Characteristics of Cold Environments
- There are two main categories of cold environments:
- Polar environments which include Antarctica and parts of the Arctic (Greenland, northern Russia and Canada)
- Coldest places on Earth
- Located within the Arctic and Antarctic circle (from 66.5° to 90° N and S)
- Tundra environments are found mainly in the northern hemisphere
- Lack permanent ice cover, but experience freezing temperatures most of the year
- Have a layer of permafrost beneath the active soil layer
- Found mostly in the northern hemisphere between the taiga and coniferous forests at 60° N and the polar environment
- Most of Antarctica is too dry and cold to support tundra vegetation but South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula have some tundra environments
- Polar environments which include Antarctica and parts of the Arctic (Greenland, northern Russia and Canada)
- Both are fragile and easily damaged
- Together they make up approximately 35% of the Earth and are found at the higher latitudes
- Cold environments are only above freezing for 3 months a year
- At the upper latitudes, the sun does not rise or sink for several months of the year
Characteristics of Cold Environments
Tundra | Polar | |
Climate |
Temperatures range from -50°C in winter to 10°C in summer (average is between -6°C and -12°C) Permanent darkness in winter and permanent sunlight in summer Precipitation is low with less than 380mm Clearly defined seasons |
Temperatures very rarely rise above 0°C with winter temperatures plummeting to -40°C and below Precipitation is low with no more than 100mm per year Winters are long, cold and windy Icecaps permanently cover polar regions Clearly defined seasons of cold summers and even colder winters |
Soil |
Thin, acidic soil and not very fertile Has a layer of permafrost (up to 450m) below the active soil layer containing large amounts of trapped methane, a greenhouse gas |
Polar regions have little or no soil as they are covered by ice sheets |
Plants |
No trees due to permafrost, but some small, short trees grow in warmer, sheltered areas Vegetation growth is slow and low Grasses are the most common with mosses and lichens Any flowering plants have a rapid life cycle and are very bright to attract insects |
Very few plants but some lichens and mosses are found on rocks Warmer coastal regions of Antarctica may see a few grasses |
Animals |
Diversity is low but not as low as polar regions Polar bears, wolves, caribou/reindeer, snow geese and arctic foxes and hares are common Goats and sheep live in mountainous areas In summer, insects, birds and other wildlife emerge as the active soil layer melts |
Diversity is very low Penguins in the Antarctic and polar bears in the Arctic Snowy owls, whales, seals and walrus |
People |
Largely inhabited Large indigenous populations Oil and gas workers in the larger towns and cities |
Almost uninhabited Scientific research for part of the year in Antarctica Indigenous people live in some Arctic regions |