The globe is very large, and naturally, its climatic conditions are significantly different. This factor has a significant impact on the flora and fauna, complicates or facilitates life in the region. So, the climate of the tundra is one of the most severe and difficult to exist.
The geographical location of the tundra
In North America, the tundra zone is located along the entire coast of the far north of the mainland of the continent. It occupies most of the territory of Greenland, the Canadian Archipelago and reaches the 60th parallel. This is due to the cold breath of the Arctic Ocean.
In Russia, the tundra occupies about 15% of the entire territory of the state. It extends along the coast of the Arctic Ocean with a relatively narrow strip. However, in some places it occupies more extensive territories. Such regions include the island of Taimyr, Chukotka. Despite the desert land and the scarcity of vegetation, various representatives of the fauna live in the tundra.
Zone division of the tundra
Under the general name "tundra" hides four different subzones. This is due to the different topography, the location of the zones and the proximity or remoteness of the oceans or mountains. The climate of the tundra in each subzone is different. The following conditional separation exists:
- arctic deserts;
- typical tundra;
- forest tundra;
- mountain tundra.
Although the climate of the tundra and forest-tundra is milder compared to the Arctic deserts, it is so harsh that the regions have a very poor fauna and flora.
Arctic Deserts
The Arctic Desert Zone is located in North America and has the most severe climatic conditions. In Russia, this subzone does not exist. Summer here lasts only a few weeks. Winter lasts for more than six months. In winter, the sun hardly leaves the horizon. Wind reaches hurricane force.
Winter temperatures often drop to -60 ° C. The average temperature during the short summer does not exceed +5 ˚С. There is very little atmospheric precipitation - 500 mm barely falls in a year. The vegetation is composed of mosses and lichens, which cover the ground with islets. In the summer, this subzone turns into a swamp. This is due to the low evaporation of water in this period. In addition, permafrost prevents it from penetrating deep into it.
However, the Arctic desert zone is an important breeding ground for animals and birds. In the spring, geese, gags, guillemots, deadlocks, waders appear, seals, walruses, polar bears, musk oxen survive on the coast. You can also meet lemmings and wolves that hunt them.
Typical tundra
The climate of the tundra, which belongs to this subzone, is also very severe, however, compared with the Arctic deserts, it is still milder. Summer temperature can reach +10 ˚С, winter -50 ˚С. The snow cover is shallow and dense. Spring comes in May, winter begins in October. Snowfalls are possible in the summer months. Due to permafrost there are many streams, puddles, lakes, and swamps. They are shallow and easy to move on sledges. Winter is characterized by strong winds and snowstorms. The vegetation cover is continuous, mainly mosses and lichens.
In the direction to the south you can meet undersized shrubbery of blueberries, ledum, lingonberries, lingonberries, cassandra. On the banks of rivers and lakes you can see sedge shrubs, dwarf willows and birches, alder, juniper. Such a climate of the tundra of Russia extends south to the isotherm of July +10. In these harsh conditions live constantly polar owls, partridges, reindeers, wolves, lemmings, ermines and foxes. In some regions, moose are found.
Arctic deserts smoothly move into the second climatic subzone. The climate of the tundra in North America is no different from the Russian. The same poor soils (peaty-gley, tundra-gley, permafrost-marsh), strong winds and high frosts do not allow plants to grow high heights and develop a root system. However, spaces covered with moss and lichen serve as pasture for deer both in America and in Russia.
Forest tundra
The farther south the area is, the warmer the climate becomes. Continuous spaces of moss, lichens and stunted plants, on which areas with tall trees begin to appear, is a climate zone called the forest-tundra. It stretches across all of North America, and in Eurasia - from the Kola Peninsula to Indigirka. The climate of the tundra in this subzone allows both flora and fauna to be more widespread.
Winter temperatures reach -40 ˚С, summer - +15 ˚С. Annual precipitation reaches only 450 mm. The snow cover is uniform, keeps on the ground for about 9 months. Precipitation is greater than evaporation, so the soils are mainly peaty-gley, peat-bog soils, in some regions gley-podzolic. For the same reason, many lakes are common.
From plants, in addition to those characteristic of a typical tundra, balsam fir, spruce, Siberian larch, and warty birch appear. Rivers have a softening effect on climate. Due to this, stunted trees along the coast penetrate the tundra. In addition to those typical of the tundra, animal species such as partridge, shrews, arctic foxes appear.
