<P> The word Arctic comes from the Greek word ἀρκτικός (arktikos), "near the Bear, northern" and that from the word ἄρκτος (arktos), meaning bear . The name refers either to the constellation Ursa Major, the "Great Bear", which is prominent in the northern portion of the celestial sphere, or to the constellation Ursa Minor, the "Little Bear", which contains Polaris, the Pole star, also known as the North Star . </P> <P> There are a number of definitions of what area is contained within the Arctic . The area can be defined as north of the Arctic Circle (66 ° 33'N), the approximate southern limit of the midnight sun and the polar night . Another definition of the Arctic is the region where the average temperature for the warmest month (July) is below 10 ° C (50 ° F); the northernmost tree line roughly follows the isotherm at the boundary of this region . </P> <P> The Arctic's climate is characterized by cold winters and cool summers . Its precipitation mostly comes in the form of snow and is low, with most of the area receiving less than 50 cm (20 in). High winds often stir up snow, creating the illusion of continuous snowfall . Average winter temperatures can be as low as − 40 ° C (− 40 ° F), and the coldest recorded temperature is approximately − 68 ° C (− 90 ° F). Coastal Arctic climates are moderated by oceanic influences, having generally warmer temperatures and heavier snowfalls than the colder and drier interior areas . The Arctic is affected by current global warming, leading to Arctic sea ice shrinkage, diminished ice in the Greenland ice sheet, and Arctic methane release as the permafrost thaws . </P> <P> Due to the poleward migration of the planet's isotherms (about 35 mi (56 km) per decade during the past 30 years as a consequence of global warming), the Arctic region (as defined by tree line and temperature) is currently shrinking . Perhaps the most alarming result of this is arctic sea ice shrinkage . There is a large variance in predictions of Arctic sea ice loss, with models showing near - complete to complete loss in September from 2040 to some time well beyond 2100 . About half of the analyzed models show near - complete to complete sea ice loss in September by the year 2100 . </P>

Does it snow a great deal in the arctic