Asked in Polar Bears
How do polar bears keep warm?
May 17, 2017 7:43AM
Polar bears have transparent fur over black skin. Reflection of the sunlight from the densely packed transparent hairs makes polar bears seem to be white. The bears' black skin absorbs heat from the sun. The transparent fur is made up of hollow hairs called guard hairs. These air-filled guard hairs help transmit heat from the sunlight to the polar bear's black skin as a solar heat collector. In turn, the reflection stops the heat being lost from their black skin.
As well as this, polar bears have a thick layer of blubber, or
insulating fat, which can be up to 11 cm thick. Their fur is also
waterproof, so it helps keep the bears warmer when they are in
With their high cold temperatures at the North Pole.