Cold environments Flashcards
Define cold environments
Cold environments experience temperatures that are or at below zero degrees Celsius for long periods of time
How much of the Earth’s surface is made up of cold environments
25%
Describe polar regions
The regions of Earth surrounding the North and South Poles
These regions are dominated by Earth’s polar ice caps: the Arctic and Antarctica
An extreme cold environment
Describe tundra regions
The flat, treeless Arctic regions of Europe, Asia and North America, where the ground is permanently frozen.
Lichen, moss, grasses and dwarf shrubs can grow here
A less extreme cold environment
Describe the location of cold envrionments
Polar and Tundra regions have high latitudes, with these regions surrounding/within the Arctic circle (66.5N)
This includes countries like Siberia, Northern Scandinavian and Alaska
Within the Antarctic circle, there is a big ice cap. There is also the Greenland ice sheet within the Arctic Circle. As well as this mountainous areas are regions of high altitudes and includes places like the Himalayas, the Andes and the Alps
Define permafrost
Permanently frozen ground found in polar and tundra regions
Describe how permafrost affects polar environment.
The soils are permanently covered by ice so they are permanently frozen
Describe how permafrost affect tundra environments
The soils are frozen (permafrost). During the summer the soil surface (active layer) melts causing waterlogging.
Very thin and acidic.
Not very fertile, contains large amounts of trapped greenhouse gas
Compare the characteristics of polar and tundra environments
In polar environments, precipitation levels tend are very low. For example, Antarctica is very arid and is considered a desert due to low precipitation levels. In tundra environments, precipitation is mainly snow and can fall in the high levels near coastal areas.
In polar environments, soil is permanently frozen whereas in tundra environments, soils are frozen (permafrost) however in the summer, they melt near the surface.
In tundra regions, winter temperatures dropped to minus 20 degrees Celsius and brief summers are quite warm in contrast to polar environments where winter temperatures often fall below minus 50 degrees Celsius
Why do cold environments have a low biodiversity?
Thawing permafrost
In summer, when ice melts, the ground is waterlogged and its difficult for plant growth
Why do cold environments have a low biodiversity?
Cold temperatures
Harsh conditions for plant growth.
Growing season tends to be very short
Why do cold environments have a low biodiversity?
Thin soil/infertile
Slow decomposition of leaf litter means less nutrients in soil
Why do cold environments have a low biodiversity?
Lack of sunlight
Darkness due to tilt of the Earth meaning there can be months of little to no sunlight which prevents growth and seasons
Why do cold environments have a low biodiversity?
Lack of precipitation
Plants need water for growth (cold air can’t hold moisture)
Arctic bear berry adaptations
Stems have thick bark for stability in the windy conditions
Very low growing (5-15cm) to enable it to survive strong winds
Bright red berries are eaten by birds and this helps to distribute seeds
Hairy stems helps to retains heat and keep plant safe from very low stems
Small leathery leaves help retain water in dry environments
Polar bear adaptations
Thick fur to retain heat
Insulating fat layer retains heats
Black nose and foot pads help absorb sunshine
Big paws aid with swimming and helps stop sinking
What is the population of Svalbard?
2700
How many islands does Svalbard have?
5
Where is Svalbard?
Svalbard is a Norwegian territory in the Arctic Ocean
60% is covered by polar
The rest is tundra
Define wilderness
a large area of land that has been relatively unaffected by human activity
Define inhospitable environment
Areas of low population densities which are really challenging to live in
What are some of the opportunities that come from coal mining?
It is the main economic activity and more than 300 people are employed to work in mines or as support staff
What are some of the threats/conflict from coal mining?
Burning coal is a major source of greenhouse gases and as well as this, coal prices are declining
What are some of the opportunities that come from energy?
It supplies all of Svalbard’s energy needs.
Geothermal energy could be an option
Carbon capture and storage
What are some of the opportunities that come from fishing?
One of the richest fishing grounds in the world.
150 species of fish
What are some other conflicts/ threat from fishing?
Water needs to be protected from pollution.
What are some of the opportunities that come from tourism?
Many come from Norway as part of organised tours
In 2011, 70,000 people visited Longyearbyen and 30,000 of these were cruise passengers
What are some of the threats/ conflicts that come from tourism?
Pollution
Littering and damage to the environments
How many jobs does tourism provide?
