Tundra Soil And Climate Flashcards
(10 cards)
Temperature of tundra biome
VERY LOW temperatures of -30 in BARROW, ALASKA
Summer temps highest value in the tundra
10-13
What is formed in the soil due to such low temps
Layer of permanently frozen soil 0.5m deep called PERMAFROST
How long does the temperature remain below 0
10 months
Why does the tundra experience such low temperatures
HIGH LATITUDES
Tundra receives very little insulation due to CURVATURE OF THE EARTHS SURFACE. The sun hits these areas at an angle and so heat is spread out over a large area, resulting in lower temps
Describe precipitation in the tundra
Average precipitation of Barrow is 110mm and most of this precipitation falls as snow
VERY LOW RAINFALL as HIGH PRESSURES dominate the area
TUNDRA SITUATED AT HIGH LATITUDES 60-70 N/S of the equator at hugh pressure belt
Here air sinks, heats up, dries out and no clouds form and NO MOISTURE exists
Describe the soils found in the Tundra
GELISOL which is BLACK and STONEY in colour
Grows on the surface and when vegetation dies it decomposes slowly as there are NO SOIL ORGANISMS and releases HUMIC ACIDS that create BLACK, INFERTILE humus colour gelisol soil
Describe permafrost at the tundra
Permanently frozen layer of soil found 0.5m deep
It is IMPERMEABLE which makes it difficult for deep rooted plants like trees to grow
Describe decomposition at the tundra
Material decomposes VERY SLOWLY at the tundra due to the very DRY and COLD conditions which ENCOURAGE ORGANIC ACIDS TO GROW making the soil ACIDIC and INFERTILE with LITTLE NUTIRENTS due to LITTLE RAIN and LIMITED WEATHERING
Describe the growing season at the tundra
LIMITED growing season as soil is FROZEN IN WINTER and WATERLOGGED IN SUMMER
Growing can only take place when the ACTIVE LAYER IS UNFROZEN and this only lasts around 50-60 DAYS WITH LIMITED FERTILITY
