circumpolar

American  

[sur-kuhm-poh-ler] / ˌsɜr kəmˈpoʊ lər /

adjective

1. around or near a pole, as of the earth.

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circumpolar British  

/ ˌsɜːkəmˈpəʊlə /

adjective

1. (of a star or constellation) visible above the horizon at all times at a specified locality on the earth's surface

2. surrounding or located at or near either of the earth's poles

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circumpolar Scientific  

/ sûr′kəm-pō′lər /

1. Located or found in one of Earth's polar regions.

2. Denoting a star that from a given observer's latitude does not go below the horizon during its diurnal motion. The closer an observer is to one of the poles, the greater the portion of the sky that contains circumpolar stars. At the pole itself, all stars are circumpolar.

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Etymology

Origin of circumpolar

First recorded in 1680–90; circum- + polar

Example Sentences

It occurs in winter north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle, which are circumpolar lines at latitude 66.6 degrees North and South respectively.

From National Geographic • Feb. 1, 2024

Dr Penn-Clarke elaborates, "We think that cooler conditions allowed for the creation of circumpolar thermal barriers -- essentially, ocean currents near the poles -- that isolated these animals and led to their specialisation."

From Science Daily • Oct. 19, 2023

When the separation of these landmasses was complete, the Antarctic circumpolar current swept around Antarctica, isolating it from warmer waters and pulling up nutrients from the deep that supported an abundance of phytoplankton and zooplankton.

From Scientific American • Mar. 14, 2023

That might have been in 1984, but according to his website he remains the only man alive ever to have travelled around the Earth’s circumpolar surface.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 26, 2022

Doubtlessly at an early period the cult of Polaris and the registration of circumpolar rotation was guarded in secrecy by the astronomer-priests.

From The Fundamental Principles of Old and New World Civilizations by Nuttall, Zelia