Why is the North Pole so cold?
The North Pole is cold because sunlight hits it at a tilt, so it's weak.
Pip’s answer
- The North Pole is cold because sunlight hits it at a tilt, so it's weak.
- For months in winter, the sun doesn't rise there at all!
- White snow and ice bounce sunlight away, so it can't warm things up. Brrr!
- Ooh, the ice there floats on the sea like a giant frozen raft!
Try it together
Can you do a big shivery brrr, like at the North Pole?
For grown-ups
Near the poles, sunlight arrives at a low angle, spreading its energy over a wide area, so it's weak. For part of the year the sun doesn't rise at all. Snow and ice reflect much of the sunlight that does arrive. The North Pole sits on floating sea ice in the Arctic Ocean.
Ask your child: Which animals do you think can live at the North Pole?
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- 🌅Why are sunsets orange?
- 🌈Why are there rainbows?
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