Artic tundra water cycle

Question 1

How many months above 0 degrees

Answer 1

3

Question 2

Temperature in Baffin Island, Canada

Answer 2

Peak in July 7 degrees
Trough in February -27 degrees

Question 3

Precipitation in Baffin Island, Canada

Answer 3

Peak in August 62mm
Low in Feb 9mm
Frontal rain Jun-Sept
Rest of year snow

Question 4

Average temperature of Tundra

Answer 4

-15 degrees

Question 5

Depth of permafrost in tundra

Answer 5

Up to 1500m deap

Question 6

Permafrost definition

Answer 6

A section of soil or rock, bellow the surface which remain frozen all year for at least 2 years

Question 7

Solifluction definition

Answer 7

The gradual process where soil is saturated and starts flowing down a slope

Question 8

Process of solifluction

Answer 8

Water expands as ice, pores between soil grains expand too
When melting, soil grains loose cohesion, water acts as lubricant and increases gravity
Soil particles slide over each other and move down slope

Question 9

Evaporation tundra

Answer 9

Low evaporation due to frozen soil and surface water
Only sufficient temperatures for evaporation 50-60 days year

Question 10

Precipitation in Artic Tundra

Answer 10

As low as 50-350mm per year (mainly snow)
Low humidity due to lack of transpiration
Precipitation is low on regional and local scale
Higher ppt in coats due to relief rainfall- spatial variation

Question 11

Transpiration in Artic Tundra

Answer 11

Plants hold onto water for longer
Short growing season, low bio density
NPP is 200g m-3year-1

Question 12

How deap is active layer

Answer 12

3-15m

Question 13

Surface run off in tundra

Answer 13

Frozen ground acts as a barrier to infiltration and percolation
High run off

Question 14

Surface stores in winter and summer

Answer 14

Winter: snow and ice
Summer: lakes, rivers, pools and marshes

Question 15

Geology of Tundra

Answer 15

Slow rates of infiltration and percolation due to impermeable Canadian Shield
Flat due to low gradient of igneous shield
Criss cross drainage pattern due to previous ice sheets

Question 16

Size of Canadian Shield

Answer 16

8 million km2

Question 17

Stats for discharge of river Meade, Alaska

Answer 17

115.5 cumecs: August
0 cumecs for 5 months

Question 18

Peak discharge 1: river Meade, Alaska

Answer 18

Surface storage ice melts
River channel and ground ice
Ablation and surface run off
Temperature above 0

Question 19

Peak discharge 2: River Meade, Alaska

Answer 19

Temp rises
Increased evaporation and frontal rain
Delayed thaw of active layer and through flow

Question 20

Spatial variation in Tundra geology

Answer 20

Sedimentary rock outcrops in Alaska enables percolation, ground water flow and recharge in summer months
Steeper relief in some areas e.g. Brooks and Alaska Ranges results in more rapid run off and river discharge

Question 21

Total average precipitation in artic tundra

Answer 21

150-200mm year