THE ARCTIC OR POLAR CLIMATE

1. Distribution of Tundra Climate

Tundra climates are predominantly found in regions located north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle. These climates are characterized by extensive ice-caps, primarily situated in highlands and high latitude areas of Greenland and Antarctica. In the southern hemisphere, Antarctica boasts the largest single stretch of ice cap, reaching thicknesses of up to 10,000 feet. The lowlands in these regions, including the coastal strip of Greenland, the barren grounds of northern Canada and Alaska, and the Arctic seaboard of Eurasia, exhibit tundra climate characteristics.

2. Tundra Climate Characteristics

Temperature

• The tundra climate is marked by an extremely low mean annual temperature.
• Mid-winter temperatures can plummet to 40 – 50 °C below freezing.
• Summers are relatively warmer, but not more than four months experience temperatures above freezing-point.
• Within the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, weeks of continuous darkness occur due to the Earth's rotation and revolution.
• The ground remains frozen, rendering it inaccessible to plants, and frost can occur at any time. Blizzards with speeds of up to 130 miles per hour are not uncommon.

Precipitation: Precipitation primarily takes the form of snow and sleet. Convectional rainfall is generally absent in the tundra climate.

3. Natural Vegetation in Tundra Climate

Flora

• Tundra regions lack trees, and the vegetation primarily consists of the lowest forms, such as mosses and lichens.
• Coastal lowlands exhibit slightly more favourable conditions, supporting hardy grasses, reindeer moss, berry-bearing bushes, and Arctic flowers during the brief summer.

Fauna

• Wildlife in the tundra includes birds migrating north during summer to prey on insects emerging after the snow thaws.
• Mammals like wolves, foxes, musk-ox, Arctic hares, and lemmings inhabit tundra regions.
• Penguins are exclusive to Antarctic regions.

4. Human Activities in Tundra Regions

• Human activities are concentrated along the coast, and people often lead semi-nomadic lives.
• Eskimos inhabit regions like Greenland, northern Canada, and Alaska, constructing compact igloos during winter.
• Their diet consists of fish, seals, walruses, and polar bears, with rifles replacing traditional harpoons for hunting.

5. Recent Developments in the Arctic Region

• New settlements have emerged due to mineral discoveries, including gold mining in Alaska, petroleum extraction in the Kenai Peninsula, and copper mining at Rankin Inlet, Canada.
• Iron ore deposits in Labrador are gaining importance as reserves around the Great Lakes decline.
• Sweden benefits from rich iron ore deposits at Kiruna and Gallivare, contributing to a prosperous export trade in iron and steel.
• Modern ice-breakers facilitate navigation in frozen seas, enabling the shipment of timber and fur from Siberia.