Arctic Tundra

What is the total area covered by Arctic Tundra?

8 million km²

What is the mean annual temperature in Kaktovic in N. Alaska?

-12C

What is the mean annual precipitation total for Kaktovic in N. Alaska?

137 mm

How long is the summer in Kaktovic in N. Alaska?

3-4 months

What is the name given to ground that remains permanently frozen for at least 2 consecutive years?

permafrost

What is the relief like of N. Alaska?

flat

Name the river in Alaska which shows very low discharge in winter, but then has a steep rise in discharge from spring into summer?

River Meade

With the thawing of the active layer, the soils quickly become saturated (permafrost is impermeable) and the infiltration capacity is exceeded. Give at least 3 or more examples of stores and transfers in the water cycle which will increase during the summer months?

• Surface water stores increase e.g. increase in wetlands

• Surface run-off

• ET= leads to higher precipitation

• Leads to slight increases in water stored and released by plants e.g. root uptake, interception. transpiration

Globally the permafrost is a vast carbon sink and is estimated to store … Gt of carbon

1600 Gt

Arctic tundra has a very low NPP of <… g/m² yr

200 g/m² yr

Give 3 examples of transfers (fluxes) and in the carbon cycle which will increase during the summer months

• Photosynthesis and respiration

• More carbon stored in plants and in surface soil (organic matter)

• Decomposition- but only slight as soils in active layer are saturated so lack of oxygen for many biota to live

Name of area in N. Alaska where oil and gas exploration take place AND the pipe that transports the oil to Valdez.

Prudhoe Bay- TransAlaskan Pipeline (TAPS)

Name of the town in N. Alaska where temperatures are 2C higher than surrounding rural area?

Barrow

The active layer has increased how many metres over a 26 year period as a result of the removal of vegetation?

7 m

The permafrost traps the partially decayed organic matter so that carbon is sequestered for 1000s of years. This makes the permafrost an example of a carbon…

sink

Which greenhouse gas could be released into the atmosphere as the permafrost thaws and biota start decomposing the organic matter?

Methane

Give 2 examples of management strategies to reduce impacts of human activity on the wc and cc

• Buildings and TAPS on stilts

• Aggregate pads beneath buildings and roads

• TAPS has 10cm thick insulation and refrigerated leg supports