THE FRIGID ZONE

The Frigid Zone are the coldest parts of the Earth. They are located far from the Equator. They do not receive a lot of sunlight. Vast areas are covered with ice and snow throughout the year.

The zones experience long periods of daylight in summer and long periods of darkness in winter.

As the rays of the sun fall at a very sharp angle in this region, it receives very little heat from the sun.

The North Frigid Zone lies between the North Pole and the Arctic Circle. The South Frigid Zone lies between the South Pole and the Antarctic Circle. The Frigid Zone is also called the polar region or the Polar Zone.

The North Frigid Zone is the Arctic region. It includes northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Northern Russia and large parts of Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. The Arctic ocean lies in the North Frigid Zone.

The North Pole lies at sea level in the Arctic Ocean The ocean water moderates the climate of this zone. The sea ice at the North Pole is about 2m to 3m thick.

The zone has severely cold winters and cold summers. The average temperatures can be as low as – 40◦C in winter. The region is very dry. Precipitation is in the form of snow. The region experiences strong, dry winds that cause snowstorms.

Places located on coasts in the Arctic region are comparatively warmer. They receive heavier snowfall than the inland areas.

THE FRIGID ZONE

PEOPLE LIFE IN FRIGID ZONE

WILDLIFE IN FRIGID ZONE

PLANT LIFE IN THE FRIGID ZONE

A field of cottongrass looks like snow has fallen.

Arctic willow

The Arctic willow is a dwarf shrub which grows close to the ground to avoid the cold wind. It has adapted to the permafrost by growing shallow roots. Sometimes it spreads out covering the ground like a carpet. Inuit call it the tongue plant because of the shape of its leaves.

Cotton grass

Cotton grass gets its name from the flowers which are like white puffy balls of cotton. This plant is food for migrating snow geese. Caribou calves that eat cotton grass are healthy and grow quickly.

In late summer the leaves turn red.

Arctic willow is food for Peary caribou, musk oxen and arctic hares.

Cushion Plants

Many tundra plants are called cushion plants. These plants grow in a low, tight clump that look like a cushion. The plants are able to trap pockets of warm air and for protection from the cold winds. The PURPLE SAXIFRAGE is a cushion plant. It can grow on very rocky ground. It is one of the earliest plants to bloom. It often flowers while the snow is melting. The purple star-shaped flowers are about 1 cm wide. Many tiny leaves cover the plant's short stems. The flowers grow above the cushion of small leaves. The leaves are fringed with tiny hairs to capture heat. Purple saxifrage is the floral emblem of Nunavut.

Arctic poppy

The beautiful Arctic poppy grows in many places, even among rocks. The flower is made up of four petals formed into a cup-shape. The stems are hairy and 10 to 15 cm high with a single flower on each stem. The flower heads move to face the sun and soak up the heat of the sun.

The South Frigid Zone or the Antarctic Region

The South Frigid Zone comprises the continent of Antarctica. It is covered by permafrost. The large continent reflects most of the Sun’s light rather than absorbing it.

The South Pole is located at a height of 2,836m within the Antarctic Plateau. The ice is about 2,700m thick at the South Pole. The coastal parts of Antarctica are slightly warmer than the interiors. The interior is a vast high plateau. It is colder because of its height, closeness to the South Pole and distance from the sea. The temperature stays around – 20◦c even in summer.

During winter, the size of Antarctica increases as the surrounding seawater freezes. There is very little precipitation. As a result, Antarctica is desert.

During summers, this region experiences natural displays of bright lights known as auroras. They are caused by the collision of charged particles in the Earth’s atmosphere. The Aurora Borealis can be seen in the Southern Hemisphere.

THE NORTH FRIGID ZONE OR THE ARCTIC REGION

THE FRIGID ZONE

THE ASHOK LEYLAND SCHOOL, HOSUR

CCE EXPO - "V C" (2015-16)