Arctic Region | Climate |
Environment | Indigenous People |
Way of Life | Global Climate |
Environmental Systems | Map |
The average weather conditions in an area over a long period, including temperature, rainfall, and wind patterns. | The region around the Earth's North Pole, including the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States (Alaska), Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. |
Groups of people who are the original inhabitants of a region or country, and have a distinct culture, language, and traditions that are different from those of the dominant society. | The natural world in which people, animals, and plants live, including the air, land, water, and ecosystems. |
The long-term patterns of temperature and weather in different parts of the world, which are influenced by factors such as greenhouse gases, ocean currents, and solar activity. | The customs, traditions, beliefs, and practices that shape the daily lives of a particular group of people. |
A visual representation of an area or region, usually showing the physical features, political boundaries, and other important information. | The interconnected and complex natural processes that support life on Earth, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere. |
Latitude | Longitude |
Glaciers | Icebergs |
Antarctic Region | Location |
Physical Features | Natural Resources |
The distance of a place east or west of the prime meridian, measured in degrees. | The distance of a place north or south of the equator, measured in degrees. |
Large pieces of ice that break off from glaciers or ice shelves and float in the ocean, often posing a hazard to navigation. | Large masses of ice that form over many years as snow accumulates and compresses, and flow slowly under the influence of gravity. |
The place or position of the Antarctic region on earth's surface. | A portion of earth's southernmost continent, circumpolar in nature and characterized by extreme cold and little precipitation. |
The resources found in the Antarctic region including fish, krill, and minerals such as iron, copper, and coal. | The natural characteristics and topography of the Antarctic region, including glaciers, ice sheets, and mountains. |
Climate Change | Impact |
Geopolitical Significance | Circumpolar |
Glaciers | Ice Sheets |
Krill | Minerals |
The effect or influence of climate change on the Antarctic region, including environmental changes and shifting ecosystems. | The long-term shift in weather patterns, including temperature and precipitation levels, caused by human activity, notably the release of greenhouse gases. |
A term used to describe the geographic location of the Antarctic region, which surrounds the south pole. | The strategic and political importance of the Antarctic region, which has no permanent inhabitants, but is subject to territorial claims by several nations. |
A large body of ice on land that spreads out in all directions, covering the underlying terrain. | A large mass of ice that moves slowly over land, formed from the accumulation and compaction of snow. |
Various substances found in the earth's crust that are valuable for their economic or industrial uses. | A small, shrimp-like crustacean that is a key food source for many aquatic animals in the Antarctic region. |
Antarctic Region | Climate |
Weather | Convection |
Albedo | Greenhouse effect |
Ice sheets | Antarctic Circumpolar Current |
The long-term average weather conditions in a particular region, including temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns. | A region located at the South Pole that is known for its frigid temperatures and unique weather and climate patterns. |
The transfer of heat within fluids (such as gases or liquids) via the movement of particles. | The short-term atmospheric conditions in a particular region, including temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns. |
The process by which gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, warming the planet and contributing to climate change. | The reflectivity of a surface, often used in reference to how much sunlight is reflected by ice or snow in the Antarctic region. |
A powerful ocean current that flows around the continent of Antarctica, helping to regulate global ocean temperature and climate patterns. | Large areas of ice that cover land, such as those found in the Antarctic region. |
Ozone depletion | Sea ice |
Climate change | Global warming |
Antarctic Region | Human Impact |
Research | Conservation |
Frozen seawater that is unique to polar regions, including the Antarctic region. | The gradual thinning of the ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere, particularly in the polar regions, which can have harmful effects on human health and the environment. |
The gradual increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. | A long-term change in global weather patterns, often caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation. |
The effects of human activities on the natural resources, wildlife and environment of the Antarctic region | A region surrounding the South Pole that is critically important for maintaining global ecological and environmental balance |
The efforts to protect and preserve the Antarctic region and its natural resources, wildlife and environment | The process of obtaining information to better understand the Antarctic region and the impacts of human activities on it |
Environmental Balance | Wildlife |
Natural Resources | Monitoring |
Ecosystem | Climate Change |
Environmental Protection | Sustainability |
The animals that live in the Antarctic region and its surrounding waters | The state where the ecological and environmental factors of the Antarctic region are in harmony and not disrupted by human activities |
The process of observing, collecting and analyzing data regularly to understand the changes in the Antarctic environment and to identify potential impacts of human activities | The materials and substances that occur naturally in the Antarctic region, such as minerals, water, fish, and krill |
