World+Map+(Arctic+Tundra)



Map of the Tundra region. (A1) The Polar Grassland Biome, also known as the Arctic Tundra, is found in the northern hemisphere in places such as Alaska, Canada, and Siberia (A2). In the Arctic Tundra, the climate leads to permafrost conditions where the growth of plants are hindered by permanently frozen grounds (A3)

The tundra is also known as the "ice desert", "frozen prairie", and the "cold plains of the Far North". These names originate from the Finnish word tunturia, which translates into English as "treeless land". Out of all the terrestrial ecosystems in the biosphere, the tundra biome is known for having the coldest climates and temperatures. (A4)

It is a common misconception that the poles are colder than other parts of the earth as a result of their long distance away from the sun. "The earth is tilted at 23.5 degrees away from the sun and remains in that position through the year. The northern hemisphere tilts toward the sun for half a year, while the southern tilts away, and vice versa." Due to the earth's tilt, sunlight is broken up by the atmosphere; as ice reflects sunlight, the poles receive less heat, causing their temperatures to drop substantially lower compared to those in the equator. The equator is warm due to its absorption of heat. (A5)

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