What is the climate in the Arctic lands?

What is the climate in the Arctic lands?

The climate of the Arctic is characterized by long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The Arctic consists of ocean that is largely surrounded by land. As such, the climate of much of the Arctic is moderated by the ocean water, which can never have a temperature below −2 °C (28 °F).

What is the soil like in the Arctic?

The soil in the Arctic is largely permafrost or soil that remains frozen year-round, leaving only a thin surface layer of thawed soil in summer for plant roots to grow in. Tundra soil is also scarce in many of the nutrients that plants need to grow.

Where are arctic climates?

The Arctic is the northernmost region of Earth. Most scientists define the Arctic as the area within the Arctic Circle, a line of latitude about 66.5° north of the Equator. Within this circle are the Arctic ocean basin and the northern parts of Scandinavia, Russia, Canada, Greenland, and the U.S. state of Alaska.

What does climate mean in soil?

Climate refers to the temperature and moisture conditions of an area over time. Of interest, climate is one of the five soil forming factors and has a significant influence on the properties of soil. Soils in warmer or wetter climates are more developed than soils in cooler or drier climates.

What temperature is the Arctic Ocean?

The temperature of the surface water of the Arctic Ocean is fairly constant at approximately −1.8 °C (28.8 °F), near the freezing point of seawater. The density of sea water, in contrast to fresh water, increases as it nears the freezing point and thus it tends to sink.

Does anything grow in the Arctic?

Approximately 1,700 species of plants live on the Arctic tundra, including flowering plants, dwarf shrubs, herbs, grasses, mosses, and lichens. This makes shallow root systems a necessity and prevents larger plants such as trees from growing in the Arctic.

What kind of soil does the Arctic tundra have?

This is called, permafrost. The plants that survive in the Arctic Tundra, grow the roots close to the surface to soak in as much nutrients as possible. The soil in the Arctic Tundra is poor and lacks in nutrients.

Why is it so cold in the Arctic tundra?

This causes extremely cold temperature, this is also why the average temperature is -28 (dg)C. Average precipitation in the Arctic Tundra ranges from 6 to 10 inches a year and the majority, falls as snow. The result is permafrost Within the Arctic Tundra, the climate prevents the soil from getting nutrients.

Are there two seasons in the Arctic tundra?

Inside the arctic tundra there are only two seasons: Winter and Summer. In the Summer, the sun stays up for a full 24 hours but, it is not effective in the sense that it only raises the biome’s temperature by about 3 (dg)C to 12 (dg)C.

How big is the active layer of soil?

The soil surface continues to freeze down into the active layer. By October 1, the active layer has thawed to 98% of its total depth. It is about 17.75 inches (44.5 cm) deep. On October 15, the active layer has thawed to its maximum depth of 18 inches (about 45.5 cm).