Southern Arctic

Southern Arctic

The Southern Arctic is a Canadian terrestrial ecozone which spans the northern coast of mainland Northwest Territories, most of northern mainland Nunavut excepting the northeast peninsula, and a portion of northwestern Quebec. Its two constituent territories are interrupted by Hudson Bay.

It is sparsely populated, with less than 10,000 inhabitants in 17 major settlements, the largest of which is Rankin Inlet. About 80% of the population is Inuit.Cite web
url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/vignettes/Terrestrial/sa/human.cfm
title=Human Activities in the Southern Arctic Ecozone
work=Southern Arctic Ecozone
publisher=Environment Canada
accessdate=2008-02-07
]

It includes Ivvavik National Park and Tuktut Nogait National Park.Cite web
url=http://www.pc.gc.ca/apprendre-learn/prof/itm2-crp-trc/htm/ecozone03_e.asp
title=Southern Arctic Ecozone
publisher=Parks Canada
accessdate=2008-02-07
]

Geography

Its southern boundary demarcates the tree line, and to the north it meets the Northern Arctic terrestrial ecozone and the Arctic Archipelago Marine ecozone. It was formed from glacial deposits left by retreating glaciers about 8,500 years ago, which amassed into moraines cut by long eskers up to 100 km long.Cite web
url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/vignettes/Terrestrial/sa/land.cfm
title=Landforms and Climate of the Southern Arctic Ecozone
work=Southern Arctic Ecozone
publisher=Environment Canada
accessdate=2008-02-07
] The scouring of the land by the 3 km thick glaciers left numerous depressions, some of which contained stray chunks of ice that, upon melting during warmer periods, created kettle lakes and ponds. The Precambrian granite bedrock of the Canadian Shield protrudes to the surface through other sedimentary deposits in some areas. Moreover, glacial erratic chunks of this rock may have been transported to other areas by the ice sheet, sometimes into surroundings with no common elements.

Permafrost occurs in a continuous, permanent sheet throughout the zone,Cite web
url=http://canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/ecozones/southernarctic/southernarctic.htm
title=Southern Arctic
work=Canada's Ecozones, Canadian Biodiversity project
last=Bernhardt
first=Torsten
publisher=McGill University, Redpath Museum
accessdate=2008-02-07
] which consists primarily of rollings plains. Just a few centimetres from the surface in some parts, it prevents water from penetrating deep into the soil, hence pooling and creating waterlogged soil that freezes regularly. Cyclic freezing and thawing of the soils results in irregular features throughout the terrain, including hummocks and polygonal shapes.

The land is characterised by "sprawling shrublands, wet sedge meadows, and cold, clear lakes".Cite web
url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/soer-ree/English/vignettes/Terrestrial/sa/default.cfm
title="Treeless North"
work=Southern Arctic Ecozone
publisher=Environment Canada
accessdate=2008-02-07
]

Climate

The ecozone experiences short summers which are cool and moist, with mean July temperatures of about 10ºC. Winters are long, dark and bitterly cold, with average January mean temperatures of -30ºC. The area in Quebec is relatively warmer, with mean January temperatures of -18ºC.

Annual precipitation increases eastward through the zone, with 250 mm in the west and no more than 500 mm in the east. It also varies latitudinally, with about twice as much precipitation at its southern edge than at the northern fringes.

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • arctic — arctically, adv. /ahrk tik/ or, esp. for 7, /ahr tik/, adj. 1. (often cap.) of, pertaining to, or located at or near the North Pole: the arctic region. 2. coming from the North Pole or the arctic region: an arctic wind. 3. characteristic of the… …   Universalium

  • Arctic Archipelago Marine — The Arctic Archipelago is a marine ecozone in the Canadian arctic, encompassing Hudson Bay, James Bay, the internal waters and some shores of the islands in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, and the shores of the territories, northern Ontario and… …   Wikipedia

  • Arctic Ocean — Arctic Sea redirects here. For the cargo ship, see MV Arctic Sea. The Arctic Ocean Earth s oceans (World Ocean) …   Wikipedia

  • Arctic Lemming — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)[1] …   Wikipedia

  • Southern Cone — Area 4,944,081 square kilometres (1,908,920 sq mi) Population 135,707,204 (July 2010 est.) Density 27.45 /km2 (71.1 /sq  …   Wikipedia

  • Southern Cross (aircraft) — Southern Cross is the name of the Fokker F.VIIb/3m trimotor monoplane which in 1928 was flown by Australian aviator Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and his crew in the first ever trans Pacific flight, from the mainland United States of America to… …   Wikipedia

  • Arctic Refuge drilling controversy — Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Map The question of whether to drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been an ongoing political controversy in the United States since 1977.[1] The issue has been used by both Democrats and …   Wikipedia

  • Arctic warfare — or winter warfare is a term used to describe armed conflict that takes place in an exceptionally cold weather, usually in snowy and icy terrain, sometimes on ice covered bodies of water. One must note the distinction between alpine and Arctic… …   Wikipedia

  • Southern elephant seal — Male (Bull) Female (Cow) …   Wikipedia

  • Arctic Redpoll — Conservation status Least Concern (IUCN 3.1 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”