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** Come with us to the Heart of the Tundra ** Climate and Location by Tasneem S., Eli H., and Zac H. ** Location: **

There are two different kinds of tundra. These are the Arctic Tundra and the Alpine Tundra. They both are extremely cold, have long winters, and don't support as much life as the other biomes of the world. The Arctic Tundra is located in the high northern latitudes of the Earth; around the north pole. The Alpine Tundra can be found in various high altitude locations, where trees cannot grow. These places are the Rocky Mountains, Andes Mountains, Alps, and the Himalayas.


 * Arctic Tundra: Climate **

During the only two seasons of the Arctic Tundra, summer and winter, it is always cold. The average summer temperature is 3 - 12 degrees Celsius. During the summer, the sun is out 24 hours a day every day from late May to early August. The average winter temperature is -34 degrees Celsius. From the middle of November to late January, the sun is below the horizon 24 hours a day. Yearly precipitation, including melting snow, ranges from 15 - 25 centimeters. All Arctic Tundra is found in the northernmost parts of the world. Arctic Tundra is found on the latitude lines 50 degrees North and above, basically from northern Alaska, Canada, and Siberia through the Arctic Circle.



Alpine Tundra: Climate **

The Alpine Tundra's climate is similar to that of the Arctic Tundra. Most of the year is winter. Other than that, there is a little spring, summer, and fall. During the winter, the temperature can drop very low, due to the thin atmosphere at high altitudes. The precipitation the Alpine Tundra gets, which is mostly snow, is not all absorbed in the soil because it is so thin, like in the Arctic Tundra. The Alpine Tundra receives about 30 centimeters of precipitation per year. In all the major mountain ranges of the world, the Alpine Tundra is found. The Alpine Tundra is more abundant in the eastern hemisphere, where the Himalayas are located (the largest mountain range in the world). The Himalayas are the tallest mountains in the world, meaning they are colder. The higher the altitude the colder and less inhabitatable the tundra.





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