reason that it’s important is that it helps scientists figure out what life could live on the moon or Mars, because the climates are the same.  The polar ice regions are important in another way because the glaciers that came from the poles shaped the land that is here today.  Finally, it allows scientists to examine the paths of the glaciers from long ago.

Climate

The average amount of snow that comes to the poles each year is from two to ten inches!  There is a lot of snow there because it just never melts.  The only seasons that are in polar ice regions are winter and summer.  In winter, it is dark all the time, and in summer, the sun is out the whole day!  In the Arctic, the temperatures in summer only get up to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.  But in winter, the temperatures get down to -30 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason it is so cold is because of the angle in which the sun's rays strike the top and bottom of the earth.  Since most of the Arctic land area is very dry and cold, most animals inhabit the coastline.

Why is It in Danger?

The polar ice region is in danger because of 2 reasons: climate change and hunting.   Scientists have noticed that the earth’s temperature has been gradually rising.  This places the polar regions in danger because if the temperature rises, the ice will melt, causing a change in ocean level.  This, in turn endangers many coastal regions and populations.  One theory as to why the temperature is rising is that carbon dioxide and other gases are trapping all the sunlight in the earth’s atmosphere.  This will make the earth’s temperature rise.  Since the climate is so cold, inhabitants cannot plant crops and not many items can be shipped there, so they must rely on fishing and hunting for food, which is endangering the biodiversity of this area.

How You Can Help

You can help save the polar ice region by limiting the amount of carbon dioxide you produce every day. This will help stop global warming. For example, instead of riding in a car to school, ride a bike or walk.  Another way we can help is to preserve the natural beauty of the polar ice region.