Sensitivity of high latitude temperature distribution to the variation of the Antarctic ice sheet is investigated using an atmospheric general circulation model coupled with a mixed layer ocean. Results suggest that cooling effect of the ice sheet is not negligible compared to the effect of atmospheric CO2 decrease such as during the Cenozoic. Cooling effect of high surface albedo of the ice sheet is enhanced over the ice sheet and slightly suppressed over the circumpolar ocean by the high topography of the ice sheet. High surface albedo and high topography of the ice sheet each causes increase and decrease of southward atmospheric heat transport respectively, whose contribution to maintaining the heat balance anomaly of atmosphere-ocean system is comparable to that of local adjustment of radiation balance. ¿ 2001 American Geophysical Union