From: SFPhysics@aol.com
Date: Tue Nov 25 2003 - 00:58:38 PST
From: SFPhysics@aol.com Message-ID: <152.275309cb.2cf473be@aol.com> Date: Tue, 25 Nov 2003 03:58:38 EST Subject: Colder Arctic or Antarctic?
Subject: Arctic vs. Antarctic
From: "Anita Roberts" <anitaqr@yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2003 16:21:15 -0800 (PST)
A question came up amongst neighors this weekend: On
average, is the arctic or the antarctic colder and why?
Greetings Anita:
The elevated Antarctic plateau is colder by 50°F to 80°F than the Arctic. A
lot of this has to do with the fact that the Antarctic has less liquid water
than the Arctic which is an ocean. The dry climate without liquid water to
give up heat means it can get colder in the Antarctic while the Arctic sea
underneath the northern pole can give up heat from the liquid water beneath. The
center of Antarctica is higher than sea level and adiabatic air expansion as the
winds are forced upward by the land mass also adds to the cooling effect.
Oddly Antarctica is one of the driest desserts on the planet since the snow and
ice sheet are so cold that little moisture gets into the air. That lower
humidity also adds to the lower temperatures. Wind velocities measured at both
poles show greater numbers in Antarctica. The slower moving air can warm more
near the surface than air with a higher velocity which tends to keep surface
temperatures down due to turbulence.
This is what I remember from a lecture by a climatologist. I bet if you went
onto a good search engine that you would get more accurate and up to date
information from NOAA or NASA.
Best wishes to everyone for a Happy Thanksgiving,
Al Sefl
Who brines his turkey.... better eating through chemistry...
And adds some flavored ethanol to the pumpkin pie... ;-)
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