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arctic tundra - Coggle Diagram
arctic tundra
water cycle
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there are extensive wetlands, ponds and lakes on the tundra during the summer
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limited transpiration because of the sparseness of the vegetation cover and the short growing season
small stores of moisture in the atmosphere owing to low temperatures, which reduces absolute humidity
low rates of evaporation
much of the sun's energy in summer is spent melting snow, so ground temperatures remain low and surface/soil water stays frozen for most of the year
limited ground water and soil moisture - permafrost is a barrier to infiltration, percolation, recharge and groundwater flow
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climate
8-9 months a year the tundra has a negative heat balance, with average temperatures below freezing
in winter, when for several weeks the sun remains below the horizon, temperatures can plunge below -40C
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location
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Northern Canada, Alaska, Siberia
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flora and fauna
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in the southern areas (Low Arctic) conditions are less severe, and vegetation provides a continuous ground cover
further north in the High Arctic, plant cover is discontinuous with extensive areas of bare ground
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