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Tundra
There are two types of tundra; the Arctic Tundra, which exists beneath the Arctic Ice caps, and the Alpine tundras, which are those cold, frozen areas on high mountain tops.
Due to the position and location of the tundra, the amount of sunlight it receives varies a lot. Despite this characteristic, though, the temperature mostly remains the same- cold. At times, the sun stays below the horizon for two months, leaving the biome extremely cold and in total darkness. Im the summer, sometimes the sun stays above the horizon for a full 24 hours, but it remains near the horizon, so the heat is of low intensity.
Global Locations and Climate
Tundras are generally found in regions south of the Arctic ice caps, but are also found all around the world on high mountain tops. The main tundras are located across Northern Alaska, Canada, and Siberia.
The tundra is the coldest of all terrestrial ecosystems, ranging from -40° to 18° C. It receives less than 10 inches of rain per year, which is even less than most of the world's deserts! The area is usually damp, though, due to the very small amount of evaporation that occurs since there is a high lack of sunlight. In the summer, when the snow melts, water spreads across the layer of premafrost and is suspended there, unable to penetrate the layer of premafrost into the ground. The summers are also usually foggy and short compared to the long winters that dominate most of the year.
Dominant Plant and Animal Species
Despite the harsh conditions of the environment in the tundra, there are many animals that can adapt to the frigidity.
Birds:
-Gyrfalcom
-Rock Rtarmigan
-Ruddy Turnstone
-Snow Bunting
-Snowy Owl
-Tundra Swan
Mammals:
-Arctic Fox
-Caribou
-Musk Ox
-Norway Lemming
-Polar Bear
There is premafrost under the layer of soil that is always frozen. Water generally cannot penetrate this layer of frozen ground, so when the snow melts, it is just spread across the plains. This layer of premafrost makes it hard for plants to have long roots, so the plants that grow in the tundras usually have short, strong roots that can absorb and keep in a lot of water. The small ponds produced when snow melts serve as mating areas for mosquitoes and flies.
Plants:
-Lichens
-Mosses
-Grasses
-Shrubs
-Sedges
There are no trees in the Alpine Tundras due to the high altitudes.
Environmental Issues
-Air pollution causes smog clouds, which contaminate one of the main food sources in the tundra; the lichen.
-Global warming causes the meltdown of premafrost, which completely changes the landscape and therefore the species of organisms that can live there.
-About one third of the world's soil-carbon supply is in the soil under premafrost, found in tundras. If the premafrost melts, the carbon dioxide is emmitted into the air, increasing the amount of greenhouse gasses already in the air.