It provides 300 jobs for locals
What are some ways that Svalbard has overcome the challenges that permafrost has caused?
To adapt to the frozen ground which thaws in the summer, they put buildings on stilts which go deep into the permafrost to prevent subsidence
Water and sewage pipes are above the ground as they would freeze if they were underground. Also the warmth of pipes will threaten to thaw the permafrost
Why are extreme temperatures an challenge?
Winter temperatures can fall -30 degrees Celsius
Risk of frostbite
Outdoor work is slow in extreme cold with many clothes on
How do people manage extreme temperatures?
Dress warmly, multiple layers
Why is construction a challenge?
Building is limited in such cold conditions
25th October to 8th March is permanently dark. Difficult to build in the dark
Repeated freezing and thawing of the soil makes construction difficult. In the summer, buildings can subside/sink. In the winter, they can be affected by frost heave
How do people manage construction?
Most construction work is carried out in the summer
Build houses on stilts which have solid foundations in deep permafrost
Build dirt or gravel roads
Why are services a challenge?
Services include water, electricity and sanitation
These are important to residents and to tourists - warm tooms and hot showers
How do people manage services?
In Svalbard, sewage and water pipes are kept over ground so they don’t freeze
If they were underground the warmth of the liquids in pipes may contribute in melting the permafrost too
Why is accessibility a challenge?
Svalbard is remote- can only be reached by plane or ship
The islands are very inaccessible, particularly in winter
How many km of road are there in Svalbard?
50km and this is mostly around the capital Longyearbyen
Why do cold environments need to be protected?
Important to preserve this environment to prevent the release of methane which will accelerate climate change further
Habitats to many distinctive plants and animals
Many indigenous people live a traditional life. Culture needs to be preserved
Beautiful scenery-protect it tourists will come
Opportunities for fishing and forestry
Why are cold environments fragile?
Cold environments can easily be damaged by human activities such as off road vehicles. Vehicles can leave deep tyre tracks and damaged vegetation.
Tundra vegetation can take many years to recover since the growing season is so short
How is a cold environment damaged through economic development?
Oil spills-long lasting damage. Polar bears fur (less insulating and needs more food)
Building of roads through wilderness areas
Damages habitats. Interfere with migration routes.
Electricity pylons - tree clearance
Economic development enhances the threat of climate change
Indigenous people rely on landscape for survival, clothes and food
Should cold environments be protected as wilderness area?
FOR
Environmental gains - rare plants and animals are protected
Cold environments are fragile and take many years to recover
It is an important for scientific research to monitor climate change
Should cold environments be protected as wilderness area?
AGAINST
Economic gains-rich reserves to exploit (coal in Svalbard)
Over 4 million people in the Arctic must make a living through economic activities
Technology enables development with less impact. More sustainable
What are management strategies?
Management strategies can help balance economic development with conservation
What are stakeholders?
Stakeholders are people/graphs with an interest or concern in something
What are the different stakeholders in managing cold environments?
International bodies like the UN
National governments
Conservation groups (eg WWF)
International agreements - Antarctic Treaty (1959)
Strict rules about the size of cruise ships
Limits the damage from human activity
Strict quotas on visitors
Smoking strictly forbidden
Action by governments-Alaska, USA
Governments can set aside wilderness areas to be preserved eg Western Arctic Reserve - home to Caribou birds, wolves
No oil drilling allowed
National environment policies ensures oil companies protect the environment and the natives
Protect fisheries and marine habitats
Conservation groups - WWF’s Arctic Programme
Maintain the fragile Arctic environment
Protect wildlife-polar bears and narwhals
Promote sustainable use of resources - works with oil companies and natives
What are some of the problems with the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline?
Crosses rivers and mountains
Oil is hot but can melt permafrost
Earthquakes may cause cracks and leaks
Large herds of animals migrate across the rout of the pipeline
What are some of the solutions to the problems with the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline?
Pumping stations keep oil moving
Raised pipeline by using stilts
Pipelines on sliders mean they can withstand earthquakes
Pipeline is raised to allow caribou to migrate
How has developments in ICT made life easier in places like Svalbard?
The internet has become a survival lifeline (online learning)
Digital technology has prevented out-migration of the young
As Arctic ice thins it is becoming easier to lay fibre optic cables, bringing globalisation to the world’s remotest places
