Temperature: The average winter temperature of artic tundra is -34 degree Celsius and average summer temperature is 3-12 degree Celsius.
Precipitation: Rainfall varies in different regions and precipitation (melting snow) less than 15 inches annually
Sunlight: In summer, the sun remains above the horizon 24 hours a day for from 2 to 85 consecutive days, depending on the latitude; in winter, it can remain below the horizon 24 hours a day for as long as 67 consecutive days.
Nutrients: Dead organic material functions as a nutrient pool. The two major nutrients are nitrogen and phosphorus.
Soil Composition: A frozen subsoil called permafrost which exist in artic tundra, consisting of gravel and fine soil.
Major Animal Species
Arctic Hare
Ermine
Arctic Fox
Snowy Owl
Ptarmigans
Musk Oxen
Major Plant Species
Lichens
Bearberry
Salix Arctica
Saxifraga Cespitosa
Moss
Interesting Facts
The tundra is a very fragile biome that is shrinking as the permafrost melts.
The word tundra comes from a Finnish word tunturi, which means treeless plain or barren land.
The winter lasts around 8 months and is extremely cold. In the middle of winter the sun may not rise for weeks. The tundra is frozen and often covered with snow during the winter and will reach temperatures of -60 degrees F.
The summer is shorter and is marked by the other extreme of the sun not setting. In the middle of summer the sun will be up for 24 hours. During the summer the temperatures may reach 50 degrees F causing the snow to melt in areas and wetlands to form.