Blizzard conditions developing in either location may reduce visibility to roughly 9 metres (about 30 feet) and cause snow crystals to penetrate tiny openings in clothing and buildings. Since tundra is the coldest biome on the globe. World Atlas: What Is the Midnight Sun Phenomena. The ocean water keeps the climate from falling to the extreme temperatures found in the interior of the continents. The tundra climate is a transitional climate between the Subarctic and Ice cap climates. A barren land characterized with black-messy soil permanently frozen dominated with vegetation of lichens, mosses, herbs & shrubs is known as tundra ecosystem. Climate. In alpine regions, surface features such as rock rings, stripes, and polygons are seen, usually measuring 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 inches) across. Total precipitation on the tundra averages less than 15 inches per year, with two-thirds of the total falling as rain. In the Arctic tundra, solifluction is often cited as the reason why rock slabs may be found standing on end. Distribution of permafrost in the Northern Hemisphere. During the summer months in the Arctic Circle, the sun does not completely disappear below the horizon. ... How do these characteristics enable it to survive in the tundra? As said before, tundra biomes, both arctic and alpine are almost devoid of trees. The animals of the tundra ecosystem are adapted to cold and harsh climatic conditions of that region. With the first winter freeze, however, the clear skies return. The animals of the Alpine tundra ecosystem mostly include mountain goat, elk, springtail, butterflies, marmots, bighorn sheep, grizzly bear, beetle, grasshopper, etc. The countries that witness the phenomenon of midnight sun include Finland, Greenland, Sweden, Canada, Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Russia, etc. The animals of alpine tundra protect themselves from cold during winter by migrating to lower elevations. In fact, it is one of their most notable characteristics. Summer months seems like the perfect season for the animals and many species of insects to perform necessary activities. Alpine tundra region can be found in high mountain tops above tree line anywhere across the globe. These harsh climatic conditions of the tundra region make the survival of plant and animal species quite severe. Over much of the Arctic, permafrost extends to depths of 350 to 650 metres (1,150 to 2,100 feet). Due to permafrost, there is no deep-root system in the tundra region to support vegetation. Alpine tundra is generally drier, even though the amount of precipitation, especially as snow, is higher than in Arctic tundra. The long winter season may last up to 8 months in the tundra region. People and other organisms that live near the equator experience more or less the same schedule of light and dark throughout the year, and the periods of day and night are equal – about 12 hours of each. Different species of animals become more active in summer, especially that comes from hibernation and migration from the south. The average temperature of Alpine tundra ranges from 0 degrees Fahrenheit to 54 degrees Fahrenheit. South of this zone, permafrost exists in patches. These plants help to fulfill the food requirement of animal species that live in the tundra ecosystem. Alpine Tundra Region The animals living in the tundra ecosystem either migrate to warmer areas or migrate to the south to get protection against the harsh climate. This is the primary reason to explain why trees cannot survive in the tundra region. The smaller the surface area of an animal compared to … Polar climates like the tundra are characterized by very cold temperatures and generally dry conditions. While a desert is usually hot, average temperatures on the Arctic tundra range between -25 degrees Fahrenheit and 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Tundra climate is mainly found along the coast of the Arctic Ocean.