What, When, Where, Why, Who?The tundra is a scarce biome that is scattered across the world. As four colleagues traveling the world, we were on our way to Northern Asia when our propeller jet crashed. As time went by, we became acquainted with the area geographically as a tundra, and were later told by authorities that we had crashed on the outskirts of Greenland. (Thankfully, it wasn't the ocean.) With our "luck", we had managed to land in one of the harshest biomes known to mankind.
Life in the TundraTundra lands are snow-covered for most of the year. Summer brings a burst of wildflowers. Hardy flora grow in rock depressions where it is warmer and they are sheltered from the wind. Surprisingly, the tundra supports a variety of animals for its conditions. However, the diversity is not even close in comparison to other biomes. Many animals are essentially clinging to life because they are highly vulnerable to environmental stresses that can occur unpredictably anytime. This biome is most commonly found in the Arctic and on top of mountains.
Did you Know?Permafrost is prevalent in the tundra and an important attribute that makes it unique. To put it simply, permafrost is a layer of frozen soil and dead plants. It can extend up to 1476 feet, or 450 meters, under the surface! Unlike snow, it hangs around year round.14% of the Earths carbon is held in permafrost. Essentially, it is a huge carbon sink.
|