Ice Cap Climate: The Coldest Places on Earth
The ice cap climate, designated EF in the Köppen system, is the most extreme of the polar climates. It occurs where the average temperature of every month is below freezing—specifically, below 0°C. This climate dominates the interior of Greenland and most of Antarctica, as well as isolated high-altitude zones on other continents. These are the coldest and most inhospitable regions on the planet, with permanent ice sheets covering the land. There is no true summer; what passes for the warmest month still hovers well below freezing. Winters are dark, long, and punishingly cold, with temperatures often dropping below −50°C. Precipitation is meager, typically less than 250 mm per year, mostly falling as snow that accumulates but rarely melts. The result is a deep, unyielding ice cap that can be thousands of meters thick.
Top cities in this climate
About Ice Cap climate
Under the Köppen classification, the ice cap climate (EF) requires that the mean temperature of the warmest month be ≤0°C. This single criterion sets it apart from the tundra climate (ET), where at least one month averages between 0°C and 10°C. The “F” stands for “Frost,” indicating year-round freezing. In practice, even the warmest days in an ice cap climate rarely climb above −5°C, and the annual mean temperature often lies between −15°C and −55°C. Precipitation is extremely low—typically 50–200 mm per year—because the cold air holds little moisture. Most of it arrives as fine snow or ice crystals, and what little falls remains locked in the ice sheet. Strong katabatic winds can cause blizzard-like conditions even without new snowfall, severely reducing visibility.
Seasonal temperature variation exists but is muted compared to other climates. In Antarctica’s interior, such as at Vostok Station (elevation 3,488 m), the average high in the warmest month (December) is about −32°C, while the average low in July (the coldest month) can reach −68°C. Coastal ice cap zones, like those around McMurdo Station in Antarctica, are slightly milder: summer highs around −5°C and winter lows around −30°C. Greenland’s summit experiences similar extremes, with July averages near −12°C and February averages near −47°C. There is no precipitation seasonality of note—every month is dry—but summer often brings slightly more cloud cover and occasional light snow. The sun, however, behaves dramatically: during summer, the region experiences 24-hour daylight; during winter, 24-hour darkness.
Visiting an ice cap climate is an extreme endeavor requiring specialized gear. Essential items include a multi-layer clothing system: a moisture-wicking base layer, an insulating mid-layer (fleece or down), and a windproof, insulated outer shell. A balaclava, goggles, and thick mittens are mandatory to prevent frostbite. Footwear must be insulated, waterproof, and rated for temperatures below −40°C. The best (and only feasible) time to visit is during the local summer, roughly November to February in Antarctica and May to August in Greenland, when daylight is constant and temperatures are “least severe.” Even then, trips are limited to research stations, guided expeditions, or flights to the ice sheet. Commercial tourism to the Antarctic interior is rare and expensive; most visitors stay on the coast. For the truly adventurous, a visit to the South Pole (Amundsen–Scott Station) in December offers temperatures around −25°C but with significant wind chill.
Remarkably, no permanent towns exist in an ice cap climate—only research stations. The most notable is McMurdo Station (Antarctica), the largest settlement on the continent, housing about 1,000 people in summer. Its climate is transitional between EF and ET, with January averages near −1°C, but it is often classified as EF because the warmest month mean is at or just below 0°C. Vostok Station is far colder: the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth, −89.2°C, was measured there. On Greenland, the summit of the ice sheet (Summit Camp) endures similar extremes, with July averages near −12°C. These stations experience the full force of the ice cap: howling winds, whiteouts, and a surreal, silent landscape of white. Despite the adversity, the clarity of the air, the purity of the snow, and the stark beauty of endless ice attract scientists and a handful of tourists alike.
よくある質問
What is the ice cap climate?
The ice cap climate (Köppen EF) is the coldest climate on Earth, where every month averages below 0°C. It occurs over the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and in a few high mountain peaks. Precipitation is very low, and the landscape is covered by permanent ice.
Where does the ice cap climate occur?
It dominates Antarctica, interior Greenland, and high-altitude zones such as the summits of the Himalayas or the Andes. Coastal areas of Antarctica may have a tundra climate, but the interior is ice cap. Greenland's interior, at elevations above 2,000 meters, is also EF.
What is the temperature like in an ice cap climate?
Extremely cold year-round. The warmest month averages below 0°C, and winter lows can plummet below −70°C. At Vostok Station, the mean temperature of the coldest month is about −68°C, and the warmest month averages −32°C. In Greenland's summit, July averages −12°C, February −47°C.
Does it ever snow in an ice cap climate?
Yes, but very little. Total annual precipitation is usually under 250 mm, most of it snow. Because the air is so cold and dry, snow accumulates gradually. It never rains, as temperatures are always below freezing.
Can people live in an ice cap climate?
No permanent settlements exist, only research stations. Scientists and support staff live there temporarily, often for a year or two. The extreme cold, isolation, and logistical challenges make long-term habitation impossible without modern infrastructure.
What is the best time to visit the ice cap?
The local summer, when there is 24-hour daylight and slightly milder temperatures. For Antarctica, that is November to February; for Greenland, May to August. Even then, temperatures remain below freezing, and trips require careful planning and specialized gear.