20 - Arctic Case Study: Introduction to the Arctic

Question 1

What is permafrost?

Answer 1

Permafrost is any ground that remains completely frozen for at least two years straight.

Question 2

Where and what is the tundra? Name three countries in the Arctic tundra. What two biomes does the tundra lie between?

Answer 2

The tundra is a biome characterized by cold, dry, and treeless landscapes that are found in the high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Three countries in the Arctic tundra are Greenland, Russia, and Canada. The tundra lies between the boreal and taiga biomes.

Question 3

Temperature over the course of a year…

Answer 3

Over the course of the year the temperature increases at first till it peaks around the middle of the year in summer, then it decreases hence the bell shape of the curve

Question 4

Precipitation over the course of a year…

Answer 4

Precipitation increases until it reaches June then precipitation starts to fluctuation with the highest amount being in August

Question 5

Why is there low growing vegetation in the Tundra?

Answer 5

• The low-growing vegetation in the Tundra is due to the low temperature and dry conditions in these areas.
• This is caused by a radiation deficit (Outgoing radiation exceeds incoming radiation) and lower insolation intensity per unit area, leading to less photosynthesis and evaporation, resulting in small amounts of rainfall.

Question 6

What is the positive feedback loop in the Tundra?

Answer 6

• In Tundra landscapes, the low levels of precipitation, combined with the low levels of evaporation due to the cold and dry conditions, mean that there is limited moisture available for plants to use and grow.
• Although the amount of precipitation that falls is theoretically enough for plants to thrive, much of the moisture is frozen as permafrost, which can make it inaccessible to plant roots.
• This frozen permafrost also plays a role in reflecting solar radiation, which contributes to the low temperatures in the tundra. As a result, the tundra experiences a positive feedback cycle of low precipitation and plant growth, which can further exacerbate the drought conditions.
• This cycle occurs because as the amount of vegetation in the tundra decreases, there are fewer plants to take up moisture and release it into the air through transpiration. This can lead to even drier conditions, as there is less moisture available for evaporation and precipitation.

Question 7

Impacts of Temperature on variations of Carbon over the course of a year (Carbon)

Answer 7

• Large variation of carbon throughout the year because there is a large variation of temperatures throughout the year.
• In the winter months, there would be little carbon released but in summer there would be a lot more carbon exchange (carbon released when permafrost melts, more carbon released by plants)

Question 8

Impacts of Temperature on the overall amount of each material in the system (Carbon)

Answer 8

• There is a huge amount of carbon stored in permafrost.
• There is about 1,400 gigatons of carbon frozen in permafrost.

Question 9

Impacts of Temperature on variations of water over the course of a year (Water)?

Answer 9

• Variations of temperature throughout the year means that the most moisture will be in the water cycle during summer
• because in the summer some of the permafrost melts and there are more plants which leads to more evaporation therefore more condensation and the precipitation

Question 10

Impacts of Temperature on overall amounts of each material in the system (water)

Answer 10

• Tundra are pretty dry climates, but during the summer is when you’ll the find the most moisture in the air
• The majority of water is stored frozen as permafrost