Question

if the main character in a story struggles against the subzero cold of the arctic, what kind of conflict is taking place?

Answer 1

I think that if in your story the main character has a fight with unpleasant nature conditions such as cold environment that you mentioned, it must be an external conflict. Because the person is literary being under the pressure of the outside force and tries to survive. That fascinating struggle is frequeantly used as a plot twist that adds the dramatic action to the story and makes reader thrilled or excited.