Description
We all know that Santa Claus lives at the North Pole, surrounded by elves who help him deliver toys to all the children around the world. Because he lives at the North Pole, a land of cold, snow, and ice, we have an image of Santa in fur-lined clothing that helps him stay warm and jolly. Throughout the 4.6 billion year history of the Earth, however, the North Pole has experienced many different environments, and it may be that at points in the past, Santa would have been better served by shorts and a T-shirt, or perhaps even SCUBA gear. This presentation will introduce North Pole basics, including the difference between the geographic and magnetic poles, changing terrain over geologic time, and the different climates that have affected conditions at the North Pole in the past, and will continue to affect the region, and Santa Claus, into the future.
