The Arctic is a polar area situated in the far north of the planet.The Arctic Ocean, neighboring waters, and areas of Canada, Alaska (USA), Greenland (Denmark), Finland, Iceland, Russia, Sweden, and Norway make up the Arctic. Snow and ice cover the land in the Arctic region, with mostly treeless arctic permafrost (permanently frozen subterranean ice) including tundra.Many sites in the Arctic circle have seasonal sea ice, popularly also known as Arctic ice.The Arctic ecology is unlike any other on the planet. The region’s civilization and indigenous people of the Arctic have adapted to the region’s cold and harsh climate. Phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish and marine mammals, birds, terrestrial animals, plants, human societies, and polar bears live in the Arctic. The subarctic zone separates the Arctic from the rest of the world.Typical Characteristics Of The ArcticCold winters and chilly summers define the typical Arctic characteristics. Its precipitation is largely in the form of snow and is infrequent, with most areas getting less than 20 in (50 cm).High gusts often agitate snow, giving the appearance of continual snowfall. The average temperature of the Arctic is about 40 F (4.4 C), with the lowest recorded temperature being around -30 F (-34 C) due to a lack of direct sunlight. Ocean currents moderate climates of the coastal plain of the Arctic, which usually has milder temperatures and heavier snowfalls than the colder and dry core regions. Current climate change and global warming is affecting the Arctic regions and their glacier ice, resulting in Arctic sea ice loss, less ice in the East Greenland ice sheet, and Arctic methane emission as permafrost thaws. Polar amplification is connected to the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet.The Arctic area (as defined by the tree line and temperature) is decreasing due to the poleward migration of the planet’s isotherms, approximately 35 mi (56 km) every decade over the last 30 years as a result of global warming. Arctic sea ice loss is perhaps the most concerning consequence of this. Arctic sea ice loss predictions vary widely, with forecasts ranging from near-total to full disappearance in September between 2035 -2067.Distinctive Characteristics Of The ArcticShort growth seasons with long periods of sunshine, as well as cold, gloomy, snow-covered winter conditions, define Arctic life. Dwarf shrubs, mosses, graminoids, lichens, and herbs, all of which grow relatively near to the frozen ground and create tundra, make up Arctic vegetation.The bearberry is an example of a dwarf shrub. The quantity of warmth obtainable for plant development dramatically drops as you proceed north. Plants in the far north have reached their metabolic limitations, and slight changes in total summer temperature due to human activities result in enormous disparities in the quantity of energy accessible for maintenance, growth, and reproduction. Plant size, abundance, productivity, and diversity decline as summer temperatures cool. Trees cannot grow in the Arctic, although shrubs may reach 6.6 ft (2 m) in height, and sedges, mosses, and lichens can create a thick layer in the warmest sections. Much of the ground in the Arctic’s coldest regions are barren; non-vascular plants like lichens, mosses, and a few scattered types of grass, and forbs prevail (like the Arctic poppy).Arctic hares, caribou, muskox, and lemmings are among the tundra’s herbivores. Polar bears, Arctic foxes, snowy owls, and grizzly bears all feast on them. Polar bears are predators as well, however, they prefer to hunt for marine creatures from the snow and ice of the arctic waters. Many avian and marine species are peculiar to colder climates. Wolverines, moose, Dall sheep, ermines, and Arctic ground squirrels are other terrestrial mammals. Seals, walruses, and various species of cetaceans, including baleen whales, killer whales, narwhals, and beluga whales, are among marine animals. Larus gulls are a good and well-known example of a ring species that have been described near the Arctic Circle.Special Characteristics Of The ArcticNatural resources (oil and gas, fresh water, minerals, fish, and forest if the subarctic is included) abound in the Arctic, modern technology and Russia’s economic opening-up have created substantial new prospects. The tourist sector is also becoming more interested in Arctic nations. However, the oil and gas industry is causing a lot of havoc in this winter wonderland.This snow land is home to one of the world’s last and largest continuous wilderness regions, and its importance in conserving biodiversity and genetics is enormous. Unfortunately, humans are fragmenting key ecosystems as they become more prevalent. The Arctic is especially vulnerable to the