What do hurricanes, droughts, tornadoes, and floods have to do with the polar regions? When we think of the poles, we imagine snow storms and cold temperatures. But there is much to learn about polar climates and how fluctuations in planetary conditions are often first noticed in these extreme locations.

It turns out that the poles (especially Antarctica) are actually very dry. It rarely snows because the temperature is too cold. But when it does snow, it stays around – for centuries. Blizzards are common in Antarctica because nothing holds the powdery snow in place. There are no trees. No rocks. Just a flat, cold, windy desert.

As our planet warms, ice at the poles melts. This changes the temperature, depth, and direction of ocean currents, which in turn changes weather and climate around the world. Scientists thus look to the polar regions first to understand the impacts of global warming on our planet.

This month, your students will get a taste of meteorology – how to observe and study the weather and describe long-term weather patterns (climate). We’ve divided the bookshelf into five sections: Weather and Climate, Polar Weather and Climate, Snow and Winter Weather, Climate Change, and, of course, Penguins and Polar Bears. We’ve also included links to related lessons or articles from Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears.