Mochi Isle
Polar winds · Aurora IcefieldScience for kidsWhy are polar winds so cold and strong?
In short: Cold, heavy polar air can pour down icy slopes like water, creating fierce downhill winds. Strong wind strips away the warm air around your body, so you lose heat much faster. That is why shelter and the right clothing matter so much near the poles.
How it works
Cold air is heavier than warm air. The middle of Antarctica is a high, thick ice sheet, and the air above it becomes very cold and dense. Like water running off a hill, it flows down the slopes of the ice towards the coast, speeding up as it goes. These are called katabatic winds.
On some parts of the Antarctic coast, these winds can be incredibly strong and blow almost nonstop, making them some of the windiest places on Earth. The wind also whips loose snow up into blizzards, so you can barely see a thing.
Your body is wrapped in a thin layer of air warmed by your skin, like an invisible blanket. Wind blows this layer away, and your body has to keep making more heat. So windy days feel much colder than the actual temperature. This is called wind chill. A windproof jacket keeps that warm layer in.
Where to see it in New Zealand
New Zealand has bone-chilling winds too. On exposed high routes like the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, strong wind can make you cold very quickly and the weather can change fast, so walkers are always advised to carry a windproof jacket and warm layers, even in summer. People working at Scott Base in Antarctica face even fiercer polar winds.
Try it together
Dip a finger in water and hold it still. Then blow on it gently. Does it feel cooler? Next, hang two equally damp cloths, one in a breezy spot and one somewhere sheltered, and see which dries first. Wind carries away both heat and moisture.
Kids also ask
Does wind make a thermometer read colder?
No. Wind does not change the temperature of the air itself, so a thermometer reads the same. But wind makes warm things, like our bodies, lose heat faster, which is why we feel colder.
How can I stay warm on a windy day?
Wear several layers with a windproof jacket on top, plus a hat and gloves, because exposed heads and hands get cold quickly. Stay on the sheltered side of buildings or hills, and change out of wet clothes quickly.
In the game, “Polar winds” is a nature card on Aurora Icefield.
Your child finds this card by reaching the right place or meeting the right weather on the island, and lights it up by answering the question on the back. Tap the button below and the game shows your child which island it is on and how to find it. Mochi Isle is a browser learning game for ages 5 to 18; the main island and the daily lesson are free.
Find “Polar winds” on the island ↗ All cards from Aurora Icefield