Is there a polar night in the mountain tundra? The answer is obvious

On the northern outskirts of Europe, Asia and America, the tundra reigns. In the Southern Hemisphere, it occurs only on some Antarctic islands. The zone of the tundra stretches along the northern border of Russia, washed by the Arctic Ocean.

A unique and harsh natural area

In appearance it is a gloomy, inhospitable and deserted region. Nine months in the year here prevails winter, long and boring stretches the polar night. To the treeless, bare earth comes the dull light of the cold moon. Lonely stars flicker mildly. Pleases a rare sight, fabulous in its beauty, the northern lights.

On this lifeless soil, bounded by frost to tens, in places and hundreds of meters deep, rare mosses and lone lichens grow. Slightly to the south, short shrubs took root, which started their roots in the peaty ground.

In order to answer the question of whether there is a polar night in the mountain tundra, it is necessary to understand the definition of this ecosystem.

The Amazing Biome

Mountain tundra, also called "highland", is called the existing type of ecosystem, located on a vertical scheme of zones. The territory of this natural biome stretches from the snow-glacial belt to the mountain forest. Its boundary corresponds to a layer of forest massifs and runs along the line of snows. The boundary of the climatic belt is the average summer isotherm + 10 °. This altitude zone is typical for mountain ranges of subarctic and temperate zones.

The main differences between the mountain tundra and the Arctic tundra are the best drainage of soils and a weak bogging of the soil.

Weather conditions of the northern lands

A scientific explanation of whether there is a polar night in the mountain tundra is the climate of this zone. These areas are characterized by extremely low air temperature with a decrease in accordance with the adiabatic gradient of 1 ° C for every 100-200 m of altitude. Typical for the mountain tundra is the negative mean annual air temperature. Here a strong wind prevails, and solar activity is characterized by high activity. The zone is characterized by rarefied air, uneven distribution, intensive change of its humidity. The snow cover is distributed non-uniformly.

Explain whether there is a polar night in the mountain tundra, and the specific location of the zone will help. This natural phenomenon occurs in those mountain areas that are located territorially beyond the Arctic Circle. Polar night does not happen if the highlands are located in the more southerly natural areas, which are characterized by a temperate climate. After all, in this locality, the alternation of day and night occurs in the same way as in coniferous or broad-leaved forests. And the main condition for the onset of the polar night is the exceptionally constant presence of low temperatures. And the only reason for this phenomenon is the geographical breadth, even the northern, though southern. The main thing is the maximum distance from the northern or southern polar circle to the poles.

Winter: severe frost and impenetrable darkness

Having figured out whether there is a polar night in the mountain tundra, let's try to establish its definition and duration. This natural phenomenon is called the period when the Sun does not appear because of the horizon more than a day. This is a consequence of the inclination at an angle of 23.5 ° of the axis of rotation of our planet to the plane of the ecliptic. The shortest period (about two days) the polar night lasts on the latitude of the Arctic Circle. The maximum duration of the phenomenon is about six months, which is typical of the South Pole.

Polar night in the tundra lasts an average of 1-2 months and occurs during the winter. This season is extremely severe weather conditions. Thus, the average temperature in January is at -25-35 ° C. Snow-covered mountain ranges, pierced by the icy wind, in the winter look lifeless. Even a permanent inhabitant of the mountain tundra - the reindeer - often rushes to the south in search of food. The conditions of being in this severe zone are hard, and the polar night is a challenge to nature for all living things.