The long-term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years | A community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system |
The ability to maintain the Antarctic region's natural resources, wildlife and environment for the benefit of present and future generations | The efforts to protect the environment, including the Antarctic region, from potentially harmful human activities |
Arctic region | Antarctic region |
Geography | Climate |
Similarities | Differences |
Human activities | Impacts |
The region located in the southernmost part of the Earth, encompassing the continent of Antarctica and its surrounding waters. | The region located in the northernmost part of the Earth, encompassing the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. |
The long-term patterns of temperature, precipitation, wind, and other atmospheric conditions in a particular region or area. | The study of the physical features of the Earth and its atmosphere, and of human activity as it affects and is affected by these, including the distribution of populations and resources, land use, and industries. |
The comparison between two or more things that have different characteristics or traits. | The comparison between two or more things that have similar characteristics or traits. |
The effects or consequences that result from something, such as human activities on the environment. | Activities conducted by humans that have an impact on the environment, such as pollution, deforestation, and overfishing. |
Ice sheets | Wildlife |
Ecosystems | Global warming |
Arctic | Antarctic |
Native peoples | Way of life |
The animals that live in a particular region or habitat, either in the wild or in captivity. | Massive sheets of ice and snow that cover land and extend over a large area, such as the ice sheets that cover much of Greenland and Antarctica. |
The gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels, which releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. | The community of living and non-living things that interact with each other in a particular environment, such as the Arctic and Antarctic regions. |
The region surrounding the South Pole, consisting of the continent of Antarctica and the surrounding Southern Ocean. | The region surrounding the North Pole, consisting of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, Greenland, the United States, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Iceland. |
The cultural practices, customs, and social organization of a particular group of people, including their traditional methods of hunting, fishing, and gathering food. | The indigenous groups of the Arctic and Antarctic regions, including the Inuit, Yupik, Aleut, Saami, and various tribal groups of the Antarctic. |
Physical geography | Polar ice caps |
Tundra | Modernization |
Cultural assimilation | Environmental degradation |
Indigenous rights | Sustainability |
The large masses of ice that cover the North and South Pole regions, formed by the accumulation of snow over many years. | The study of the natural features and processes of the Earth's surface, including landforms, climate, vegetation, and water systems. |
The process of becoming modern, including the adoption of new technology, culture, and social organization, often at the expense of traditional ways of life. | The treeless plain in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, characterized by low temperatures, permafrost, and the growth of mosses, lichens, and other vegetation adapted to the harsh environment. |
The deterioration of the natural environment due to human activities such as pollution, deforestation, and climate change. | The process by which a minority group adopts the customs, values, and language of a dominant culture, often resulting in the loss of their own distinct cultural identity. |
The ability to maintain a balance between human needs and the natural environment without depleting or damaging essential resources for future generations. | The legal and moral entitlements of indigenous peoples to maintain their cultural heritage, land, and resources, and to be free from discrimination and exploitation. |
Polar Regions | Climate change |
Ice melting | Glacier retreat |
Permafrost degradation | Ocean acidification |
Arctic sea ice | Polar bears |
The long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide and other pollutants in the atmosphere. | The areas of the Earth surrounding the North and South poles. |
The movement of a glacier's margin away from the sea or lake that it terminates in. | The process of ice or snow transforming into liquid water. |
The decrease in pH levels of the Earth's oceans due to the absorption of carbon dioxide, which can harm marine life and ecosystems. | The thawing of permanently frozen soil or rock layers, which can result in changes in the landscape and the release of trapped greenhouse gases. |
A species of bear native to the Arctic, whose habitat and food supply is being threatened by climate change-induced melting of sea ice. | Frozen seawater that covers the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas, which has been decreasing in extent and thickness due to climate change. |
Adaptation | Mitigation |
Renewable energy | Paris Agreement |
The effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, limit global warming, and lessen the impacts of climate change through actions such as energy conservation, renewable energy, and carbon capture. | The process of adjusting to changes in the environment or conditions, such as developing new behaviors, physical traits, or technologies. |
An international treaty adopted in 2015 by 196 parties, which aims to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius, while fostering global cooperation, adaptation, and sustainable development. | Energy that comes from sources that can be replenished, such as solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass, and that do not produce carbon dioxide or other pollutants. |