Geography of Arctic Region

The northernmost part of the planet is called the Arctic. A large portion of the water in the Arctic is frozen. Glaciers and icebergs are examples of frozen freshwater phenomena. In actuality, 20% of the freshwater on Earth's surface is contained in the glaciers and icebergs of the Arctic.

However, the majority of the Arctic is made up of the Arctic Ocean basin's liquid saltwater. Some areas of the ocean's surface are always or mostly frozen.

Physical Features

The primary physiographic divisions show a close correlation with geologic structure, despite the fact that the Pleistocene glaciations are directly responsible for the detail of the terrain in many places of the Arctic. The Canadian and Baltic shield regions, which are the two largest, share comparable scenery. The region is low and rocky, with several lakes and irregular drainage, west of Hudson Bay, in the southwest of Baffin Island, and in Karelia. More of the earth's surface is made up of uplands, which are typically 1,000 to 2,000 feet above sea level and partially covered in glacial deposits.

They are the Lapland Plateau in northern Scandinavia, the interior of Quebec-Labrador, and portions of the Northwest Territories in Canada. From Labrador to Ellesmere Island in Canada, the eastern rim of the Canadian Shield has been uplifted by crustal processes, and glaciers have divided it into fjords that divide peaks more than 6,000 feet high. The shield's surface in Greenland is shaped like an extended basin, with the ice cap of Greenland covering the lower portion of the shield's surface, which lies below sea level.

The hilly rim is punctured by wide troughs on the east and west coasts, where local and inland-ice glaciers flow to the sea. The mountains rise to a height of almost 10,000 feet in the east.

Division

At the northernmost point on Earth, there is a polar zone called the Arctic. The Arctic is made up of the Arctic Ocean, its neighbouring seas, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Greenland, Northern Ostrobothnia, Kainuu, and Lappi, Iceland, Northern Norway, Murmansk, Siberia, Nenets Okrug, Novaya Zemlya, northernmost Sweden, Västerbotten, Norrbotten, and Lappland, and Alaska in the United States. Seasonal variations in snowfall and ice blanket the land in the Arctic area, which is primarily covered by treeless permafrost (permanently frozen subterranean ice) beneath the tundra.

Seasonal sea ice covers a large portion of the Arctic oceans. One of the most distinctive ecosystems on Earth is that of the Arctic. Indigenous populations of the Arctic and the cultures in the area have adapted to the region's harsh climate. Zooplankton and phytoplankton, fish and marine mammals, birds, terrestrial animals, vegetation, and human societies are all present in the Arctic. The subarctic region encircles arctic territory.

Climate

The Arctic is known for its chilly winters and summers. Low precipitation, with the majority of the area receiving less than 50 cm (20 in), largely in the form of snow. Snow is frequently stirred up by strong winds, giving the impression of constant snowfall. The lowest recorded temperature is roughly 68 °C (90 °F), while wintertime average temperatures can drop as low as 40 °C (40 °F). Oceanic effects help to modify the weather along the Arctic coast, which often experience warmer temperatures and more snowfall than the interior, which is normally drier and colder.

Flora And Fauna

The plants that make up the tundra in the arctic region include dwarf shrubs, graminoids, herbs, lichens, and mosses. These plants all grow quite near to the ground. The bearberry is an excellent illustration of a miniature shrub. The quantity of warmth available for plant growth significantly diminishes as one travels north. The quantity of energy available for maintenance, growth, and reproduction in the northernmost regions is at its metabolic maximum, and slight variations in the total amount of summer warmth have a significant impact.

In the Arctic, trees cannot grow, but in its warmest regions, shrubs are widespread and can grow to a height of 2 m (6 ft 7 in); sedges, mosses, and lichens can form thick layers. Non-vascular plants like lichens and mosses, together with a few stray grasses and forbs, predominate in the coldest regions of the Arctic.

The Arctic hare, lemming, muskox, and caribou are some of the herbivores that live on the tundra. The snowy owl, Arctic fox, Grizzly bear, and Arctic wolf all prey on them. Although it likes to hunt for marine creatures from the ice, the polar bear is also a predator. Additionally, there are numerous marine and avian species that are unique to colder climates. Wolverines, moose, Dall sheep, ermines, and Arctic ground squirrels are some other terrestrial species.

Seals, walruses, and several species of cetaceans, such as baleen whales, narwhals, and belugas, are examples of marine animals. The Larus gulls are a superb and well-known example of a ring species that have been identified in the region of the Arctic Circle.

Glaciers (Greenland)

Depending on where their snow comes from, the glaciers in the North Polar regions can be split into two types. The smaller group is supplied by moisture from the North Pacific Ocean, while the bigger group is centred on the North Atlantic and its surrounding seas. Only the Antarctic Ice Sheet is larger in terms of area than the Greenland Inland Ice. It is around 1,570 miles in length from north to south, with a maximum width of 600 miles, an average thickness of roughly 5,800 feet, and a maximum thickness of 11,000 feet at the island's centre. It is enclosed within a basin by the mountains on the borders and spans more than 650,000 square miles, or roughly 80% of Greenland.

The base of the ice lies 1,000 feet below sea level in the northern interior. Due to this revelation, it has been proposed that Greenland is actually an archipelago rather than a single huge island. The heart of the ice sheet is made up of smooth, gently sloping snowfields that are frequently covered in wind-drifted formations known as sastrugi. Mountains protrude through the ice sheet's margins. In Greenland, there are three main areas where there is no ice: Peary Land in the north; north of Scoresby Sound in the east; and southwest, where the inland ice is isolated from Davis Strait by 100 miles.

Conclusion

The Arctic, which is centred on the North Pole, is a distinct and intriguing environment that may be found at the northernmost point on Earth. It is distinguished by polar climate conditions, frozen freshwater phenomena like glaciers and icebergs, and enormous stretches of liquid saltwater in the Arctic Ocean basin. The Arctic's physical characteristics display a variety of landscapes, from low, rocky areas to mountainous terrain and the enormous Greenland ice cover.

The Arctic's flora and wildlife have adapted to the severe environment, which is recognized for its frigid winters and cool, rainless summers. Some of the distinctive features of the Arctic include tundra plants, herbivores like Arctic hare and caribou, and predators like the polar bear and Arctic fox.

FAQs

1. What is the Arctic?

The Arctic is the northernmost region of Earth, centered on the North Pole, known for its polar climatic conditions and unique physical characteristics.

2. What percentage of the Earth's freshwater is found in the Arctic?

Approximately 20% of the Earth's freshwater is contained in the glaciers and icebergs of the Arctic.

3. What are the primary physiographic divisions in the Arctic?

The primary physiographic divisions in the Arctic include low and rocky regions, uplands covered in glacial deposits, and fjord-filled mountains.

4. What kind of climate does the Arctic have?

The Arctic has cold winters and cool summers, with low precipitation, mainly in the form of snow. The lowest recorded temperature is around -68 °C (-90 °F).

5. What are some of the unique animals found in the Arctic?

The Arctic is home to various unique animals, including the Arctic hare, caribou, polar bear, Arctic fox, and marine creatures like seals, walruses, and cetaceans.