Polar Ice Fields

The Polar Ice Fields
Geographical Information
Location:	Northern Pole
Geographical Features:	Polar Desert Ice-covered Plains Glaciers Hypersaline Lakes
Significant Resources:	Scarce Mineral Deposits
Dangers:	Hypothermia/Exposure Starvation
Notable Plant Life:	Various Mosses

The Polar Ice Fields are a polar desert located at the northern most point on the planet. The existence of ice sheets in this region is evidence that the world is still under an Ice Age, but have not been formally studied as to whether or not they are expanding or shrinking by nature. As it currently stands, the Polar Ice Fields exist as the world's largest desert, as it remains as a region that receives very little (less than 4 inches) precipitation annually due to the low humidity.

Location

The Polar Ice Fields are located at the northern pole of the world and reach down into Panguro in the northwestern hemisphere.

Climate

This region is one of radical temperature ranges at the lower end of the spectrum. In terms of highs, the maximum temperature reached within the ice fields in the summer is 50° F, while the lowest temperature in the winter is −130 °F. During the summer months, solar radiation hits the surface of the ice fields at unprecedented rates, due to the fact that there is no true "night" during this season. This is the primary reason for temperatures sometimes reaching above freezing. In the winter months, the opposite takes place in which the sun does not reach the ice fields for months at a time in some areas. Temperatures hence plunge into unforgiving levels.

In mountainous regions along the ice fields, katabatic winds can often times travel at such fast rates that they heat up upon reaching a certain speed. At speeds at or in excess of 120mph, the winds essentially evaporate all ice and water, creating dry areas along the terrain.