In this chilly biome, the annual average temperature is -18 ºF (-28 ºC), which makes it extremely difficult for plants and animals to survive. During the winter it can get as cold as -94° F (-70° C,) and in the summer it only goes up to 54ºF (12º). To add to the struggle, the arctic tundra only receives 6-10 inches (15-25 cm) of precipitation per year, which is mostly snow. This is a desert-like amount of rainfall.
The soil in the arctic tundra is very low in nutrients and minerals -- except for where animals defecate. There is a frozen layer of soil 10 inches to 3 feet under the surface called permafrost. When the top layer of the permafrost melts, streams, marshes and bogs are formed on the surface.
The soil in the arctic tundra is very low in nutrients and minerals -- except for where animals defecate. There is a frozen layer of soil 10 inches to 3 feet under the surface called permafrost. When the top layer of the permafrost melts, streams, marshes and bogs are formed on the surface.