Benefits

While the Arctic Tundra isn't very well suited for human living conditions, it continues to play a rather large role on people's everyday lives. One of its more important roles is as one of the world's major "carbon sinks." This means that it absorbs more carbon than it actually lets out. When plants die and decompose they release carbon into the air; however, plants in the Arctic Tundra freeze before they can decompose, thus trapping the carbon in the ice and preventing so much excess carbon from going into the atmosphere. Another benefit is that all of the frozen ice keeps sea levels relatively lower. Were it to melt, sea levels would rise and have a great effect on lives near coastal areas and on islands.