3.1.4.2 The Nature And Distribution Of Cold Environments

Question 1

4 cold environments

Answer 1

Periglacial (tundra)
Glacial
Polar
Alpine

Question 2

Where are tundra areas only found

Answer 2

On the edges of land masses in the northern hemisphere

Question 3

2 e.gs of areas with tundra environments

Answer 3

Greenland
Canada
Siberia

Question 4

What’s climate like in periglacial enviornments

Answer 4

Generally cold
Precipitation varies
Brief, mild summers and long,cold winters

Question 5

What’s soil like in periglacial environment

Answer 5

Thin, acidic, not fertile

Question 6

What are the 2 layers of soil in tundra

Answer 6

Permafrost layer topped with layer of soil that melts in summer

Question 7

What’s permafrost

Answer 7

Soil and rocks that have been permanently frozen below ground for a period greater than a year

Question 8

What type of layer is formed during the brief summer months when lying snow will melt and the upper part of the permafrost

Answer 8

Saturated and mobile active layer

Question 9

What lakes are common in poorly drained tundras

Answer 9

Thaw lakes

Question 10

What are unfrozen zones underground called

Answer 10

Taliks

Question 11

What do plants grow like in periglacial

Answer 11

Slowly and not very tall

Question 12

What’s most common type of plant in tundra

Answer 12

Grass

Question 13

What root systems do plants have in tundra

Why

Answer 13

Shallow root systems

Due to permafrost

Question 14

2 adaptations plant have in tundra

Answer 14

Grow close together and low to retain heat

Grow under a layer of snow and carry out photosynthesis

Question 15

E.g on a plant and animal in tundra

Answer 15

Cotton grass

Red fox

Question 16

2 adaptations cotton grass has in tundra

Answer 16

Low-lying
Seeds that scatter in wind
Darker leaves - more sun energy
Narrow leaves - reduce transpiration

Question 17

2 adaptations red fox has in tundra

Answer 17

Multi-layer fur coat
Broad and hairy feet/hooves (snow shoes)
Stocky body

Question 18

What are glacial environments

Answer 18

Areas of land permanently covered by ice (ice sheets or glaciers)

Question 19

What are ice sheets

Answer 19

Domes of ice covering huge areas of land only now found in Greenland and Antarctica

Question 20

Where has the most glacial environment

Answer 20

Antarctica - 91% ice sheets

Question 21

Where are glacial environments most commonly found

Answer 21

Above snowline

Question 22

Where shouts are glaciers found in glacial environments

E.g

Answer 22

At edges of ice sheets in mostly mountainous regions

E.g Himalayas , the Andes

Question 23

What’s climate like in glacial environments

Answer 23

High winter snow and cool summers

Question 24

Why are most glaciers found in the mountainous areas

Answer 24

More accumulation

Question 25

What are temperatures cold enough for in glacial environments

Answer 25

Ice to be present all year round

Question 26

What’s the climate like in glacial areas with ice sheets (Greenland)

Answer 26

More precipitation

Question 27

Are areas with glaciers or ice sheets generally warmer

Answer 27

Ice sheets

Question 28

Place with ice sheets

Place with glaciers

Answer 28

Greenland

Iceland

Question 29

What are the only 2 plants that may grow on glacier surfaces in glacial environments

Answer 29

Algae and moss

Question 30

Hey is there no exposed soil in glacial environments

Answer 30

They’re covered by ice permanently

Question 31

What based life is more common in glacial environments

Answer 31

Ocean-based

Question 32

3 species that live in glacial environments

Answer 32

Midges 
Snow flea
Ice worms
Rotifers
Tardigrades

Question 33

A plant that’s adapted to glacial environments

Answer 33

Lichen - doesn’t need soil to grow , can grow under snow and survive cold temperatures

Question 34

3 polar environments

Answer 34

North Pole area
Arctic
Antarctica

Question 35

What’s the North Pole made up of

Answer 35

Sea ice

Question 36

What is there none of in the Arctic

Answer 36

Soil

Question 37

What polar area has some soil

Answer 37

Antarctica

Question 38

2 examples of vegetation in polar environments (Antarctic)

Answer 38

Mosses
Lichens
Algae

Question 39

What is limited in Arctic

Answer 39

Vegetation

Question 40

What’s the climate always below in polar environments

Answer 40

-25*c

Question 41

Where does the sun not set above in summer

Answer 41

The Arctic circle

Question 42

Example of an animal in polar environment and how it’s adapted

Answer 42

Polar bear

Large stores of blubber for insulation

Question 43

Example of vegetation in Antarctic and how it’s adapted to polar environments

Answer 43

Moss

Take nutrients from poo left behind from penguins that lived years ago
Need

Question 44

Where’s the alpine environment

Answer 44

Above the tree line at an altitude of around 10,000 ft above sea level

Question 45

Where are alpine environments mostly all found

E.g

Answer 45

In the world’s greatest mountain ranges

Himalayas (Asia), the Andes (South America), alps (Europe)

Question 46

How much does the temperature drop by every 10,000ft increase in altitude

Answer 46

About 6*c

Question 47

What’s soils like at different altitudes in alpine

Answer 47

Higher - permanently covered by snow and lots of permafrost

Lower - periglacial (sandy and rocky)

Question 48

2 examples of alpine plants

Answer 48

Grasses
Wildflowers
Mosses
Succulents

Question 49

2 adaptations of alpine plants

Answer 49

Dark colouring to absorb more heat
Orientate surfaces so are perpendicular to sun
Only 1 or 2 inches tall
Dense hair surface