AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Permafrost is soil that is permanently frozen. Permafrost is a permanently frozen layer on or under Earth’s surface. It consists of soil, gravel, and sand, usually bound together by ice. Permafrost usually remains at or below 0°C (32ºF) for at least two years.

Detailed explanation-2: -The Short Answer: Permafrost is any ground that remains completely frozen-32°F (0°C) or colder-for at least two years straight. These permanently frozen grounds are most common in regions with high mountains and in Earth’s higher latitudes-near the North and South Poles.

Detailed explanation-3: -Permafrost is soil, rock or sediment that is frozen for more than two consecutive years. In areas not covered by ice, it exists beneath a layer of soil, rock or sediment, which freezes and thaws annually and is called the “active layer".

Detailed explanation-4: -The plants of the tundra and the permafrost underneath are in balance. Plants growing on the surface absorb solar energy, protecting the permafrost and preventing it from thawing. The permafrost keeps melted water near the surface, where plants need it.

Detailed explanation-5: -About a quarter of the entire northern hemisphere is permafrost, where the ground is frozen year-round. It’s widespread in the Arctic regions of Siberia, Canada, Greenland, and Alaska-where nearly 85 percent of the state sits atop a layer of permafrost.