Arctic desert

The Arctic desert ecoregion (WWF ID:PA1101) is a terrestrial ecoregion that covers the island groups of Svalbard, Franz Josef Land, Severny Island and Severnaya Zemlya in the Arctic Ocean, above 75 degrees north latitude. e covered with glaciers, snow, and bare rock in a harshly cold environment. The temperature does rise above freezing for short periods in the summer, so some ice melt occurs, and the area supports colonies of sea birds and mammals.[1] It has an area of 161,400 square kilometres (62,300 sq mi).[2] [3]

Ecoregion: Arctic desert
Bell Island, Franz Joseph Land
Ecoregion territory (in purple)
Ecology
RealmPalearctic
BiomeTundra
Geography
Area161,400 km2 (62,300 sq mi)
CountriesNorway and Russia
Coordinates81°N 55°E / 81; 55

Location and description

The ecoregion stretches 2,000 km west-to-east, and 1,000 km north-to-south, across the Arctic Ocean north of Norway and Russia. It covers the island groups of Svalbard (Norway), Franz Josef Land (Russia), Severny Island (Russia), and Severnaya Zemlya (Russia).

Climate

The region has a Tundra (Koppen classification ET). This climate is characterized by long, cold winters and very short summers with at least one month averaging over 0 °C (32 °F) so that snow or ice might melt, but no month averages over 10 °C (50 °F). Mean precipitation at the Ernst Krenkel Observatory in Franz Josef Land has, since 1961, averaged 294 mm/year, with mean temperatures of −25.6 °C (−14.1 °F) in January, and 0.8 °C (33.4 °F) in July.[4]

Flora and fauna

Plant life is scarce due to the cold climate, but there is moss and lichen vegetation on 5-10% of the territory at low elevations and where bare rock or soil exists. The largest colonies of Ivory gull are found in the region, as well as Atlantic walrus and Polar bear.

Protections

There are significant nationally protected areas in this ecoregion, including:

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See also

References
  1. "Russian Arctic National Park" (in Russian). Russian Arctic National Park. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
  2. "Arctic desert". GlobalSpecies.org. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  3. "Arctic desert". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  4. "Climate Data for Krenkel Polar station". US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Retrieved December 13, 2018.
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