| Ocean basin enclosed by continents. | Continent surrounded by ocean world. |
| Winds, ocean currents restricted to an internal basin. | Winds, ocean currents circumpolar, uninterrupted by land masses. |
| Icebergs, derived from glaciers, seasonal measured in cu. meters. | Icebergs derived from glaciers and shelf ice; persistent and may measure in excess of 100 cu. m. |
| Sea ice multiyear, circulates in polar gyre, annual thickness to 1.5m. | Sea ice annual, outward growth doubles continental extent, annual thickness to 2.5m. |
| Land ice in limited areas; largest Greenland ice sheet. | 97.6% of land covered in almost unbroken South Polar ice cap. |
| Elevation at North Pole 1m of sea ice; bedrock 4300m below sea level. | Elevation at South Pole 2912m above sea level; bedrock 34m above sea level. |
| North Pole mean annual temperature -18 degrees C; no research station. | South Pole mean annual temperature -50 degrees C; permanent 30 person, meteorol Hogical and geophysical research station. |
| Beaches and shallow extensive continental shelf. | Beaches rare; narrow deep continental shelf backed by vertical ice cliffs. |
| Frozen ground extensive, over 500m. | Frozen ground limited to ice free areas. |
| Tundra well developed, extensive, marked by a tree, shrubline. | No tundra, no tree line. Subantarctic zone marked by antarctic convergence. |
| 90 species of flowering plants at 82 degrees N lat., 450 species at 66 degrees -70 degrees N lat. | Crustaceous lichens at 82 degrees S lat., 2 species of flowering plants at 66 degrees -70 degrees S lat., vegetation primarily lichens and mosses. |
| Arachnids, crustaceans, insects, and myriapods numerous and common. | Free living arthropods include insects (2), mites (150), Collembolla (6), scarce. |
| Musk ox, reindeer, caribou, fox, hare, wolf, lemming, bears, etc. | No terrestrial animals. |
| Whales and porpoises (18), seals (7), amphibious mammals (1). | Whales and porpoises (14), seals (4). |
| Bird species 107 (75 degrees -80 degrees N lat.). | Bird species 19 (70 degrees -80 degrees S lat.). |
| Primitive man with long rich cultural record; ethnic groups circumarctic. | No record of primitive man; no native groups. |
| Human population 60 degrees N, in excess of 2 million, modern settlements, widespread exploitation and technological development. | Population 60 degrees S sparse, scattered at scientific stations. No exploitation of terrestrial resources. |
| Crossing of Arctic Circle prehistoric. | Crossing of Antarctic Circle by James Cook, January 17, 1772. |