The Arctic desertecoregion (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. The region is 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][4]
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).
Climateedit
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.[5]
Flora and faunaedit
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.
Protectionsedit
Over 36% of the ecoregion is in an officially protected area,[4] including all or a portion of:
^"Russian Arctic National Park" (in Russian). Russian Arctic National Park. Retrieved December 13, 2018.
^. GlobalSpecies.org. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^"Arctic desert". World Wildlife Federation. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^ ab"Arctic desert". Digital Observatory for Protected Areas. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
^"Climate Data for Krenkel Polar station". US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Retrieved December 13, 2018.
January 01, 1970
arctic, desert, ecoregion, pa1101, terrestrial, ecoregion, that, covers, island, groups, svalbard, franz, josef, land, severny, island, severnaya, zemlya, arctic, ocean, above, degrees, north, latitude, region, covered, with, glaciers, snow, bare, rock, harshl. 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 The region is 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 4 Arctic desertBell Island Franz Joseph LandEcoregion territory in purple EcologyRealmPalearcticBiomeTundraGeographyArea161 400 km2 62 300 sq mi CountriesNorwayRussiaCoordinates81 N 55 E 81 N 55 E 81 55 Contents 1 Location and description 2 Climate 3 Flora and fauna 4 Protections 5 See also 6 ReferencesLocation and description editThe 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 editThe 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 5 Flora and fauna editPlant 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 editOver 36 of the ecoregion is in an officially protected area 4 including all or a portion of Forlandet National Park Norway covering Prins Karls Forland island Nordaust Svalbard Nature Reserve Norway covering many islands in the Svalbard archipelago much of which is glaciated Nordvest Spitsbergen National Park Norway covering the northwestern portion of Spitsbergen island Nordre Isfjorden National Park Norway covering a fjord in central Spitzbergen Russian Arctic National Park Russia covering Franz Josef Land the northern tip of Severnaya Zemly and other islands Sor Spitsbergen National Park Norway covering the southern portion of Spitsbergen island Soraust Svalbard Nature Reserve Norway covering the southeastern portion of the Svalbard archipelago See also editList of ecoregions in Russia List of ecoregions in EuropeReferences edit Russian Arctic National Park in Russian Russian Arctic National Park Retrieved December 13 2018 Arctic desert GlobalSpecies org Archived from the original on December 15 2018 Retrieved November 20 2018 Arctic desert World Wildlife Federation Retrieved November 20 2018 a b Arctic desert Digital Observatory for Protected Areas Retrieved October 19 2020 Climate Data for Krenkel Polar station US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA Retrieved December 13 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arctic desert amp oldid 1141580716, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
