Hobbies And Interests
Cold Climate
Due to their location, tundras are extremely cold. The average winter temperature of the Arctic tundra is minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit, although the summers do average in the mid-40s. Temperatures in both tundras typically fall below freezing at night, even in the summer. Tundras, although not necessarily classified as deserts, are still very dry and windy.
Plant and Wildlife
Tundras, although very cold and dry, support a surprising number of plants and animals. The diversity, though, is low compared to other biomes. Both flora and fauna are highly specialized to deal with the extreme environment. Plants tend to be short, less complex and lack significant root systems. Animals that stay active throughout the winter are heavily insulated in order to cope. Other animals either hibernate or migrate to escape the winter.
Soil
The topsoil layer in the tundra is very thin. The layer underneath the topsoil is mostly gravel and fine soil materials. This subsoil is permanently frozen and is called permafrost. The little topsoil that exists is composed of dead and decaying plant matter and takes a long time to form. Because of the permafrost, the soil of the arctic tundra drains poorly. This causes bogs to form, which provide water for the plants and animals.
Short Season
Due to the extreme altitude for alpine tundra and the high latitude of arctic tundra, the growing seasons are extremely short. The alpine tundra season is 180 days, while the arctic growing season is only 50 to 60 days. Because of this, both plants and animals must reproduce and grow quickly. This also causes large population oscillations, where animals move in during the growing season and leave before conditions become too extreme.