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Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. This is the parallel of latitude that (in 2000) runs 66.56083 degrees north of the Equator. Everything north of this circle is known as the Arctic, and the zone just to the south of this circle is the Northern Temperate Zone.
The Arctic Circle marks the southern extremity of the polar day (24 hour sunlit day) of the summer solstice in June and the polar night (24 hour sunless night) of the winter solstice in December. Within the Arctic Circle, the Sun is above the horizon for 24 continuous hours at least once per year, in conjunction with the Arctic's Summer Solstice. Likewise, in conjunction with the Arctic’s Winter Solstice, the Arctic sun will be below the horizon for at least 24 continuous hours.
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Earth & Climate News
November 9, 2025
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Nov. 5, 2025 — Scientists discovered 6-million-year-old ice in Antarctica, offering the oldest direct record of Earth’s ancient atmosphere and climate. The finding reveals a dramatic cooling trend and promises insights into greenhouse gas changes over millions ...
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Nov. 4, 2025 — Once considered geologically impossible, earthquakes in stable regions like Utah and Groningen can actually occur due to long-inactive faults that slowly “heal” and strengthen over millions of years. When reactivated—often by human ...
Nov. 4, 2025 — Even with futuristic geoengineering methods like Stratospheric Aerosol Injection, the fate of wine, coffee, and cacao crops remains uncertain. Scientists found that while this intervention could ...
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Oct. 31, 2025 — The Taurid meteor shower, born from Comet Encke, delights skywatchers but may conceal hidden risks. Research led by Mark Boslough examines potential Taurid swarms that could increase impact danger in ...
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