Arctic Climate
The Arctic experiences harsh temperatures with cold winters reaching as low as -40°C while coastal areas are moderate due to ocean currents allowing temperatures to reach as high as 9°C. Precipitation mainly falls in the form of snow at around 50 cm annually. However high winds reaching up to 40 miles an hour often give the illusion of continuous snowfall. Due to freezing temperatures northern areas have less plant growth as the warmth needed to sustain plant life disappears. Due to this trees cannot grow on the northern most areas of the arctic. Yet low plant growth is not scarce as many plants such as dwarf shrubs, graminoids, herbs, lichens and mosses grow in the tundra.