Arctic

Frozen seas and tundra at the top of the world.

Sea ice, tundra and cold ocean around the North Pole, where life follows extreme seasons.

Overview

The Arctic is a frozen ocean surrounded by land. In winter, sea ice spreads across the sea and the sun barely rises; in summer, the ice shrinks, the tundra thaws at the surface and daylight lasts around the clock. Animals depend on the ice for hunting, resting and raising young, and many migrate here only for the brief summer.

Climate

Long, very cold winters and short, cool summers, with extreme changes in daylight.

Where it is found

North of the Arctic Circle — the Arctic Ocean and the northern edges of North America, Europe and Asia.

Vegetation

Treeless tundra of mosses, lichens, grasses and low shrubs over permanently frozen ground.

Living conditions

  • Daylight: Polar day in summer and polar night in winter.
  • Sea ice: Grows each winter and shrinks to its minimum in late summer.
  • Permafrost: Ground that stays frozen all year limits roots and drainage.

Key facts

  • Latitude: North of about 66.5° N (Arctic Circle)
  • Seasonality: Polar day and polar night
  • Sea ice: Lowest extent each September (NSIDC)

How the ecosystem works

  • Ice-dependent life: Polar bears and seals rely on sea ice to hunt and breed.
  • Summer pulse: Migratory birds arrive to feed on the summer burst of insects.
  • Insulation: Thick fur, fat and small ears keep heat in.

Food web

Producers
Ice algae, Phytoplankton, Lichens & mosses
Grazers
Zooplankton, Arctic fish, Caribou
Predators
Polar bear, Gray wolf, Seals
Decomposers
Cold-adapted bacteria, Fungi

Biodiversity

Fewer species than warmer regions, but highly specialised ones — and huge seasonal gatherings of migratory birds and marine mammals.

Threats

  • Rapid warming — The Arctic is warming faster than the global average.
  • Sea-ice loss — Less summer ice means less hunting ground for ice-dependent animals.
  • Pollution — Pollutants carried from far away build up in Arctic food webs.

Conservation

The Arctic helps cool the whole planet. What happens to its ice affects sea levels, weather and wildlife far beyond the polar circle.

  • Reducing global emissions is the biggest lever.
  • Protecting key feeding and breeding areas.
  • Limiting shipping and oil risks in fragile waters.

Species in this habitat

Stories from this habitat