abrasion of coastal plain and the disruption of the region’s scarce nesting sites for the region’s wildlife. The Arctic also contains one-fifth of the world’s water supply.Peculiar Characteristics Of The ArcticThe Arctic experienced periodic snows throughout the Cretaceous era, but just a thin dusting and not enough to prevent plant development permanently.Animals including Troodos, Chasmosaurus, Edmontosaurus, and Hypacrosaurus may have traveled north to take advantage of the summer growing season, then returned south when winter arrived. A similar condition may have existed among dinosaurs that lived in Antarctica or North Atlantic, such as the Australian Muttaburrasaurus.On the other hand, others say that dinosaurs lived year-round in very high latitudes, such as along the Colville River, which is today at 70 degrees north but was 10 degrees north at the time (70 million years ago).The Arctic small tool tradition (AST) refers to the oldest people of North America’s central and eastern Arctic, who lived around 2500 BCE. The Independence and Pre-Dorset civilizations were among the Paleo-Eskimo groups of AST. The Dorset culture (Inuktitut: Tuniit or Tunit) refers to the indigenous peoples of the Arctic’s central and eastern regions. During the era 1050–550 BCE, the Dorset culture emerged as a result of technical and economic advances. However, the Dorset culture perished circa 1500 CE, excluding the Quebec/Labrador peninsula.Did You Know…Antarctica is a landmass that is surrounded by ocean, while the Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land.There are fears that melting Arctic glaciers and sea ice could increase global sea levels and if enough freshwater is delivered to the Atlantic Ocean, ocean currents will alter.The word ‘arctic’ stems from the Greek word ‘arktos,’ which means ‘bear.’ The name is derived from the constellations, Ursa Minor (Little Bear) and Ursa Major (Big Bear) in the northern sky of the Arctic (Great Bear).To prevent the loss of tundra and sea ice in the Arctic, the National Wildlife Federation tries to limit Arctic oil drilling and tackle climate change.The indigenous population of the Arctic, have spread over the Arctic areas of Eastern Russia, Canada, Greenland, and the United States over time.The Arctic consists of more than simply the snow-covered landscape that most people associate with the Arctic. Sea ice, coastal marshes, highland tundra, glaciers, mountains, broad rivers, and the sea itself are among the varied and frequently stunning scenery.The Northwest Passage (NWP) is a canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific seas and runs along the north-side coast of North America, passing via the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.Climate change is truly wreaking havoc near the Arctic Ocean, which is warming faster than anyplace else on the planet.The extraction of oil and gas and other raw resources from this snowy land is responsible for the rapid climate change which is happening around the globe.The two most distinctive features of the Arctic Ocean are its polar bears and sea ice.Polar regions, like the Arctic, have long, frigid winters, with average yearly temperatures far below freezing, which are common. Polar regions are often windy and have minimal precipitation. Polar landscapes are covered with permanent ice covers.There are hundreds of moss, algae, and lichen species that thrive in the extreme circumstances of the polar biome. Other plants have a slim chance of surviving. Penguins exist in the Antarctic, whereas polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar areas are also home to whales, seals, and snowy owls.The Arctic Circle is one among the two polar circles, as well as the most northern of the five main latitude circles on Earth’s maps.The Arctic touches three continents, namely Asia, Europe, and North America. It covers eight countries, that is, the United States, Finland, Russia, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, Norway, and Sweden.The significance of the Arctic Circle is that on the December solstice, the Sun rises beyond the horizon at the Arctic Circle, which is the furthest north.Because the average precipitation is between 5.9-9.8 in (14.9 cm-25 cm). Most of the Arctic, including the Arctic basin, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and the North Pole, is considered a desert.The Arctic Circle of Canada is situated north of 66 degrees. The Arctic makes up over 40% of Canada’s landmass, and it is home to over 100,000 Canadians.The Arctic Ocean, produced thousands of years ago by the Eurasian Plate pushing towards the Pacific Plate, makes up the bulk of the Arctic.There is no land at the North Pole, it is all ice.
The Arctic is a polar area situated in the far north of the planet.
