Antarctica is called as cold desert as due to lower levels of precipitation, this is so as the snow builds up years after years of accumulation and absence of any strong winds up to 200 mph.
Due to the angle of the sun is quite lower in this latitude, thus suns energy is spread out over a larger area.
The reflectance rate of snow is high and energy is reflected.
Having a higher altitude of land there's a decrease in temperature with approx 1 degree for every 100 meters increase in height.
Cold air does not hold as much water vapor as warm air does due to its density.
Storage of heat by the oceanic masses thus mild temperatures.
