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Tundra - Coggle Diagram
Tundra
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The industry itself
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In 2014 this produced 479,000 barrels per day, however represents only 6% of domestic production
Harsh conditions impacted the development of the industry due to the extreme cold and remoteness of the area making development of infrastructure siffciult
Water
The cycle
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Low EVT due to sparse vegetation and a short growing season, and water remains frozen for large parts of the year
Limited storage in groundwater and soil moisture, as permafrost Is a barrier to infiltration and percolation, as well as groundwater flow
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Extensive water storage on the surface in ponds, lakes and wetlands during Summer, as permafrost impedes drainage
Physical factors
Low average temperatures ensure that large amounts of water are stored in the permafrost layer as ground ice
As temperatures change in the Summer, the active layer thaws and liquid water become available, forming thermokarst lakes
EVT only occurs in Summer due to sub zero temperatures at other times of the year, meaning humidity is low
Permeability is very low due both to the permafrost and the crystalline rocks that dominate the Arctic and sub-Arctic region
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Carbon
The cycle
The cryosphere and permafrost is a vast carbon sink, containing about 1600 GT of carbon
Low temperatures mean that decomposition of plant material is very slow, leading to accumulation of carbon in soil
NPP spikes in the short Summer growing season, however above ground biomass is small, limited to a maximum of around 30 tones/ha
In Summer, CO2 is released by decomposers who become more active given the warmer temperatures and carbon rich litter
Massive quantities of methane are stored within the permafrost, which can be released by global warming - positive feedback loop
Physical factors
Carbon is mainly stored as partially decomposed plant remains frozen in the permafrost, locked away for over 500,000 years
low temperatures and a lack of liquid water limits plant growth meaning the biomass store is relatively small
Waterlogging slows decomposition and respiration, so little CO2 flows to the atmosphere
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