Why South Pole is colder than North Pole?

The average temperature of the South Pole is -60 C while the average temperature of the North Pole is -30 C. Both polar regions of our earth are cold because they receive very little solar radiation. At either pole, the sun never rises more than 23.5 degrees above the horizon and both locations experience six months of continuous darkness. Due to the snow-white surface, most of the sunlight is reflected back.

The temperature difference between the two poles can be explained by their difference in elevation. The North Pole lies on the sea ice on the surface of the Arctic Ocean while the South Pole is 2800 meters above sea level on the ice sheet of the Antarctic Continent. The variation with height also plays an important role, more height thinner atmosphere (less cloudy and dry).

The northern hemisphere has ’planetary waves in the atmosphere. These waves transport heat poleward and also ‘steer’ mid-latitude depressions into the North Polar Regions. The continents of the southern hemisphere are smaller and lower than those in the north, so the southern hemisphere planetary waves (and associated heat transport) are smaller.

The mountains of Antarctica also block the poleward movement of mid-latitude depressions, which rarely penetrate into the interior of the continent.

The atmosphere at the North Pole receives some heat from the underlying Arctic Ocean. Although the heat conducted through the 2 to 3 meter of sea ice that typically covers the ocean is small, large amounts of heat can be exchanged over the narrow ‘leads’ of open water that occasionally form between ice floes.

References:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-is-the-south-pole-col/