3.1.2.4 Cold Environments - Polar and Tundra

Question 1

How does the intensity of sunlight in polar regions affect its climate?

Answer 1

• The sun rays (sunlight) have to travel through more atmosphere (a further distance) to reach polar regions, therefore their intensity and warming power is reduced as the sunlight is either reflected, absorbed or scattered, allowing ice to accumulate
• For half of the year the sun never goes above the horizon

Question 2

How does high pressure in Polar regions affect its climate?

Answer 2

areas have less moisture, and reduced precipitation, in some instances less than 10mm a year

Question 3

What temps do polar regions in the Winter have?

Answer 3

Winter temps often fall below -50 degrees C

Question 4

Describe levels of precipitation in Polar regions:

Answer 4

these areas have low precipitation (snow) totals

Question 5

Describe the soil in polar regions:

Answer 5

permanently covered in ice so permanently frozen - permafrost

Question 6

What plants are found in Polar regions and where are they found?

Answer 6

some plants such as lichens and mosses are found on the fringes of the ice

Question 7

Name some animals found in Polar regions:

Answer 7

• polar bears
• penguins in Antarctica

Question 8

Describe the soil in the tundra:

Answer 8

• soils are generally infertile
• water draining through soils removes nutrients - leaching
• soils become waterlogged because water is trapped by permafrost

Question 9

Describe the temperature in the tundra regions:

Answer 9

• less extreme to Polar regions
• Winter temps may drop to -20 degrees C
• brief Summers can be quite warm

Question 10

Describe the precipitation in the tundra:

Answer 10

amounts of precipitation can be high (mainly snow) in coastal regions

Question 11

Describe the types of plants in the tundra:

Answer 11

• low-growing flowering plants such as bearberry, Arctic moss and tutted saxifrage
• low bushes and small trees may grow in warmer regions

Question 12

Describe the animals found in the tundra:

Answer 12

• with more food options and less extreme climate, several animals live here, including the Arctic fox and Arctic hare
• birds such as ptarmigans and insects such as edges and mosquitoes are abundant in the Summer

Question 13

Name all plant adaptations found in cold environments:

Answer 13

• grows close to the ground
• small leaves
• shallow root system
• grow in close proximity to one another
• stem, buds and leaves are covered ins mall hairs
• can photosynthesis in extremely cold weather
• develop and produce seeds in relatively short period of time
• ability to survive on rocke.g. lichen

Question 14

How is plants growing close to the ground an adaptation for plants in cold environments?

Answer 14

reduces damage caused by wind and ice particles

Question 15

How is plants having small leaves an adaptation for plants in cold environments?

Answer 15

conserve water which can be lost through the leaf surface

Question 16

How is plants having a shallow root system an adaptation for plants in cold environments?

Answer 16

Allows the plant to grow in the active layer and avoid the permafrost (a thick of layer of soil that remains permanently frozen)

Question 17

How is plants growing in close proximity to one another an adaptation for plants in cold environments?

Answer 17

each plant acts as a barrier for others from wind and ice particles

Question 18

How is plants’ stems, buds and leaves are covered in small hairs an adaptation for plants in cold environments?

Answer 18

Creates a layer of insulation for protection against cold temps

Question 19

How is plants being able to photosynthesise in extremely cold weather an adaptation for plants in cold environments?

Answer 19

Allows the plant to store energy despite a lack of sunlight for large parts of the year

Question 20

How is plants being able to develop and produce seeds in a relatively short period of time an adaptation for plants in cold environments?

Answer 20

Allows for germination to be possible in a small favourable climatic

Question 21

How is plants being able to ability to survive on a rock e.g. lichen an adaptation for plants in cold environments?

Answer 21

Survival

Question 22

What is the bearberry plant?

Answer 22

• a plant with red berried and bright green waxy leaves
• one of the tundra’s most abundant plants
• bearberry thrives in the tundra environment because it has evolved a number of adaptations

Question 23

What are some adaptations of bearberry plants to the tundra?

Answer 23

• very low-growing (5-15cm off the ground) to enable it to survive the strong winds
• stems have a thick bark for stability in the windy conditions
• small leathery leaves help retain water in this dry environment
• hairy stems help to retain heat and keep the plant safe from very low temperatures
• bright red berries are eaten by birds and owls and this helps to distribute the seeds

Question 24

What are some adaptations of polar bears to Polar regions and how do they help them?

Answer 24

• acute sense of smell = can smell small prey hiding under the ice at a far distance
• white translucent fur = allows camouflage against icy landscapes making it easier to catch prey
• layers of thick fat and fur = protection against the cold and a store of fuel to sustain animal during hibernation, metabolism can also be a good source of water
• large dimpled feet = allows easier grip and spreads the weight of the animal on the ice
• small surface area to volume ratio (round body and short legs) = reduces heat loss
• oil based fur = water particles bead off after swimming reducing chance of water freezing on the animal
• closable nostrils = prevents water from entering the nose when swimming
• black nose, black skin and foot pads = absorbs and insulate heat from sunlight

Question 25

What are some adaptations of lemmings to the tundra and how do they help them?

Answer 25

• thick, coarse, waterproof fur = enables the, to endure the long cold Winters and their waterproof fur helps them stay warm when swimming
• long claws on forefeet and sharp teeth = for tearing and gnawing roots
• stout body, tiny tail and short limbs = to help them conserve energy in the cold environment
• lemmings are active both day and night and tend too follow the same routes from nests to feeding spots until their living area becomes a network of trails a couple of inches below the snow or land surface = helps to protect them from predators

Question 26

Why do cold environments need to be protected?

Answer 26

• many indigenous people live a traditional life here e.g the Inuit who live in Arctic, Alaska, Canada and Greenland depend on the wildlife and survive by hunting and fishing
• cold environments are home to many birds, animals and plants such as penguins, polar bears, the Arctic fox and many species of tundra vegetation
• unpolluted and unspoilt, cold environments are important outdoor laboratories for scientific research such as the effect of climate change
• their beauty and potential for adventure attracts tourists who bring huge benefits to countries such as Norway (Svalbard), Iceland, and Alaska

Question 27

How is krill fishing affecting food chains?

Answer 27

krill fishing is depleting food supplies for whales and penguins in Southern Ocean

Question 28

How does overfishing affect fish?

Answer 28

• can deplete a whole population beyond recovery
• Patagonian Toothfish is currently a concern in Antarctica