The Arctic environment is very fragile.
The tundra biome is the coldest of all climate regions. The word "tundra" is derived from a Finnish word which means treeless plain. The Arctic tundra is located in the northern hemisphere, a region that circles the north pole and extends to the coniferous forests of the taiga. Below the thin tundra soil is the permafrost, a permanently frozen layer of earth. Certain activities add to the world's environmental problems due to their effect on the tundra.
Oil
Oil companies build huge oil producing complexes.
Mining companies like Prudhoe Bay, which is located on Alaska's North Slope, build huge oil producing complexes linked to the city centers by an intrusive network of gravel supply roads. Not only do they build roads, the oil companies also construct oil and gas pipelines across hundreds of miles of tundra and formerly pristine mountain ranges leaving scars from the construction etched deep into the landscape. Not only are these pipelines a blight on the landscape, some of them rust and leak, further eroding the environment. Oil spills are also a huge environmental problem. The Exxon Valdez incident that occurred in Alaska's Prince William Sound in 1989 is a good example. Oil spills in this tundra take a long time to dissipate due to the low temperature in the tundra. These oil spills damage the tundra ecosystems and kill wildlife like polar bears and seals which may ingest the oil through contaminated fish or by licking oiled fur.
Human and Industrial Waste
The human population in the tundra is still relatively low, but the effcet of the byproducts of human habitation can be seen in the form of buildings and roads that put pressure on the permafrost, leading to melting. Tundra plants are very fragile; in the summer, the ground thaws just enough for plants to grow. The growing season lasts between 50 to 60 days only. These plants are damaged by buildings. Without the cover of plants, soil erosion can set in. Dust and grime from human activity can make the ice darker, reducing the amount of heat reflected from the ice and contributing to global warming. Air pollution from fires may lead to smog clouds that contaminate lichen, an important source of food for many animals.
Nuclear Waste
The tundra biome environment also suffers from the effects of dumping of nuclear waste and other contaminants. For instance, nuclear test explosions have been carried out near Novaya Zemlya, located in the Russian Arctic, leading to radioactive activity in the northern Atlantic and Barents Sea.
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