Cold Climate Flashcards
Taiga Biome
A forest of the cold, subarctic region. The subarctic is an area of the Northern Hemisphere that lies just south of the Arctic Circle. The taiga lies between the tundra to the north and temperate forests to the south. Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, and Siberia have taigas.
Tundra Biome
Is the coldest of all the biomes. Tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturia, meaning treeless plain. It is noted for its frost-molded landscapes, extremely low temperatures, little precipitation, poor nutrients, and short growing seasons. Dead organic material functions as a nutrient pool.
Adaptations
A change or the process of change by which an organism or species becomes better suited to its environment.
Conifer
A tree or shrub that typically bears cones and evergreen leaves.
Growing Season
Period of the year during which growing conditions for vegetation and cultivated crops are most favorable.
Deforestation
The purposeful clearing of forested land.
Permafrost
Is ground that continuously remains below 0 °C (32 °F) for two or more years, located on land or under the ocean. (Permanently frozen soil.)
Phytoplankton
Microscopic plant-like organisms called phytoplankton are the base of the marine food web, and they play a key role in removing carbon dioxide from the air.
Arctic
A polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth.
Antarctic
A cold, remote area in the Southern Hemisphere encompassed by the Antarctic Convergence (Antarctica.)