极地高压指的是活跃于两极的高气压。由于两极的气温相当低，使得空气下沉，形成高气压。此高压带下的地表温度为全球最低，全年每月均温都在冰点以下，降水也不多，形成寒漠。

此高压带流向副极地低压的气流会在南北极形成极地东风带。

The polar highs are areas of high atmospheric pressure around the north and south poles; the south polar high being the stronger one because land gains and loses heat more effectively than sea. The cold temperatures in the polar regions cause air to descend to create the high pressure (a process called subsidence), just as the warm temperatures around the equator cause air to rise to create the low pressure intertropical convergence zone. Rising air also occurs along bands of low pressure situated just below the polar highs around the 50th parallels of latitude. These extratropical convergence zones are occupied by the polar fronts where air masses of polar origin meet and clash with those of tropical or subtropical origin. This convergence of rising air completes the vertical cycle around the polar cell in each latitudinal hemisphere. Closely related to this concept is the polar vortex.