TUNDRA or POLAR or ARCTIC CLIMATE: UPSC Daily Important Topic | 2 December 2022

TUNDRA or POLAR or ARCTIC CLIMATE.

∆ DISTRIBUTION.

✓ Found in regions North of Arctic circle and south of Antarctic circle.

✓ Ice – caps are confined to highlands and high latitudes regions of Greenland and Antarctica.

∆CLIMATE.

✓Temperature.

• Climate characterized by very low mean annual temperature.

• In mid – winter temperature are as low as 40 – 50° below freezing.

• Normally not more than four months have temperature above freezing point

✓ Precipitation.

• Precipitation is mainly in the form of snow and sleet.

• Conventional rainfall is generally absent.

∆ NATURAL VEGETATION.

✓ No trees in Tundra.

✓ Lowest form of vegetation like mosses, lichens are found here and there.

✓ Climatic conditions along coastal lowlands are little favourable.

✓ In the breif summer, berry – bearing bushes and Arctic flowers bloom.