Natural regionsTundra climate

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Tundra climate

Location of the tundra climate

environments are found in the surrounding the .

Tundra

Places which experience an climate include parts of:

  • , eg northern Canada and Alaska
  • , eg Iceland and northern Scandinavia
  • , eg northern Russia and Siberia

It is useful to note that a second type of tundra, called , exists on high-altitude mountain tops throughout the world.

Description of the tundra climate

Tundra environments are very cold with very little , which falls mainly as snow. remain below 0°C most of the year.

Tundra Regions
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Tundra regions

Average temperatures are approximately -28°C and temperatures can plummet to as low as -70°C. There is a broad as temperatures can rise to 12°C during the summer months.

Musk ox in the Arctic Tundra
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Musk ox in the Arctic tundra

Tundra landscapes are sometimes referred to as because the annual precipitation is less than 250mm. The winds can be very strong and icy.

Summers have several weeks of continuous daylight - the Sun shines virtually 24 hours a day, which is why the Arctic is also called the Land of the Midnight Sun. Winters are long and dark, and nights can last for weeks on end when the Sun barely rises.

The harsh climate means that the tundra is with little , even during summer months as shown below:

Arctic tundra in the Yukon Territory, Canada
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Arctic tundra in the Yukon Territory, Canada