Why is it colder in the South Pole than in the North Pole?

2000/02/09 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Geologia

The lowest temperature ever measured on Earth is -88,3º Celsius. This measurement was performed on August 24, 1960 at the South Pole. And thanks to this, Antarctica has the honor of being the coldest place on earth.

However, the North Pole and the South Pole are at the same distance from the equator and receive a similar amount of solar energy. Why then the South Pole is colder? Or put another way, why is the North Pole more "temperate"?

The North Pole is formed by oceanic islands and the South Pole is a great continent. And there is the key: in the word continent. In fact, the continents receive solar energy quickly, but they only heat very superficially and cool quickly. The oceans, on the other hand, receive heat more slowly but in greater quantity and then cool more slowly. Therefore, despite being at the same latitude, the islands and coastal towns have a smoother climate than the inland peoples of the continent. In the south pole the same phenomenon occurs and is therefore colder than the north pole.