Algae feed the tiny … In some cases, these coastal cities could be completely underwater. The food chain begins with algae and other tiny organisms that live on and within the sea ice. The biggest see of the Arctic Ocean is the Barents Sea. The males of a fascinating creature found only in the Arctic, the narwhal, has a long straight tusk that can grow to over three meters in length (hence the nickname, the “unicorn of the sea.”) The tusk is actually an enlarged tooth, with sensory abilities. Can those future changes in the Arctic climate be prevented? Sea ice is to the Arctic ecosystem what soil is to the forest. Secondly, Antarctica is the highest of all the continents at an average height of 2,300m (7,546 feet or 1.4 miles) more than twice the average height of Asia, the next in line and 3-6 times as high as the other continents. As part of our countdown to the day, staff scientist Alysa McCall shares nine key facts about Arctic sea ice. Read on and enjoy learning some cool facts related to the Arctic. Sensitive ecosystems exist throughout the Arctic region, which are being impacted dramatically by global warming. In the Arctic tundra, there are polar bears, foxes, and reindeer. The Arctic region is a unique area among Earth's ecosystems. These are the facts: Melting ice speeds up climate change. Phytoplankton and algae take up carbon dioxide from seawater and transform it into the organic carbon of their tissue. The total volume of the Arctic Ocean is 160.7 million mi. It is a sea of ice, surrounded by cold, treeless lands. New Zealand ecosystem research. They have short roots as only the top layer of the … It occupies approximately one … Arctic facts for kids. It is the 5th largest continent in the world and is also the coldest, driest, most windiest location on earth. 1 PDF. The varied landscapes of the Arctic provide for a variety of ecosystems. The arctic tundra is a harsh environment that only the toughest plants and animals can survive in. Arctic changes will affect sources and sinks of important greenhouse gases (methane in particular). Orca/Killer Whale (Orcinus Orca)-One of the most efficient hunters in the Arctic Ocean, these organisms are the apex predators in their ecosystem, lacking natural predators in their habitat. At its center, the Arctic is floating ice that never completely melts. What happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic. The food chain begins with algae and other tiny organisms that live on and within the sea ice. Arctic cod feed on them. The deepest part of the Arctic Ocean is 18,210 feet in the Fram Strait. The Arctic is located at the northernmost part of Earth; The name ‘Arctic’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘bear’. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is dedicated to advancing knowledge of the ocean and its connection with the Earth system through a sustained commitment to excellence in science, engineering, and education, and to the application of this knowledge to problems facing society. When the snow melts, the tough grasses, mosses, and small shrubs have a short, quick growing season. Global warming is causing Arctic ice to melt – ice reflects sunlight, while water absorbs it. It is the most extraordinary, mysterious and enigmatic region on our planet. Arctic facts. The ecosystem of the Arctic Ocean is fragile and is easily disrupted by climate change. Many Arctic species can grow under a layer of snow, and virtually all polar plants are able to photosynthesize in extremely cold temperatures. 1. The walrus was once threatened by commercial hunting, but today the biggest danger it faces is climate change. However, small tundra-like areas exist in Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere. The Arctic Ocean is almost entirely covered by sea ice during the winter season. The Arctic is the region around the North Pole. … 5 Facts About Life In The Arctic Habitat. The total coastline of the Arctic Ocean is 28,203 miles. Despite its unique landscapes and marine … Pre-K, K, 1 - 5. It is relatively self-contained (a Northern Mediterranean); the atmosphere, land, freshwater and sea are highly interconnected (coupled) vertically and laterally. Download and print your favorite marine ecosystem drawings and color … There are six countries that have a border along the Arctic Ocean. Tundra is known for large stretches of bare ground and rock and for patchy mantles of low vegetation such as mosses , lichens , herbs, and small shrubs. Many species living here have evolved special adaptations to live in the harsh environment. The cultures in the region and the Arctic indigenous peoples have adapted to its cold and extreme conditions. The region is cold, dry, and windy. Due to seasonal warming, Arctic sea ice covers less area in the summer than in the winter. Further out are the northern tips of the continents and the large island of Greenland. A focus on scaling based on investigations within these geomorphological units will allow us to deliver a process-rich ecosystem model, extending from bedrock to the top of the vegetative canopy, in which the evolution of Arctic ecosystems in a changing climate can be modeled at the scale of a high resolution Earth System Model grid cell (i.e., 30x30 km grid size). Tundras are most common in the Low Arctic, and polar barrens are dominant in the High Arctic. In the summer months … Contents. The earliest inhabitants of … This is due to the large flow of freshwater into the Arctic Ocean and its low rate of evaporation. Yet, Antarctica has thriving ecosystemson land and in the water. The walrus was once threatened by commercial hunting, but today the biggest danger it faces is climate change. Most of the small plants and thick-haired animals, such as musk ox, in the region live on this land. Arctic ecosystems will face significant stresses and disruptions. In the summer, it is light for 24 hours a day (right at the north and south Poles, the sun doesn’t set for six whole months when it is summer) and in the winter it is dark … Fun Arctic Facts for Kids. An ecosystem is an interacting system made up of animals, plants, microorganisms and the physical and chemical environment they