Location
The tundras are located far north and south, yet they are not located in the north and south poles. These are the places where tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons, so they lie near the tree line in high altitudes. The tundra is basically only found in cold places and not near much plant life. This is because of the north pole lies so far from solid land, so if the tundra were located there, it would not be able to sustain any of its ecosystem. The South Pole lies on a large continental landmass, but too much of it is a permanent ice cap. So the tundra could not be in the South Pole either. The tundra stretches between the boreal forest southward to the Arctic Ocean. It's present at other places on Earth’s surface where conditions are sufficiently cold. These locations are on high mountain tops, far from Polar Regions, at high altitudes, and below the ice zone-(alpine tundra.) The tundra’s on mountain tops are at the highest peaks, are bare of vegetation, and are packed full with ice glaciers. Occupy these lands: -Coastal region of Alaska and Aleutian Islands -Parts of Northern Canada -South of the Hudson Bay -Northern tip of Newfoundland -Greenland -Iceland Overall Climate
High latitudes receive less energy from the sun. Tundra’s are located in high altitudes, so overall, have a low climate temperature. The overall average winter temperature is 30 degrees Fahrenheit. The average summer temperature is 37-54 degrees Fahrenheit. The July temperature is about, on average, 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Albedo is the proportion of incoming solar radiation that is reflected from a surface. Snow and ice have a high albedo because it is reflected from the light. Overall, this produces a very cold climate for the tundra. The low temperature for the tundra is partly determined by the nature of the ground cover. One of the features of the landscape is the presence of the snow and ice. Brrr! The tundra has some cold characteristics! The yearly precipitation, (including the melting snow) for the tundra is about 15-25 centimeters. The winter conditions are presented mostly year round. There are no specific seasons in the tundra. Just short mild seasons periodically, which would be representing summer. |
Coming to the Tundra? What should you bring…? Snow attire Hiking boots Wind Protection Sunscreen Heavy Clothing Sunglasses Goggles “Regular” Clothing Coats-Heavy/Light The best time of year to visit this biome: The best time of the year to visit this biome would probably be during the two months of summer, preferably around July. Also, during this period of time, the tundra receives 24 hours of sunlight. Since the tundra gets very harsh winters and is cold almost all the time, you should travel to the tundra while the climate is nice. This would be during the summer season. The tundra has many hiking trails and a lot to explore, so when visiting, get ready to lace up your boots and hike! |
Soil The tundra has an overall mosaic landscape. It includes these types of landscapes: broad swaths, thickets of alder, and the deceptively rolling treeless upwards. The soil in the tundra is poor in nutrients. There is an under-layer of soil called permafrost which remains completely frozen at all times, allowing little room for deep rooting plants and trees. Since the soil is so bad, it leads to low vegetation. |
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Interesting Factoids
Even though it’s cold, wildlife is still so beautiful.
48 animal species can still thrive in the tundra.
It’s one of the coldest places on the planet.
Summer only lasts about 2 months.
Able to store massive amounts of carbon dioxide.
People actually live in the tundra.
You can see the aurora borealis in the tundra.