Hobbies And Interests
Climate
The tundra is the coldest of all biomes, or living environments on earth. The average yearly temperature on the tundra is between 10 and 20 degree Fahrenheit. During the short summer or growing season, the temperature may rise to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The tundra is vulnerable to damage as a result of these low temperatures as the environment is very slow to recover.
Precipitation
The many tundra areas can be considered a cold desert because of the lack of precipitation. The average tundra biome receives between 10 and 12 centimeters of precipitation yearly. During the growing season the arctic tundras may become wetlands or bogs because the area does not drain very well.
Winds
Another characteristic of the tundra is high winds. These winds can create white outs, picking up snow deposited on the surface and making it almost impossible to see. The winds of the tundra are high because of a lack of trees, which act as a natural wind break and the relative location on the planet.
Permafrost
Permafrost is the layer of soil that does not thaw. When temperatures rises on the very surface layer thaws with the permafrost starting on a few inches from the surface. The presence of permafrost limits the plants that can grow in the soil since plants are not able to penetrate this frozen layer.
Day Legth
Artic tundra growing season is only 60 days in length from May to July. During this time the biome is basked in almost 24 hours of daylight. During the winter months the day light gets shorter and late in the year the areas are in total darkness for the entire day. This is because the tundra is located closer to the North Pole and the tilt of the Earth as it rotates around the sun. For example, when there is continual daylight the north hemisphere is pointed towards the sun.