subpolar

Subpolar is a geographic and climatic term that refers to regions situated between the temperate zones and the polar areas. It is used to describe both land regions with cool, often maritime climates and oceanic regions where cold water and currents shape climate patterns.

On land, subpolar regions can be described as subarctic or boreal zones, where long, cold winters and short, cool summers prevail, typically supporting boreal forests or tundra near the edge of the zone. In more maritime settings, a subpolar or subpolar-oceanic climate features cooler summers and milder winters than would be expected for the latitude, with high precipitation and frequent cloud cover.

Geographically, subpolar zones lie poleward of the temperate belt. In the Northern Hemisphere, examples include coastal Iceland, parts of western Norway, northern Scotland, southern Greenland, and the boreal regions of eastern Canada and Alaska. In the Southern Hemisphere, subpolar regions surround the subantarctic zone and the southern ocean islands.

In oceanography, subpolar denotes regions around the subpolar gyres, where mixing, nutrient upwelling, and boundary currents influence marine ecosystems and climate. The term is widely used in climate research to discuss areas vulnerable to climate change, sea-ice loss, and shifts in species distribution.