Abiotic Factors of the Arctic Tundra

Defining Non-Living Components

Temperature

Average winter: -34°C (-29°F); summer: 10°C (50°F). Extremes below -40°C/F common. Large diurnal swings.

Precipitation

Low: 150–250 mm (6–10 in) annually, mostly snow accumulating feet deep.

Wind

Frequent gales >100 km/h (62 mph) cause erosion and increase wind-chill stress.

Permafrost

Ground frozen ≥2 consecutive years, up to hundreds of meters thick. Limits root depth, damages infrastructure.

Sunlight Regime

Polar night (weeks of darkness) in winter; midnight sun (weeks of 24-hr daylight) in summer. Drives seasonal biological cycles.

Ecological Impact

These harsh abiotic factors select for specialized, cold-adapted flora/fauna and constrain human activity.