Polar climates are characterized by long, cold winters and brief, cool summers with minimal warmth and precipitation.

Polar climates experience long, harsh winters with freezing temperatures and very little sunlight. These regions, found near the Earth's poles, have brief, cool summers where temperatures rarely rise above freezing. Precipitation is scarce, often occurring as snow, and the growing season is very short. The extreme cold and lack of warmth limit plant and animal life, creating a unique ecosystem adapted to these conditions. These climates are found in the Arctic and Antarctic, where ice and snow dominate the landscape. Polar climates are critical to understanding Earth's climate system and its impact on global weather patterns and ecosystems.