Biomes: Tundra

• The coldest of all biomes, there are two types of tundra: Arctic Tundra and Alpine Tundra.

• Arctic Tundra is defined by its latitude and can be found in Northern portions of Canada, Alaska, Greenland, and the United States, and also Antarctica.

• Latitude is the distance North or South of the equator, and is measured in degrees (°)

Biomes: Tundra

• Alpine Tundra is defined by its altitude and so occurs in mountains worldwide, such as the Andes in South America, or the Himalayas in Asia

• Altitude is the height above sea-level

Biomes: Tundra

Arctic Tundra

Alpine Tundra

• The most distinctive characteristic of tundra soil is its permafrost: A thick layer of soil or earth under the surface that remains below freezing point throughout the year (permanent frost!)

• Killer Fact! : The word ‘Tundra’ comes from the Finnish word tunturi, meaning treeless plain.

Biomes: Tundra

• Arctic tundra is a high latitude biome.• Alpine tundra is a high altitude biome.

• Key environmental characteristics of both are:- extremes of climate (mainly very cold!).

- few species of dwarf shrubs, a few grasses, sedges, lichens, and mosses (remember – treeless plain!).

- A surprisingly large number of mammals, birds, fish and insects. All are specially adapted to the tundra conditions.

Tundra Characteristics

Plants and Animals of the Tundra

Arctic Fox

Arctic Hare

Caribou

Snowy OwlArctic Tern

Tundra Soil CharacteristicsActive Layer: This is ground that is only seasonally frozen (in winter), and lies above the permafrost. Because it is unfrozen for a few months (50-60 days in the arctic but up to 180 days in alpine regions) of the year some specially adapted plants can grow.

Permafrost: Ground that must have been frozen (below 0°C) for at least 2 years, although some permafrost can be thousands of years old!

Talik: a layer of year-round unfrozen ground that lies in permafrost areas (often found below a body of water).

Arctic Tundra: Summer

Alipne Tundra: Summer

• The Tundra climate consists of only two seasons: winter and summer.

• The region is frozen for the most of the year. The average temperatures range from -28°C to -50 °C.

• During the summers the ice melts and forms streams, lakes, marshes and bogs. This makes the ground quite soggy. The temperatures during summer months range from 12°C to 3°C, which allow plants to grow and animals to feed.

Climate of the Tundra

Climate of the Tundra

• Due to the harsh climate of the Arctic tundra there is little human activity, even though they are sometimes rich in natural resources such as oil and uranium. In recent times this has begun to change in Alaska, Russia, and some other parts of the world.

• A severe threat, especially to the permafrost, is global warming. The melting of the permafrost could radically change which species can survive there.

Tundra: The Future