Polar climates are defined by freezing temperatures year-round, with long, cold winters and short, cool summers.

The primary characteristic of a polar climate is its freezing temperatures throughout the year. These regions experience long, harsh winters with very little sunlight, and even their summers are short and cool, rarely exceeding freezing or mild temperatures. The lack of warmth leads to minimal plant growth, and the environment is often covered in snow or ice. Polar climates are found in the Earth's northernmost and southernmost regions, such as the Arctic and Antarctic. These extreme conditions make it challenging for most species to survive, leading to specialized ecosystems adapted to extreme cold.