Location:
The Tundra is to be found in the region of the North Pole in the Arctic Circle.
Climate:
In the Arctic Tundra there are two seasons: winter and summer. In the summer, the sun is present almost 24 hours a day. This sun however, only warms the tundra up to a range of about 3°C to 12°C.. In the winter, the opposite light conditions are present. There are several weeks where the sun never rises. This causes the temperatures to drop to extremely cold levels. The average temperature of the tundra is around -28°C while extremes can dip to -70°C.
Precipitation levels in the tundra are from 6 to 10 inches a year. Most of this falls as snow. In many ways this biome is a cold desert, lacking significant precipitation. However, something that many people might find unusual, given the lack of rain or snow, is the presence of a lot of standing water. This is the result of the permafrost. Each summer, the upper layer melts just enough to create small bogs and pools. The water will not soak into the ground however, because the permafrost blocks it. In the winter these pools freeze and the cycle repeats itself. Very little moisture is lost to evaporation.
Precipitation levels in the tundra are from 6 to 10 inches a year. Most of this falls as snow. In many ways this biome is a cold desert, lacking significant precipitation. However, something that many people might find unusual, given the lack of rain or snow, is the presence of a lot of standing water. This is the result of the permafrost. Each summer, the upper layer melts just enough to create small bogs and pools. The water will not soak into the ground however, because the permafrost blocks it. In the winter these pools freeze and the cycle repeats itself. Very little moisture is lost to evaporation.
Characteristics:
A huge diversity of animals survives in the Tundra. They have particular adjustments that let them stay alive in the wintry weather. These are short legs; long hair and a coat of thick fur. A number of animals that survive in the tundra are polar bears, caribou, and snowy owls. Caribou are animals that are frequently called reindeer. Their thick fur keeps them safe and warm in the cold weather.
Unique Qualities:
The word Tundra originates from the Finnish word “tunturi” which means treeless plain.
The tundra is known as the second most deadly environment in the world.
The tundra is considered the coldest of all biomes.
Only the top layer in the soil can thaw in the summer, which doesn't allow plants requiring a deep root structure to grow.Due to the balance of animals and plants not being equal in the tundra biome, it is one of the few places on Earth known as a carbon dioxide sink. This means more carbon dioxide is taken in than in released back out.
The movements of the plates that make up the earth's surface, plus the warming and cooling of the planet, have caused the cold conditions that are present today.
The tundra is known as the second most deadly environment in the world.
The tundra is considered the coldest of all biomes.
Only the top layer in the soil can thaw in the summer, which doesn't allow plants requiring a deep root structure to grow.Due to the balance of animals and plants not being equal in the tundra biome, it is one of the few places on Earth known as a carbon dioxide sink. This means more carbon dioxide is taken in than in released back out.
The movements of the plates that make up the earth's surface, plus the warming and cooling of the planet, have caused the cold conditions that are present today.