Location and climate
Location of the tundra climate
tundraAn ecosystem or biome mainly found around in the Arctic or on the top of mountains. Tundra areas are very cold so they have frozen ground with no trees. environments are found in the Northern HemisphereThe top half (north) of the world, found anywhere above the equator. surrounding the arctic circleAn imaginary line of latitude that circles the globe at latitude 66 degrees north of the Equator..
Places which experience an Arctic tundra climate include parts of:
- North AmericaA continent located above South America., eg northern Canada and Alaska
- EuropeA continent containing many different countries., eg Iceland and northern Scandinavia
- AsiaA continent containing many different countries., eg northern Russia and Siberia
Description of the tundra climate
Tundra environments are very cold with very little precipitation, which falls mainly as snow. temperatureHow warm or cold something is. remain below 0°C most of the year.
Average annualEvery year. temperatures are approximately -28°C and temperatures can plummet to as low as -70°C. There is a broad temperature rangeThe difference between the highest and lowest temperatures. as temperatures can rise to 12°C during the summer months.
Tundra landscapes are sometimes referred to as cold desertA natural region that experiences less than 250mm of precipitation and has cold temperatures throughout the year. because the annual precipitation is less than 250mm. The winds can be very strong and icy.
Summers have several weeks of continuous daylight - the Sun shines virtually 24 hours a day, which is why the Arctic is also called the Land of the Midnight Sun. Winters are long and dark, and nights can last for weeks on end when the Sun barely rises.
The harsh climate means that the tundra landscapeThe shape or look of the land. is barren landAn area of ground where plant growth is poor and sparse, with little biodiversity. with little vegetationTrees and plants., even during summer months as shown below: