3.1.4.2 The Nature And Distribution Of Cold Environments Flashcards
4 cold environments
Periglacial (tundra)
Glacial
Polar
Alpine
Where are tundra areas only found
On the edges of land masses in the northern hemisphere
2 e.gs of areas with tundra environments
Greenland
Canada
Siberia
What’s climate like in periglacial enviornments
Generally cold
Precipitation varies
Brief, mild summers and long,cold winters
What’s soil like in periglacial environment
Thin, acidic, not fertile
What are the 2 layers of soil in tundra
Permafrost layer topped with layer of soil that melts in summer
What’s permafrost
Soil and rocks that have been permanently frozen below ground for a period greater than a year
What type of layer is formed during the brief summer months when lying snow will melt and the upper part of the permafrost
Saturated and mobile active layer
What lakes are common in poorly drained tundras
Thaw lakes
What are unfrozen zones underground called
Taliks
What do plants grow like in periglacial
Slowly and not very tall
What’s most common type of plant in tundra
Grass
What root systems do plants have in tundra
Why
Shallow root systems
Due to permafrost
2 adaptations plant have in tundra
Grow close together and low to retain heat
Grow under a layer of snow and carry out photosynthesis
E.g on a plant and animal in tundra
Cotton grass
Red fox
2 adaptations cotton grass has in tundra
Low-lying
Seeds that scatter in wind
Darker leaves - more sun energy
Narrow leaves - reduce transpiration
2 adaptations red fox has in tundra
Multi-layer fur coat
Broad and hairy feet/hooves (snow shoes)
Stocky body
What are glacial environments
Areas of land permanently covered by ice (ice sheets or glaciers)
What are ice sheets
Domes of ice covering huge areas of land only now found in Greenland and Antarctica
Where has the most glacial environment
Antarctica - 91% ice sheets
Where are glacial environments most commonly found
Above snowline
Where shouts are glaciers found in glacial environments
E.g
At edges of ice sheets in mostly mountainous regions
E.g Himalayas , the Andes
What’s climate like in glacial environments
High winter snow and cool summers
Why are most glaciers found in the mountainous areas
More accumulation
What are temperatures cold enough for in glacial environments
Ice to be present all year round
What’s the climate like in glacial areas with ice sheets (Greenland)
More precipitation
Are areas with glaciers or ice sheets generally warmer
Ice sheets
Place with ice sheets
Place with glaciers
Greenland
Iceland
What are the only 2 plants that may grow on glacier surfaces in glacial environments
Algae and moss
Hey is there no exposed soil in glacial environments
They’re covered by ice permanently
What based life is more common in glacial environments
Ocean-based
3 species that live in glacial environments
Midges Snow flea Ice worms Rotifers Tardigrades
A plant that’s adapted to glacial environments
Lichen - doesn’t need soil to grow , can grow under snow and survive cold temperatures
3 polar environments
North Pole area
Arctic
Antarctica
What’s the North Pole made up of
Sea ice
What is there none of in the Arctic
Soil
What polar area has some soil
Antarctica
2 examples of vegetation in polar environments (Antarctic)
Mosses
Lichens
Algae
What is limited in Arctic
Vegetation
What’s the climate always below in polar environments
-25*c
Where does the sun not set above in summer
The Arctic circle
Example of an animal in polar environment and how it’s adapted
Polar bear
Large stores of blubber for insulation
Example of vegetation in Antarctic and how it’s adapted to polar environments
Moss
Take nutrients from poo left behind from penguins that lived years ago
Need
Where’s the alpine environment
Above the tree line at an altitude of around 10,000 ft above sea level
Where are alpine environments mostly all found
E.g
In the world’s greatest mountain ranges
Himalayas (Asia), the Andes (South America), alps (Europe)
How much does the temperature drop by every 10,000ft increase in altitude
About 6*c
What’s soils like at different altitudes in alpine
Higher - permanently covered by snow and lots of permafrost
Lower - periglacial (sandy and rocky)
2 examples of alpine plants
Grasses
Wildflowers
Mosses
Succulents
2 adaptations of alpine plants
Dark colouring to absorb more heat
Orientate surfaces so are perpendicular to sun
Only 1 or 2 inches tall
Dense hair surface
