Tundra Biome

Biome is a large geographical area of distinctive plant and animal groups, which are adapted to that particular environment. In this assay I will focus on the biome called Tundra. Tundra is defined as a treeless area away from the timberline in high-latitude regions, having a permanently frozen subsoil and supporting low-growing vegetation such as lichens, mosses, and shrubs. Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes. Tundra is derived from the Finnish word “tunturia”, meaning treeless plain. It is well-known for its frost-made landscapes, extremely low temperatures, little precipitation, poor nutrients, and short growing seasons. Dead organic material functions as a nutrient pool. The two major nutrients are nitrogen and phosphorus. Nitrogen

Precipitation totals 6-10 inches of rain a year, which includes melted snow. The tundra is the coldest biome on Earth, with average annual temperatures ranging from -40°F in the winter to 65°F in the summer. The winter is much longer than the summer in the tundra, and as a result, the temperature is below freezing (32°F) for the majority of the year. Due to extremely cold temperatures that last most of the year, the layer of ground just below the surface stays permanently frozen. This frozen layer of ground is called permafrost. Besides the very low temperatures, the tundra biome is also unique due to the amount of precipitation it receives each year. The tundra only receives between six to ten inches of precipitation a year, which is less than most of the deserts on Earth. The tundra has also been referred to as a 'cold desert' due the limited precipitation. Despite the low precipitation, the tundra is a moist environment because the permafrost creates poor drainage and the low temperatures allow evaporation to happen at a slow rate, creating rich wetlands and constant fog during the summer months. The tundra is also a very windy environment. The high winds dry the surface of the land and create a colder environment. The winds also move dust and snow around the land, which can make life more challenging in the tundra (Chernov

Covering one tenth of the earth's land area it is a substantial Biome. The Tundra is located above the tree line towards the North Pole. As you can see in the picture. It is the least inhabited Biome in the world when it comes to humans. Because the tundra is not use to human activity it is most susceptible to change and damage from human use or pollution. Oil spills damage the plants, land and animals that live along the coast a great deal. Because of its northern location there are many substantial Facts about the Tundra Temperature: The Tundra has extremely cold temperatures. The summer high is around 40 degrees F. The coldest winter temperature gets down to a nipping -25 degrees F. That's much colder than any Biome in the