Cold environments Flashcards
What are cold environments
Experience temperatures that rea at or below 0 degrees for long periods.
Polar environments
-50 in winter, Low precipitation, the soil is permanently covered by ice, Polar bears are well adapted, Penguins.
How are polar bears adapted to the environment
Thick fur, insulating layer of fat, black nose footpads and skin to absorb the sun.
Tundra environment
Less extreme -20 in winter, brief summers, soils are frozen (permafrost), Soils infertile, Artic fox and arctic hare.
How is bearberry adapted to cold environments
very low-growing to enable it to survive strong winds, stems have thick bark for stability, small leathery leaves help retain water, hairy stems retain heat and keep the plant safe from very low temps, bright and red to be eaten by animals and seeds redistriputed.
Population of Svalbard
2700
Fact about Svalbard
More polar bears and snowmobiles than people.
4 main economic activities in Svalbard
Mineral extraction, Energy developments, Fishing and tourism.
Mineral extraction
Rich coal reserves, main economic activity, more than 300 people employed in the mines.
Energy developments
Coal mined used to generate electricity, the future source is geothermal energy, tapping into the heat of the earth.
Fishing
One of the richest fishing grounds in the world, 150 species of fish, sustainable.
Tourism
70,000 people visited Longyearbyen, which provides 300 jobs, adventure tourism.
Challenges for development
How to travel on roads covered by snow, How can homes be kept warm during winter, how is water connected to homes and prevented from freezing.
Construction in Svalbard
Building houses, shops and offices. Constr=ucting and maintaining roads
Problem with the construction of houses
Permafrost can melt.
