COLD DESERT

E N V I R O N M E N T A L S C I E N C EP E R I O D 3

B Y : C H R I S T I A N D U N C A N

CLIMATE Cold deserts are cold winters in deserts with snowfall.Cold deserts are found on the peaks of high mountains and

near the poles.Cold deserts have high rainfall throughout the winter and

occasionally over the summer.They occur in parts of Antarctic, inland mountains in Greenland

and the Nearctic realm.They have short, moist, and moderately warm summers with

fairly long, cold winters.

PLANTSCold desert’s soil is a mix of stones, gravel, and clay creating

rocky soil. The soil is also heavy and salty. It contains alluvial fans where soil is relatively porous.The plants are widely scattered. Plant heights vary between 15 cm and 122 cm.The main plants are deciduous, most having spiny leaves.They are mountain avens, arctic poppies, buttercups, arctic

azaleas, arctic lupines, mosses, grasses, and herbs. Near the coast , there are flowering plants.

ANIMALSThe animals of the cold desert are jack rabbits, kangaroo rats,

kangaroo mice, pocket mice, grasshopper mice, penguins, seals, walrus, polar bears and antelope ground squirrels. (mostly visitors)

All except the jack rabbits are burrowers.The deer are only found in the winter.The burrowing habit also applies to carnivores like the badger,

kit fox, and coyote. Bacteria and algae, and some tiny nematode worms live in the

lake.

HUMAN IMPACTGlobal warming affects the cold desert by reducing the ability

of its soil to absorb SOC(carbon storage).Pollution affects the cold desert by the windblown dust

affecting the soil negatively.Climate change of the cold desert causes droughts, snow-

storms, blizzards to occur more frequently.

CITATIONShttp://www.world-builders.org/lessons/less/biomes/desert/cold-des.htmlhttp://

www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibits/biomes/deserts.php#coldhttp://kerrapes.wikispaces.com/Cold+Desert+Biome