Tundra

Tundra

• at the top of the world, near North pole
• enormous biome, extremely uniform in appearance
• covers a fitfth of Earth's surface

Distinct characteristics

• permafrost, a permanently frozen layer of ground
• during brief summer, top section of soil may thaw out, allowing plants and microorganisms to grow and reprocuce
  (become dormant during cold, winter months)
• Another region: alpine tundra- found on tops of tall, cold mountains

Facts

• animals adapted to handle cold winters and to breed and raise young quickly during the short and cool summer
• temperature during arctic winter can dip to -60F (-51C)
• average temperature of warmest month is between 50F (10C) and 32F (0C)
• Average annual temperature is only 10F to 20F (-12C to -6C)
• soil is often frozen, permafrost usually exists withina metre of surface
• water is unavailable during most of the year
• annual precipitation is very low, usually less tha 10 inches

Tundra animals

• frigid cold and deep snow makes life difficult
• animals must adapt to the cold to survie ; some grows thick fur which turns to white in winter , some hibernate during the winter months
• Includes tundra swan, snowy owl, snow bunting, arctic fox, musk ox, Norway lemming