Cold Environments Flashcards
Describe the climate in the Tundra environment
Warm summers, high rainfall, freezing winter
Describe the climate in the Polar environment
Low precipitation and freezing temperatures
Describe the soil in the Tundra environment
Frozen and waterlogged
Describe the soil in the Polar environment
Permanently frozen
What kinds of plants grow in the Tundra environment?
Low-growing flowering plants
What kinds of plants grow in the Tundra environment?
Mosses and lichens
Why is it so cold in polar regions?
Sun rays must travel further to reach polar regions, their intensity and warming power is reduced
Name 3 adaptations polar bears have
Thick fur, large feet, closable nostrils
Name 3 adaptations plants have
Grow close to each other, low-growing, large SA
What was our cold environments case study on?
Svalbard
What percentage of cod in supermarkets comes from the Barents sea?
70 percent
How many species of fish can be found in the Barents sea?
150
What is the main economic activity in Svalbard?
Coal mining
How many people are employed in mines in Svalbard?
Just over 300
Name 5 reasons to visit Svalbard
Coal mining industry, scenery, northern lights, winter sports, biodioversity, exploring
Why is providing services like water, electricity and sanitation a challenge in Svalbard?
Most services are provided by underground heating as pipes must be kept off ground to prevent thawing and allow for easy maintenance
What two things can Svalbard be reached by?
Plane or ship
What challenges does Svalbard only being reachable by plane or ship called?
Harder to export goods
It is completely dark every year in Svalbard from…
25th October-8th March
Name 5 reasons cold environments are important
Biodiversity, naural beauty, tourism, energy, fishing and forestry
How is tourism a threat to cold environments?
More resources are needed and litter is left which disturbs animals and damages the environment, more homes must be built
When does most off road driving take place?
In the summer months when snow has melted
How does off road driving damage cold environments?
Deep tire tracks are left in areas that cause huge damage
How does fishing damage biodiversity?
Trawlers wipe out species and damage the seabed?
Why can most construction work in Svalbard only be carried out in summer months?
Extreme temperatures
What can national governments do to protect cold environments?
Create laws to protect certain regions
What is Greenpeace doing to protect cold environments?
Trying to create conservation areas
True or false: builders in Svalbard can only make money in summer
True
What is it now illegal to do?
Fish in the Barents sea
What methods have been used to make providing services easier?
Underground heating, stilts have been used to raise pipes above ground and insulate them without the risk of thawing permafrost