live in. The ground is often permanently frozen so that trees can't grow there. Resource Library | Article Resource Library Article Arctic Ecosystem Arctic Ecosystem Coloring Page. Although these foxes generally live in burrows, they can survive blizzards by tunneling into the snow for shelter. *1 Most of the warming observed in the past 50 years is attributed to human activities and particularly to the burning of fossil fuels. The Arctic can be divided into the Low Arctic and High Arctic, according to various environmental and biological characteristics. Here are 10 fascinating facts about the ecosystem of this remarkable place. Plankton As in most marine environments, phytoplankton (microscopic animals that live in the oceans) are the key food source for many Arctic species, including krill and fish, species that then become food sources for animals further up the chain. Consider that Arctic ice contains around 10 percent of the world’s fresh water and covers 5.4 million square miles. The Arctic is a polar region located at the northernmost part of the Earth. Seals eat Arctic cod. Here is a look at the animals that play a major role in keeping the Arctic ecosystem alive. Freshwater Ecosystems Large Rivers. Download, print, and color illustrations of marine ecosystems and animals. Tundra is a vast and treeless land. They only turn white at the age of five, when they reach sexual maturity. Two of the three research themes supported by Antarctica New Zealand involve protection, conservation and management of Antarctic ecosystems. Due to global warming, however, permafrost layers are beginning to thaw all over the globe, and more rapidly than previously thought at the Arctic. The Arctic, with true seasonal changes brings to life animals that are nonexistent anywhere else on earth, along with … Dark-colored plants … She travels north at the end of every season in Antarctica for repairs and refit, as well as science cruises in the Arctic, before heading south again ready for the next Antarctic summer. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Alaska (United States), Northern Canada (Canada), Finland, Greenland (Denmark), Iceland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. Although a polar bear’s fur appears white, it’s actually nearly transparent, and only appears white thanks to the reflection of the sun off the ice. During the short polar summer, plants use the long hours of sunlight to quickly develop and produce flowers and seeds. It can survive frigid temperatures as low as –58°F with its uniquely adapted furry soles, short ears, and tiny muzzle. The total surface area of the Arctic Ocean is 6 million mi. Antarctica is the highest, whitest, driest, coldest and windiest continent on Earth. The Arctic Ocean can reach remarkably chilly temperatures, as low as -1°C—which would be cold enough to freeze water, were it not for the water's high salt content. When these layers thaw, the carbon contained within the permafrost is released from the soil (along with small amounts of methane) into the atmosphere. A picture of a boat sailing through the Arctic Ocean. Our mission packet contained collectable cards, figurines, stickers and even postcards to teach us all sorts of interesting facts about the Arctic Biome. Algae grow within these channels and form the base of the food chain. The Arctic is a circle of land masses intermingled by the Arctic Ocean, while Antarctica is a solid island of ice. Search Submit Search. Subjects. Polar habitats have just two seasons – summer and winter (but even summer is normally very cold). The first nautical crossing of the Arctic Ocean was by Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen in 1896. Arctic parklands contain many large, open river systems, that meander through broad valleys and contain numerous side channels and sloughs, including the Noatak and Kobuk rivers that drain west into the Kotzebue Sound and the Chukchi Sea. Carbon also cycles through the web from atmosphere to seawater and back. Organic nutrients are thus recycled into the marine ecosystem of the Arctic. At the North Pole, there are almost six months of continuous daylight, although it stays darker longer in the winter. All Rights Reserved. The frigid Arctic region interacts with warmer southern regions of the world, bringing massive cold air to the south in the winter, while warm winds from the south travel north. The Arctic around the North Pole is mostly ocean. The massive amount of ice creates a giant frozen reservoir that keeps the region cool by reflecting sunlight, and, more importantly, stabilizes our global climate. Walrus facts. Below are some really neat facts about the arctic tundra! The North Pole, the most northern point of Earth’s axis of rotation, is in the Arctic Ocean. In conditions like that, you'd expect less salty fish blood to freeze, but it doesn’t. The Antarctic ecosystem is located in Antarctica. Because of the Earth’s tilt, Arctic day and night are topsy turvy. The Arctic Ocean is one of the world’s five oceans. Twitter; Facebook; Pinterest; Google Classroom; Email; Print; Background Info. Just enter your email address to join. The Arctic region is found in the northernmost … The Arctic Ocean contains 1.4% of all the world’s ocean water. You’ve come to the right place! Rivaled only by the Kodiak brown bears native to southwestern Alaska, polar bears are classified as the largest land carnivores in the world and sit proudly at the top of the food chain with a vital role in their icy Arctic ecosystem. The Arctic is not as cold as the Antarctic for two main reasons, firstly the effect of the sea that doesn't fall below -2°C which means that the whole of the arctic polar region and coastal regions are kept relatively warm even though the sea is covered by ice. Location: The arctic tundra can be found in the northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. It’s so cold that creatures often retreat to the sea to warm up. Arctic cod feed on them. Meanwhile, the skin underneath is black, which helps them better absorb the sun's intense rays. The average depth of the Arctic Ocean is 3,953 feet. 1. 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