The tundra climate is midway between sub-arctic and ice cap climates. Tundra conditions exist throughout much of Greenland, in parts of Alaska, northern Canada and in northern Russia. Typically, a tundra will only exist between latitudes of 60 and 75 degrees North. The proximity of a body of water also helps form the tundra climate, as it keeps temperatures from dropping even lower. Aside from the extreme temperatures found in the tundra, the precipitation is quite extreme; with only 6 to 10 inches of rain or snow per year, the tundra is as dry as the driest desert.


While the precipitation level in most tundra environments doesn't exceed 10 inches, there are some exceptions to the trend. In areas of tundra that are closer to oceans or large bodies of water, the precipitation can measure up to 20 inches per year. The city of Nome, Alaska, is in a tundra environment. The city's annual precipitation is 18.4 inches per year. By contrast, Point Barrow, the northernmost United States city, has an annual precipitation of 4.3 inches. In addition to the increased precipitation, coastal tundra areas tend to have more fog. The fog results when air comes in from over the ocean and cools as it reaches the land. When the air cools to its dew point, it produces fog.

Precipitation by Season

In Point Barrow, the majority of the precipitation is in the summer, especially in July. Coastal tundra areas often have greater precipitation in August. However, some tundra areas in Norway actually have the opposite pattern, with the most precipitation in February and March.

Standing Water

Despite the meager precipitation in the tundra, the environment has a notable amount of standing water during much of the year. Every summer, as the temperatures rise, the upper layers of the permafrost begin to melt. The melt-water produced each summer does not soak back into the ground, as the permafrost is not like porous soil. Evaporation is also diminished, given the cold temperatures. As a result, pools of water cover much of the ground. During autumn, as the temperatures drop again, the pools re-freeze.

Alpine Tundra

Usually, "tundra" refers to what is properly known as the arctic tundra. However, similar environmental conditions, such as cold temperatures and low rainfall, are also present in a second biome: the alpine tundra. Alpine tundras typically exist at high elevations and may be found at any latitude. In the United States, Colorado has numeous alpine tundras at elevations of 11,500 feet above sea level, and higher. In Alaska, the same environment is common at elevations as low as a 2,000 or 3,000 feet above sea level.

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