Arctic Tundra Flashcards
Arctic Tundra location and facts
Area surrounding North Pole
From edge of Arctic Ocean to the coniferous forest of the Taiga
Covered in permafrost (treeless region)
Which 3 factors prevent life thriving in permafrost?
Sun
Temperature
Precipitation
Arctic Tundra facts:
8 million km^2
Coldest/harshest biomes in the world
Low precipitation (50-350mm)
How much carbon is contained in permafrost?
14% of Earth’s permafrost
How many species live in the Arctic Tundra (plant and animal)?
1700 plant
48 animal
What happens to the permafrost in the summer?
Active layer thaws and plants begin to grow
How deep is the active layer?
30-200mm deep
What are the 3 categories of land in the tundra (describe each)?
Continuous (Unbroken permafrost layer)
Discontinuous (numerous permafrost free areas)
Sporadic (Rare patches of permafrost)
Why is the tundra flat and what does this mean?
Continuous erosion and weathering
Reduces drainage and causes water logging in summer when permafrost melts
Photosynthesis and respiration in Arctic Tundra?
Low photosynthesis (and thus respiration) due to lack of sunlight, water, biomass Increase in summer when permafrost melts, soil allows carbon to flow into atmosphere
How does permafrost change from winter to summer?
Carbon sink in winter
Carbon source in summer
5 methods to manage oil and gas industry impacts :
Insulated pads Elevated pipelines Refrigerated support Lateral drilling Remote exploration