The Arctic tundra is extremely cold, temperatures ranging between -50°F through 54°F. The soil forms very slowly due to the cold affecting the chemical reactions. This cold also affects the soil layers. The top layer is the active layer because the rest of the layers are frozen. Unfortunately, these layers never defrost. The soil is thin and poor because the top layer also is covered with permafrost. The rainfall is less than 10 inches (25 centimeters) per year. This biome is different from all others because it has a low species of diversity and animal fluctuations occur widely. There are also many oil spills from oil tankers that wash up on the beach. This oil spills kill countless animals.
