Aurora Icefield · Polar days & auroras11 / 12

Auroras, polar days and permafrost: 8 facts for kids

The Earth spins on a tilt: polar summers never get dark, polar winters never get light. Aurora Icefield is a polar island. The Earth spins on a tilt, so in summer the sun never sets and in winter it never rises; the aurora is light made when charged particles hit the upper atmosphere. Your child learns how to keep warm on the ice and what the lights in the sky really are.

01

Polar day and night

Near the poles, parts of the year have prolonged daylight or darkness because of Earth’s axial tilt.

Why do the poles have polar day and polar night? Read more →

02

Natural auroras

Auroras arise when charged particles interact with the upper atmosphere; Earth’s magnetic field shapes their distribution. Stations do not create them.

What causes the aurora? Read more →

03

Penguin warmth

Dense feathers and fat help penguins retain heat. Species inhabit different environments; wild penguins naturally occur in the Southern Hemisphere.

How do penguins stay warm in the cold? Read more →

04

Blue ice

Thick, relatively pure ice absorbs more red light, leaving transmitted and scattered light looking blue.

Why is glacier ice blue? Read more →

05

Snow shelters

Air trapped in snow slows heat transfer. Real snow shelters require sound design, ventilation and safety knowledge.

How can a snow shelter keep you warm? Read more →

06

Earth’s axial tilt

Earth’s tilted axis changes sunlight received at different latitudes over the year.

Why does Earth have seasons? Read more →

07

Polar winds

Cold dense air can flow downslope. Polar winds increase body heat loss, making shelter and clothing important.

Why are polar winds so cold and strong? Read more →

08

Permafrost

Permafrost is ground material that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years, not simply surface snow.

What is permafrost? Read more →