Polar regions of Earth

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/polar-regions-of-earth

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the freshwater reserve?The Antarctic ice sheet contains approximately 90% of Earth's fresh water
2. What is the albedo effect?High reflectivity of ice and snow helps regulate global temperatures
3. Why is the ice in the polar regions important for the planet's climate?The ice reflects a lot of sunlight back into space, which helps keep Earth from getting too hot. This reflection, called albedo, is a key part of the planet's energy balance.
4. What animals live in the Arctic and how do they survive the cold?Animals like polar bears, caribou, and seals live in the Arctic. They have thick fur, blubber, and special hunting tricks that help them stay warm and find food on the icy sea.

Cryosphere: All the frozen water on Earth, including ice sheets, glaciers, and sea ice.
Albedo: The measure of how much light and heat is reflected by a surface.
Arctic Amplification: The phenomenon where the Arctic region warms at a faster rate than the global average.