Tundra Basics
What is the tundra?
This biome is cold, flat, treeless, and generally has permanently frozen ground.
This is the approximate annual precipitation of the tundra.
150-250 mm
What is permafrost?
This is the term for ground that remains frozen at 0°C or below for at least two consecutive years.
Tundra plants are often short-form to help them avoid what environmental condition?
Strong winds.
These two Indigenous peoples are specifically mentioned as living in Arctic tundra regions.
Inuit and Sámi?
What is alpine tundra?
This type of tundra is found above the treeline and can occur at almost any latitude.
The tundra's growing season lasts only about this many days each year.
50-60 days.
What is patchy?
Unlike Arctic tundra, alpine tundra's permafrost can be this or completely absent.
Tundra plants can have dark pigmentation to maximise what?
Heat absorption.
Climate change can disrupt these patterns, affecting Indigenous hunting and herding practices.
Animal migration patterns
Around 60-75 degrees North.
Tundra winters can reach temperatures as low as...
-30 degrees Celsius.
What is the active layer?
This layer of the tundra freezes and thaws seasonally.
These adaptations help tundra animals retain heat in their bodies.
Thick fur and blubber.
Melting permafrost can damage infrastructure such as roads, homes, and these structures built on frozen ground.
Pipelines
What is the typical terrain within the Alpine tundra.
Alpine tundra has steeper, rockier terrain.
What sub biome of the tundra, features a near-24-hour daylight and long polar nights?
The Arctic tundra.
Permafrost forms when water in soil, sediment, sand, or rock does what?
Freezes into ice.
Arctic foxes can use this adaptation to blend into their changing environment.
Change in fur colour.
This process can cause more permafrost to melt after greenhouse gases are released.
A positive feedback loop.
What is the presence of alpine tundra at high elevations across different latitudes?
This feature of the tundra biome demonstrates that it is defined scientifically by climate and environmental conditions rather than simply by its distance from the equator.
Why is a tundra classified as a tundra?
Tundra is technically considered a desert because of its very low precipitation.
Permafrost can release these two greenhouse gases when it melts.
Carbon dioxide and methane?
Warm arteries lying next to cool veins allow tundra animals to transfer what between blood vessels?
Heat.
This global issue is made worse when melting permafrost releases stored carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere.
Climate change?