THE TUNDRA BIOME

T H E C O L D E S T O F A L L B I O M E S
 ARCTIC TUNDRA
The tundra biome is considered the world’s coldest
biome.
In physical geography, tundra is a type of biome where
tree growth is hindered by frigid temperatures and
short growing seasons.
The word "tundra" derives from the Finnish word for
“treeless plain.
CHARACTERISTICS
OF ARCTIC TUNDRA
ARCTIC TUNDRA

TEMPERATURE
The tundra is the coldest of all the biomes with an
annual average temperature of less than 5°C.
The weather conditions at tundra are so harsh that
only a handful of plants and animals can even
survive there.
Due to extremely cold temperatures, the layer just
below the surface remains permanently frozen. This
frozen layer of ground is called ‘permafrost.’
ARCTIC TUNDRA

CLIMATE
The arctic tundra is the coldest and driest place on
the planet. In the tundra the fall and spring seasons
are basically non-existent, leaving only two seasons
—winter and summer.
The tundra climate is a very dry and bitterly cold
climate found chiefly in the Arctic regions or at high
alpine locations. The tundra climate offers a brief
growing season that encourages low species
diversity.
The growing season of the tundra tends to range up
to 60 days.
Because of the short growing season, few trees
exist in the tundra.
ARCTIC TUNDRA

TOPOGRAPHY
Permafrost (Frozen Ground)
The thin layer of top soil in the arctic tundra thaws during the
summer months, but beneath that the ground is permanently
frozen. To put it in perspective, the deepest you could dig (even
in the warmest summer months) would be approximately 2
feet,
anything below that would be frozen solid.

In the summer most of the arctic tundra is covered in

marshes and bogs because the top soil melts, turning firm,
frozen soil into soggy, melted soil.

Barren Landscape
Since the ground is frozen in the tundra, most plants are not
able to grow their roots beneath the top soil or recieve enough
nutrients from the soil to sustain their growth. The plants that
are able to grow are usually small in height and sprawl across
the ground—giving the tundra a barren landscape.
ARCTIC TUNDRA

LOCATION
The arctic tundra is found almost entirely in the
Northern Hemisphere, from 60 to 70 degrees
latitude North.
The arctic tundra can be found in the northern parts
of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Russia.
Tundra is also found at the tops of very high
mountains elsewhere in the world
 PLANT LIFE AND
PLANT ADAPTATION
LICHEN
Lichen is an ideal plant for the
tundra because it is able to grow on
rocks or other places with very little
soil and can withstand freezing
temperatures for long periods of
time.
ARCTIC WILLOW
The creeping arctic willow has
adapted to the North American
tundra by forming its own natural
pesticide to keep insects away. It
also has a shallow growing root
system, and the leaves grow long
fuzzy hairs to help combat the
weather.
DWARF WILLOW
Its tiny size helps it survive the
extreme climate of the tundra.
Apart from staying close to the
ground to avoid the worst of the
harsh winds, its leaves grow broad
to maximize the amount of sunlight
it receives.
MOSS CAMPION
One of the most common plants found
in the northern Arctic, moss campion is a
variety of cushion plant, a slow-growing
class of perennials that have adapted to
hug the ground as they grow to form a
cushion shape. Its characteristic shape
helps the moss campion retain heat,
while its small leaves keep the plant
from being exposed to wind and
freezing weather.
 ANIMAL LIFE AND
ANIMAL ADAPTATION
ARCTIC FOX
The Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) is
one of the most common Arctic
tundra animals. The fox has a thick
fur that turns from brown to white
in winter, and a rounded body
shape that helps conserve heat. It
has a wide prey base that includes
lemmings, voles, fish, seabirds, and
more.
MUSK OX
Muskox also has thick coats that
protect them from the cold weather
of their habitat. These animals
inhabit the Canadian Arctic region
and also Greenland.
POLAR BEAR
The polar bear’s range primarily lies
within the Arctic Circle including the
Arctic Ocean and its surrounding
areas. Polar bears are well-adapted
to survive in the cold climate of
their habitat.
LEMMING
One of the smallest of the Arctic
tundra animals, the lemming is a
subniveal animal which means it
lives underneath the snowpack and
moves by digging tunnels beneath
the snow-covered land of its
habitat.
THREATS IN THE
ARCTIC TUNDRA
The arctic tundra is found almost entirely in the
Northern Hemisphere, from 60 to 70 degrees
latitude North.
The arctic tundra can be found in the northern parts
of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Russia.
Tundra is also found at the tops of very high
mountains elsewhere in the world