With the bi-polar map, what would cause the ice-caps to form, but for the areas around them to not freeze?
Oh, but the areas around them do freeze. Every time there's an ice age. Of course, there's probably not going to be another ice age for a while, with all the carbon we're dumping into the atmosphere, but that's another matter entirely. As for why ice forms, it forms because it's cold there. You can see that just by putting some water in your freezer. It will turn to ice. Meanwhile, water in your refrigerator, right close by, does not freeze because it's not cold enough.