Bi-Polarity

Everyone knows that Earth is bi-polar. And many people (not all) are aware that Polar Bears inhabit the Arctic region and adjacent areas (Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia) of the northern hemisphere, but are not found in the southern hemisphere; while conversely Penguins are to be found exclusively in the Antarctic and adjacent areas (Chile, Falklands, New Zealand) of the southern hemisphere but are not found in the northern hemisphere. So never the twain shall meet, except in zoos.

one cool polaroid glasses wearing Polar Bear

It would be tempting to think that the names Arctic and Antarctic were derived somehow from the word arc, as in the highest and lowest segments of the circle representing planet Earth. Not so, though also not so far removed. 

Arctic in fact comes from a Greek word ἀρκτικός arktikos, near the bear, (bear being ἄρκτος arktos), and is named in reference to the constellation known as Ursa Major, the "Great Bear", which is prominent in the northern sky. This appellation of the northern polar region dates from a time before the Greeks even knew of the existence of the Polar Bears (Ursus Maritimus) who coincidentally inhabit the frozen north.

Antarctic also comes from a Greek word ἀνταρκτική, antarktiké, literally opposite the bear. It follows the Greek rule of putting ἀντι, anti, in front of nouns to indicate their opposite, as in the naming of pairs of islands such as Paros and Antiparos, or phenomena such as cyclone and anticyclone. It simply denoted that region of the earth opposite the northern pole and it's quite serendipitous that the frozen southern region is actually devoid of bears.

However, the real inspiration for bringing together these creatures from opposite ends of the Earth in my polarity blog was a couple of articles in the Guardian some time ago, that have lingered in memory.

several cool Emperor Penguins sniffing the air

The first was a Q&A piece in which the columnist, in addressing the plight of polar bears and their ever-diminishing food supply, had floated a suggestion to relocate colonies of penguins from south to north pole as polar bear food, and wondering if that might be an ecologically sound move.

Rebecca from Leicester opined that there are probably too many land-based predators in the Arctic apart from bears, and the penguins would struggle to sustain numbers. Alexandra informed us that penguins had been introduced northwards in the early 20th century, but indeed the arctic foxes, mink, stoats and wolves had made short work of the breeding grounds, leaving nothing for polar bears to get their teeth into. Olly was more philosophical in stating that ninety-nine per cent of species that have ever existed are now extinct (was he exaggerating?), and that is usually due to a change in environment. It would happen to the polar bears one day, and to the penguins as well. The value in postponing their extinction seemed to him debatable.

The second was an article about declining polar bear numbers, which stood at between twenty and thirty thousand as of 2015, the rapidly diminishing area of sea ice on which they live, and their seeming inability to adjust in large numbers. Some hundreds have adapted to land-living and a land-based diet in places like northern Canada but for the majority they are trying to survive on both a reduced ice field and a reduced diet as populations of fish and seals also decline. It would appear that if anyone needs to be moving anywhere, it should be the polar bears, heading south for the Antarctic. What do you reckon?

Here's my latest poem, a work-in-progress about contrapolarity, and loosely connected to theme.

Pay Attention

Sugared his wounds that bleed that gape

dripping sticky onto the spread pages

of the Journal of Affective Disorders -

a piece about the role of mood markers

in plasma, the Eveningness chronotype

and irritable affective temperaments -

all theory of little consolation to a man

just stabbed by his wife with the knife

that had sliced through her birthday cake.

Turning 30 is a bitch at the best of times. 

Thanks for reading, S ;-)