4.2 The nature and distribution of old environments Flashcards

1
Q

How long did the Pleistocene era last?

A

From 1.8 million years ago to about 11,700 years ago.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What was the pattern of temperatures during this era?

A

An alternating pattern of cold periods (glacials) and warm periods (interglacials)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Where are most of the world’s cold environments?

A

Far north e.g. Scandinavia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what is the exception for some of the world’s cold environments?

A

Antarctica and South America

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Latitude

A

east to west

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

longitude

A

north to south poles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Altitude

A

the distance of land from sea level

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

how many types of cold environments are there?

A

4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what are the four cold environments?

A
  • Polar
  • periglacial (tundra)
  • Alpine
  • Glacial
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Describe the polar environment

A
  • Areas of permanent ice

- essentially the vast ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

describe the periglacial environment

A
  • Literally speaking at the edge of permanent ice
  • Permanently frozen ground - Permafrost
  • where: Northern Canada, Alaska, Russia, Scandinavia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Alpine

A
  • High mountainous areas
  • European Alps or New Zealand Alps
  • High altitudes = cold conditions (especially in winter)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Glacial

A
  • found in edges of the ice sheets

- particularly in mountainous regions such as the Himalayas and Andes.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what is the soil made up of in cold environments?

A
  • a mixture of weathered rock
  • rotted organic matter
  • living organisms (biota)
  • gases (particularly oxygen) and water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

why is weathering limited in cold environments?

A
  • lack of liquid water
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

why is the soil not very fertile?

A
  • lack of vegetation
  • little organic matter
  • then there are few decomposers
  • fungi and bacteria thrive in warm conditions
  • due to these factors, soil formation s a painfully slow process, any soil that does develop is thin, acidic and frozen.
17
Q

active layer

A

light grey unfrozen soil above the permafrost

- downward drainage is prevented by the permafrost which makes the active layer saturated and boggy

18
Q

climate

A

all cold environments experience extreme cold temperatures. but tempt fluctuates

19
Q

snowfall in polar regions

A

limited snowfall

20
Q

snowfall in alpine environments

A

potentially huge amounts

21
Q

what do frequent strong winds do?

A
  • add to wind chill

- take away moisture from plants

22
Q

how is the development of soil and vegetation as a result of cold environments?

A
  • severe limiting effects on the development of soils and vegetation.
23
Q

nutrient stores

A
  • very limited in tundra environments

- transfer of nutrient flow is limited between components.

24
Q

only sizeable transfer in the nutrient cycle

A
  • fallout pathway:
  • fallen leaves
  • dead organic matter
    both contribute to litter stores.
25
Q

biodiversity in alpine regions

A
  • alpine environments enjoy warm, wet summers providing good conditions for both soil formation and plant growth
  • high alpine meadows can show great biodiversity in the summer.
26
Q

temp to grow plants

A

27
Q

what do plants need to grow?

A

soil: to obtain nutrients ad water to grow

28
Q

types of vegetation in periglacial environments?

A
  • mosses
  • lichens
  • grasses
  • sedges
  • dwarf shrubs