Cold Environments Flashcards
Cold environments
Areas of the world that are at or below zero degrees Celsius for long periods of time.
3 types of cold environment :
POLAR
TUNDRA
ALPINE (mountainous areas)
What’s the climate like in Polar areas? (Cold environments)
Low precipitation (little snow) Winter temps often fall below -50 degrees
What’s the climate like in TUNDRA areas? (Cold environments)
Brief summers can be warm
Winter temps may drop below -20 degrees
High Precipitation in coastal areas
What is the climate like in alpine areas? (Cold environments)
Cold&dry throughout the year
Average temps Never rise above 10 degrees
Average precipitation = 30cm a year
What is the soil like in POLAR areas? (Cold environments)
Permanently covered by ice -> soil = permanantly frozen
What is the soil like in TUNDRA areas? (Cold environments)
Soils = frozen (permafrost)
But in summer will melt closer to surface
Infertile - water draining through soils removes nutrients
What are soils like in ALPINE areas? (Cold environments)
Well drained - steep slopes
Rocky - freeze-thaw
Thin on steep slopes
What plants grow in POLAR areas? (Cold environments)
Mosses & lichens
Found on fringes of the ice
What plants grow in TUNDRA areas? (Cold environments)
Low-growing flowering plants
Bearberry
What plants grow in ALPINE areas? (Cold environments)
No trees
Small leafed shrubs
Heather
Edelweiss
Animals in POLAR areas? (Cold environments)
Polar bears - thick fur to retain heat, insulating layer of fat
Penguins
Animals in TUNDRA areas? (Cold environments)
Arctic fox
Arctic hare
More animals than POLAR due to more food options and less extreme climate
Animals in the ALPINE area? (Cold environments)
Mountain goats
Sheep
Elk
How are Caribou adapted to survive in cold environments?
Coats
2 coats - one short and fuzzy
- a longer one with hollow hairs with air inside - warms up and " keep him buoyant when swimming
How are Caribou adapted to survival in cold environments?
Hooves
Split hooves - they can spread out on the snow & ice
- making them less likely to slip and distributes their weight so they don’t sink in
How are Caribou adapted to survival in cold environments?
Legs
In the legs the veins and arteries are next to each other, so warm blood keeps the cold blood warm
How are Caribou adapted to survival in cold environments?
Nose
Nose chamber traps & heats air and stops freezing air getting into their lungs
How are Caribou adapted to survival in cold environments?
Body
Compact & stocky to reduce heat loss
How are Bearberry adapted to survival in cold environments?
Leaves
Small, leathery leaves helps retain water in the dry environment
How are Bearberry adapted to survival in cold environments?
Stems
Hairy stems help to retain heat & keep the plant safe from v low temperatures
How are Bearberry adapted to survival in cold environments?
Seeds/berries
Bright red berries are eaten by birds/owls
How are Bearberry adapted to survival in cold environments?
Height
Very low growing - to enable survival through strong winds