tundra

tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons
The Tundra Biome is one of the most unique Biomes in the world. Covering one tenth of the earth's land area it is a substantial Biome.
Tundra is the coldest of all the biomes.
Tundra comes from the Finnish word tunturi, meaning treeless plain.
It is noted for its frost-molded landscapes, extremely low temperatures, little precipitation, poor nutrients, and short growing seasons.

Major problems
With global warming, the fall freeze comes later and more of the permafrost is melting in the southern Arctic. Shrubs and spruce that previously couldn't take root on the permafrost now dot the landscape, potentially altering the habitat of the native animals.

Another major concern is that the melting of the permafrost is contributing to global warming. Estimates suggest that about 14 percent of the Earth’s carbon is tied up in the permafrost. Until recently, the tundra acted as a carbon sink and captured huge amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as part of photosynthesis.

Today, however, as the permafrost melts and dead plant material decomposes and releases CO2, the tundra has flipped from a carbon sink to a carbon contributor.

Facts

Facts about the Tundra Temperature: The Tundra has extremely cold temperatures. The summer high is around 40 degrees F. The coldest winter temperature gets down to a nipping -25 degrees F. That's much colder than any Biome in the world.
Land: The Tundra is permanently covered by a layer of frozen soil, or permafrost. The permafrost itself can reach between 300 to 1,500 feet deep. The permafrost severely hinders makes plant growth in the tundra.
Day Length: Because of the Tundra's northern position, during the winter, sometimes only a few hours or less of sunlight occur. In contrast, in the summer, the sun is almost up 24 hours a day.
Types of Tundra: There are two different types of Tundra, Polar Tundra and Arctic Tundra. Polar Tundra is found close to the earth's poles and Arctic Tundra is found above the tree level in high mountain ranges.
Precipitation: The average yearly precipitation in the Tundra is usually less than 15 inches.