"Ooh! Before I answer, that reminds me of another important element of the cryosphere. It's called permafrost, and it describes ground that has been frozen for two or more years. Needless to say, we have tons of permafrost in the Arctic! During the summer - and yes, we do have a summer here - the top layer of permafrost, called the active layer, thaws which allow plants to grow. To answer your question: the ground here doesn't stay frozen forever, and the snow does melt, especially when it's warm in the summer. Compared to the Antarctic, there is a lot more opportunity for plant life here."