Subarctic climate

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/subarctic-climate

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the köppen climate classification codes?Dfc, Dwc, Dsc, Dfd, Dwd, Dsd
2. What is the geographic location?Primarily continental interiors of the Northern Hemisphere, latitudes 50°N to 70°N
3. Why are winters so long in subarctic regions?Winters are long because the land is far from the ocean’s heat and the air stays cold for months. The sun is low in the sky, so it doesn’t warm the ground much. This makes snow stay on the ground for six to eight months.
4. How do plants survive the short summer in subarctic areas?Plants grow fast during the short summer. They are usually conifer trees like spruce, fir, and pine that have needles to keep water and handle snow. They can finish their life cycle quickly before the cold returns.

Albedo: The measure of how much light that hits a surface is reflected without being absorbed.
Phenology: The study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life.
Taiga: The vast, swampy, coniferous forest of northern Russia and other northern regions, also known as the boreal forest.