The arctic tundra looks like a treeless plain, interrupted by patterned ground and an occasional tree in selected microenvironments. View of the Alaskan Tundra. Pattern ground shown in figure 1 is typical of the tundra landscape. Stone polygons, soil circles, stone or soil stripes and terraces are common to both arctic and alpine tundra. These features are created by thrusting action of repeated freezing and thawing of moist soil over a solid substrate like rock or permafrost.
Polygonal patterns dominate flat surfaces.
Vegetation is usually confined to the stable parts of the patterns. Permafrost is a common feature of the arctic tundra climate and biome. Permafrost refers to permanently frozen ground. Actually, the ground has two layers which freeze. Beneath the active layer is the inactive layer which stays frozen throughout the year.