Why is the atmosphere in the polar zones so cold?

Question

Why is the atmosphere in the polar zones so cold?

Answer 1

Farther from the earths equator, which is closer to the sun as the earth rotates, so, they are farther from the sun.

Answer 2

Pati is right and I always had an easier time drawing a diagram to explain this. It's all about how the sunlight hits the earth and the earths reflective properties.

Answer 3

Consider the angle that you see the sun anywhere on earth A lower angle (low in the sky) means that you will receive less solar radiation. That's why in Fairbanks, Alaska, the angle is 15 degrees and the tempearture is usually 20 degrees. At the equator, the angle is usually 84 degrees and the temperature is 90 degrees. Does that help?

Answer 4

The angle of the sun is higher as you go further south. That's because of the earth's tilt at only 23.5degrees so the majority of the sun's rays are hitting the tropics. From 23.5N to 23.5S. So the polar zones don't get much or sometimes no  INcoming SOLar radiATION or Insolation from the sun. So it doesn't get that hot.