What is a tundra?
The Tundra was formed 10,000 years ago. Located near the North Pole, the tundra is a vast and treeless land which covers about 20% of the Earth's surface. It is usually very cold. The ground is permanently frozen which means only small plants like mosses can grow. The tundra is like a desert, only receiving about 6-10 inches of rain annually.
The Tundra was formed 10,000 years ago. Located near the North Pole, the tundra is a vast and treeless land which covers about 20% of the Earth's surface. It is usually very cold. The ground is permanently frozen which means only small plants like mosses can grow. The tundra is like a desert, only receiving about 6-10 inches of rain annually.
Climate:
The Tundra is a cold environment. Summer in the tundra lasts only 6 to 10 weeks, and never gets any warmer than 45 or 50° F. The warmer weather causes a layer of permafrost, ice that never goes away in the ground, to melt, which makes life even more difficult for the inhabitants. Winter temperatures don't reach above 20° F and average -20° to -30°F.
The Tundra is a cold environment. Summer in the tundra lasts only 6 to 10 weeks, and never gets any warmer than 45 or 50° F. The warmer weather causes a layer of permafrost, ice that never goes away in the ground, to melt, which makes life even more difficult for the inhabitants. Winter temperatures don't reach above 20° F and average -20° to -30°F.
Animals:
Animals that live in the tundra have niches that allow them to survive the extreme temperatures and conditions in a tundra. Some adaptations that animals in a tundra have are short ears, a round body and a thick coat. A good example of this is the Arctic Fox. Other animals that have special adaptations that enable them to live in such a cold environment are the caribous, polar bears, snowy owls, grizzly bears and musk oxen.
Animals that live in the tundra have niches that allow them to survive the extreme temperatures and conditions in a tundra. Some adaptations that animals in a tundra have are short ears, a round body and a thick coat. A good example of this is the Arctic Fox. Other animals that have special adaptations that enable them to live in such a cold environment are the caribous, polar bears, snowy owls, grizzly bears and musk oxen.
Plants:
Plants in the Tundra have adapted to its climate by creating the ability to grow under a layer of snow as well as to carry out photosynthesis in extremely cold temperatures. Some examples of plants that grow in Tundra's are Arctic Moss, Arctic Willow, Bearberry, Caribou Moss, Diamond-leaf Willow, Labrador Tea, Pasque Flower and Tufted Saxifrage.
Plants in the Tundra have adapted to its climate by creating the ability to grow under a layer of snow as well as to carry out photosynthesis in extremely cold temperatures. Some examples of plants that grow in Tundra's are Arctic Moss, Arctic Willow, Bearberry, Caribou Moss, Diamond-leaf Willow, Labrador Tea, Pasque Flower and Tufted Saxifrage.
Tundra Facts:
- The word tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia which means treeless land.
- Because of the extreme temperatures, most organisms get their nutrients from the decaying of dead organic material.
- Although some parts of inhabited areas such as in Alaska and Canada are considered a part of the tundra biome, the majority of the tundra have not been visited by most people because of the harsh conditions.
- The tundra biome is considered a carbon dioxide sink because it stores more carbon dioxide than it gives off.
- There are very few trees that grow in the tundra biome. Under the snow and ice, there is a thick layer of soil that remains frozen which does not allow deep rooted plants such as trees to grow.
- The tundra biome has about 400 varieties of flowers but only 48 different animals.
- The tundra biome is the largest of
all the biomes. It covers about 20% of the Earth.