Arctic belt: characteristic, nature. Arctic climatic zone

The Arctic is one of the coldest and lifeless regions of the Earth. It includes a part of Eurasia. The geographical position of the Arctic belt is limited to the North Pole and the Arctic Ocean. There are common borders with the American continent. Often the northern areas of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans are referred to the belt of the belt . In total, the Arctic occupies more than 27 million square kilometers.

Climatic zone

The meteorological indicators of this region are determined by the cold northern air masses. The Arctic climatic belt dominates throughout the Arctic Ocean, as well as on the outskirts of Siberia. Frosty weather in these parts of the Earth is held all year round. The permafrost is not warmed by the sun's rays, since they fall to the ground along a tangent.

You can say that the cold in the Arctic is constantly. Even in the summer, solar radiation can not penetrate thick ice sheets. A small amount of heat surface still gets, but it goes to the melting snow cover. The Arctic climatic zone is always characterized by minus temperature indicators. Precipitation in this area is extremely rare. The reason is minimal accumulations of water vapor due to constantly low temperatures. The average level of precipitation does not exceed 200 mm per year.

Closer to the European part of the continent is the subarctic belt. The main zone of its spread is Eastern Siberia. Here the climate is less severe, suitable for living. Temperatures often rise to +12 degrees. Annual rainfall is twice as high - up to 450 mm.

Arctic belt: characteristic

First of all, this climate zone is determined by minimum temperatures. Often the indicators reach -70 degrees. The most unsuitable for life are the peninsulas Yamal and Taimyr. Here the average temperature in winter is about -55 degrees. A little warmer in the area of Spitsbergen and Wrangel.

At the North Pole, the indicators range from -43 degrees. In summer, the temperature can rise to -10 ⁰ C. Where the more loyal weather is observed on the islands of Golomyaniy, Vize, Hayes and Hooker. There, the thermometer's column rises to 0. In Cape Chelyuskin, the average annual figures range from -14 ⁰ С. The Arctic belt warms up to positive temperatures only in the southern regions at the end of the summer period. In August, the indicators can reach +10 degrees. However, this temperature lasts no more than two weeks.

The Arctic belt is covered with powerful ice masses. Their area is more than 2 million square kilometers. Over an ultrashort summer, about 8% of the ocean ice melts. However, with the onset of a climatic winter, the surface of the water freezes again.

Features of the ice cover

The northern regions of the Arctic water area freeze a few meters deep. Annual ice is characterized by a thickness of 1.5 m. With the onset of summer, they almost completely melt. Closer by October, the ice surface begins to form again on the surface of the water.

Perennial masses are much thicker - up to 4 meters. Hummocks form during ice movement. Their thickness often reaches 15 meters. As a result of the influence of the warm current of the Gulf Stream, the ice masses break off, forming icebergs. Their depth (under water) can vary up to hundreds of meters. Arctic ice plays an important role in the world climate system. They reflect the sun, not allowing the Earth to warm up to critical highs. They are also of decisive importance in the circulation of ocean currents.

Arctic Desert

Mainly located on the North Pole. Characterized by scant vegetation and minimum temperatures. Almost the whole surface is covered with ice and snow. This area includes the northern regions of the Canadian archipelago and Greenland.

The Arctic belt has always been characterized as unsuitable for life-climatic conditions. However, the ice desert is the most severe part of the North Pole. Here it is rare to find even lichens and mosses. In the southern regions of the desert there are small oases of buttercups and polar poppies.

The climate here does not have to the development of fauna and flora. Temperature for most of the year is kept below zero. The highest rates are observed at the end of summer - 2 - - 4 ⁰ C. Precipitation is a rare phenomenon.

Nature of the Arctic belt

The plant world is mainly represented by dwarf shrubs and mosses. In the southern areas you can find tall grass and even cereals. On the diversity of flora speech is not. Of flowering plants, only the polar poppy, sedge and saxifrage are distinguished.

The Arctic belt is not rich in the animal world. The dominant inhabitants, the top of the food chain, are polar bears. In the southern part of the Arctic you can find deer, musk oxen, snow sheep, lemmings and polar whites. The most dangerous predators are wolves and arctic foxes. The most common species of mammals in the Arctic are rodents.

Birds arrive only in the summer. Nests are most often in the tundra.

In the water area of the Arctic live walruses, seals, narwhals and mustachioed whales.