Near the North and South Poles, in Greenland, Antarctica, and any land inside the Arctic circle, the polar climate (F) is dominated by low temperatures, frequent strong winds and year round snow cover. In all months temperatures are near or below freezing point. Polar regions are completely dominated by snow and ice. Some parts of Antarctica are covered with a layer of ice more than 3,000 m (10,000 ft) thick. This is the harshest climate on Earth and the lowest temperatures are recorded in these areas - the record being -88°C (-126°F) at Vostock, a Russian research station in the Antarctic.

Mountain Climates

Mountain climates (G) occur in all major ranges where land rises above or near the permanent snowline, generally exceeding 3,000 m (10,000 ft) in height. Mountains create their own climate, no matter where they are located on the Earth. The climate of a mountain or mountain range can be divided vertically into a number of sub-zones. While foothills may have a tropical climate, peaks at the same time may be covered in ice.

Sub-zones of a mountain climate get progressively colder with increased altitude. The vegetation on the lower slopes largely depends on which climate zone the mountain is in. On the upper slopes, needle leaf trees reach to the tree line. Above this level are found alpine plants which can withstand the harsh conditions. The uppermost level is bare rock and snow. The Himalayas, Andes and Rocky Mountains are good examples of this. In Africa, only the isolated peaks of Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro and the Ruwenzori range are high enough to carry permanent snow.

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