Polar climate

A climate in which no month has an average temperature above 10 °C (50 °F). It occurs mainly in polar regions and at high elevations.

Köppen climate classification: A system that classifies climates using temperature, precipitation, and vegetation criteria. Its temperature rule defines the polar climate category.
Polar night: A period when the Sun remains below the horizon for at least 24 hours. Long winter darkness removes direct solar heating for extended periods.
Tundra: A cold, treeless biome with low-growing vegetation and often seasonally frozen ground. Tundra commonly occupies polar climates, especially where the warmest month exceeds freezing.
Subarctic climate: A cold climate with short, mild summers and long, very cold winters. Its warmest month exceeds 10 °C, placing it outside the polar category.
Mean monthly temperature: The average temperature across all observations in a calendar month. The 10 °C threshold is applied to each month's mean.
Midnight sun: A period when the Sun remains above the horizon at midnight. Continuous summer daylight does not necessarily raise monthly means above 10 °C.
Ice cap climate: A polar climate in which no month has an average temperature above 0 °C. It is the colder Köppen subtype within polar climates.
Alpine climate: A climate shaped by high elevation, with conditions changing sharply over short distances. High mountains can meet the polar temperature criterion far from the poles.
Climate: The long-term statistical pattern of atmospheric conditions in a region. Polar climate is one regional pattern within this broader concept.
Albedo: The fraction of incoming radiation reflected by a surface. Snow and ice reflect much sunlight, limiting surface warming.

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