Tundra - Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Alaska's tundra gets very little snow or rain-it's sometimes called a "cold desert." Annual precipitation at Barrow, located on the tundra-covered Coastal Plain, is around 4 inches-far less than annual rainfall of the Mojave Desert.
Tundra - Ecology, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Long, luxurious summer days, and long, bitter winter nights... Springtime explosions of plant growth and insect abundance, and early autumn killing frosts... Gentle rains, and fearsome winds... Animals of Alaska's arctic tundra ecosystem have a lot to deal with throughout the dramatic northern year.
Tundra - Extent, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Where is the Alaska's Tundra? Alaska's many miles of coastline contribute to the distribution of tundra. Tundra forms where average yearly air temperatures are low.
Alaska has 3 major types of tundra that can be generally described by the topographical and geographical location in which they occur. They include: 1) Arctic (high latitude) tundra, 2) alpine (high altitude) tundra, and 3) the maritime tundra present on Alaska’s western and southwestern coast. The dominant plant species of tundra
ALASKA’S TUNDRA & WILDLIFE 2001 23 Polygons Polygons are a common topographic feature in areas with permafrost and seasonal frost. They are formed by contraction cracks enlarged by ice wedges. The pressure created by an ice wedge forces the soil around the crack upward to form two small ridges as much as 11/ 2 feet (0.5 meters) tall.
Important Species - Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Although a few hardy species-including ptarmigan, ravens, snowy owls, and redpolls-remain year-round in the tundra, the bulk of arctic birds are migrants. One of the most dramatic moments in the tundra year is the springtime arrival of these travelers.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game
the cold, windy, treeless environment found in the arctic and maritime subarctic; also called high-latitude tundra and lowland tundra; distinguishable from the alpine tundra (Alaska's Tundra & Wildlife)
Alaska's Tundra & Wildlife Teacher Background Information, Illustrations, and Resources, Student Activities and Investigation CORRELATED TO THE NGSS AND STATE STANDARDS
Tundra - People, Alaska Department of Fish and Game
Abundant wildlife, stunning vistas, and low populations have made Alaska's arctic tundra increasingly popular for hunting, hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing.
Unmated tundra swans gather in small flocks in coastal marshes to spend the summer, and unmated trumpeters often flock on large lakes within their breeding range. Alaska's swans begin flying south in late September or October, depending on the weather.