Tundra - glossary
Albedo: The fraction of of solar radiation that is reflected back into space.
Antarctic Circle: The parallel of 66.5 degrees south latitude.
Arctic Circle: The parallel of 66.5 degrees north latitude.
Atmosphere: The gaseous envelope surrounding Earth.
Biosphere: The living organisms of Earth.
Boreal forest (taiga): a needle-leaf forest in sub-arctic regions of Eurasia and North America.
Carrying capacity: In the case of tourism, carrying capacity refers to the number of visitors or activities that can take place in an area without environmental degradation occurring.
Climate: Weather conditions of a long period of time.
Evaporation: When liquid water is converted to gaseous water vapour.
Glacier: a large natural accumulation of land ice that flows downhill, or outwards from the it point of accumulation.
Hydrosphere: All water on Earth, including lakes, rivers, oceans, groundwater, etc.
Ice Sheet: A blanket of ice that completely covers the underlying terrain.
Lithosphere: the solid, inorganic portion of the Earth's surface.
Polar High: A high pressure system over either polar region.
Subpolar Low: A zone of low pressure situated at about 50-60 degrees latitude (either North or South). Also known as a polar front.
Taiga: see boreal forest.
Tundra: a treeless region, where low growing plants such as moss, heath and lichens grow and where subsoil is permafrost or permanently frozen soil.
Permafrost: permanently frozen, impermeable ground (upper layers may thaw during summer). It results when ground surface temperatures remain below freezing point for long periods.
Weather: short-term atmospheric conditions (day-to-day).
Antarctic Circle: The parallel of 66.5 degrees south latitude.
Arctic Circle: The parallel of 66.5 degrees north latitude.
Atmosphere: The gaseous envelope surrounding Earth.
Biosphere: The living organisms of Earth.
Boreal forest (taiga): a needle-leaf forest in sub-arctic regions of Eurasia and North America.
Carrying capacity: In the case of tourism, carrying capacity refers to the number of visitors or activities that can take place in an area without environmental degradation occurring.
Climate: Weather conditions of a long period of time.
Evaporation: When liquid water is converted to gaseous water vapour.
Glacier: a large natural accumulation of land ice that flows downhill, or outwards from the it point of accumulation.
Hydrosphere: All water on Earth, including lakes, rivers, oceans, groundwater, etc.
Ice Sheet: A blanket of ice that completely covers the underlying terrain.
Lithosphere: the solid, inorganic portion of the Earth's surface.
Polar High: A high pressure system over either polar region.
Subpolar Low: A zone of low pressure situated at about 50-60 degrees latitude (either North or South). Also known as a polar front.
Taiga: see boreal forest.
Tundra: a treeless region, where low growing plants such as moss, heath and lichens grow and where subsoil is permafrost or permanently frozen soil.
Permafrost: permanently frozen, impermeable ground (upper layers may thaw during summer). It results when ground surface temperatures remain below freezing point for long periods.
Weather: short-term atmospheric conditions (day-to-day).
