Cold Environments Term 4 Flashcards
define cold environments
environments that experience temperatures that are at or below 0°C for long periods of time
explain two reasons why polar regions are so cold
intensity of sunlight- the sun rays have to travel a further distance to reach polar regions.
high air pressure - these areas have less moisture, and reduced precipitation.
describe the climate in polar regions
winter temperatures often fall below -50°C.
these areas have low precipitation totals.
describe the climate in tundra regions
this climate is less extreme.
winter temperatures may drop to -20°C.
brief summers can be quite warm.
amounts of precipitation- mainly snow- are higher in coastal regions.
describe the soils and plants in polar regions
permanently covered by ice so soils are frozen.
some plants such as lichen and mosses are found on ice fingers.
describe the soils and plants in tundra regions
low growing flowering plants.
low bushes and smaller trees may grow in warmer regions.
frozen soils that melt in summer but are infertile and waterlogged.
describe the animals found in polar regions
polar bears and penguins are well adapted for polar environments
describe the animals found in tundra regions
with more food options and less extreme climate, animals such as foxes and hares live here.
birds and insects are abundant in summer.
describe Svalbard
Norweigan territory in the Arctic Ocean.
most northerly permanently inhabited group of islands in the world.
much of Svalbard experiences a polar climate.
name 7 adaptations that polar bears have to cope with the polar climate
closable nostrils. oil-based fur. large body: short legs ratio to reduce heat loss. dimpled feet. white, translucent fur. layers of thick fat and fur. an acute sense of smell.
name 8 adaptations of plants in cold environments
grow close to the ground.
small leaves.
shallow root systems.
grow in close proximity to one another.
stem, buds and leaves are covered in small hairs.
can photosynthesise in extremely cold weather.
develop and produce seeds in a relatively short time period.
ability to survive on bare rock (lichen).
which is the most polluting of all fossil fuels
coal
what percentage of china, india and the usa get energy from burning coal?
china - 80%
india - 70%
usa - 50%
how does carbon capture work
technology is used to capture CO2 produced from the use of fossil fuels in electricity generation and industrial processes
what percentage if CO2, that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere, is it possible to capture?
90%
once captured, what happens to the carbon gas? (in the carbon capture process)
the carbon gas is compressed and transported by pipeline to an injection well. it is injected as a liquid into the ground to be stored in suitable geological reservoirs
true or false - carbon capture is not a future option for Svalbard
false.
define opportunity
a chance
name four development opportunities for Svalbard
fishing, coal mining, tourism, renewable energy
give two advantages to coal mining in Svalbard
gives jobs to more than 300 people, is the main economic activity on Svalbard
give 3 disadvantages to coal mining in Svalbard
environmental groups are against it, burning coal is a major source of greenhouse gases, roads to new mines may have to be built over glaciers in order to gain access.
why is Svalbard popular with tourists?
wildlife, fantastic scenery including glaciated landscapes, chance to see the northern lights
how does tourism boost the economy of Svalbard?
provides jobs for 300 people
explain geothermal energy production in svalbard
svalbard is located close to the mid-atlantic ridge, a constructed plate margin. here the crust is thin so hot rocks are close to the surface. the heat from the ground can be used to generate electricity.
why was the trans-alaskan pipeline needed?
the largest stores of oil in the Usa was found in Prudhoe Bay in 1968. Unable to be feasibly reached by other methods (eg tanker) the pipeline was the best way to transport the oil to a far-away port
give 2 facts about the pipeline
800 miles long, highest point is 4739ft above sea level, cost approximately $8 billion to build, crude oil takes 13 days to get from one end to the other. in 2010, it transported 226,000 barrels of oil to be exported in the port of Valdez
how has the pipeline been modified to cope with the environment?
built in a zig-zag so that it can flex to withstand movement from earthquake tremors, the flow of oil can be shut down and isolated within 15 minutes if a leak or blockage is detected
what are the advantages of the trans-alaskan pipeline?
trucks can only get to prudhoe bay 10 weeks a year, it is too dangerous otherwise. the pipeline allows access all year. it can transport 1.4 million barrels of crude oil a day. revenue collected from oil means citizens of Alaska pay reduced taxes.
disadvantages of the trans-alaskan pipeline
it is an environmental eyesore. the pipeline can stop the migration of caribou, a common species of Alaska. the temperature of the oil could cause permafrost to melt, this could cause subsidence and the pipeline could collapse- a major disaster.
when was the antarctic treaty signed and by who?
in 1959 by countries with territorial claims to Antarctica
what is the main aim of the Antarctic Treaty?
to protect the natural environment of the largest wilderness on Earth
the antarctic treaty has 14 articles, what do some of these include?
nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal are banned, no military use shall be made, there will be complete freedom of scientific investigation
why are cold environments fragile?
tundras are fragile environments as they will take a long time to recover if damaged by human activity; even standinf on the ground in a tundra could leave your footprint there for 10 years; vegetation in tundras take a long time to establish and grow; cold environments are delicate ecosystems
how does industry affect cold environments?
- cold environments have rich reserves of oil, gas and other precious minerals such as gold
- oil and gas in particular are in high demand as a source of energy and countries are keen to exploit their resources for the economic benefits
- to extract these resources, roads have to be constructed through forests and across the tundra and supply bases need to be built
- housing for hundreds of workers also needs to be constructed
- all this can have a huge impact on the environment
explain how fishing can put cold environments under threat
- krill fishing is depleting food supplies for whales and penguins in the Southern Ocean - food chains
- overfishing can deplete a whale population beyond recovery - Patagonian Toothfish populations are currently a concern in Antarctica
- claims by different countries to different fishing areas might cause conflict
explain how tourism can put cold environments under threat
- cruise ships increase pollution (from ships and tourists)
- tourists may damage habitats by littering or off-road driving
define extreme temperatures
temperatures that present challenges for people, animals and plants living in certain environments
define permafrost
permanently frozen ground, found in polar and tundra regions
define geothermal energy
energy generated by heat stored deep in the Earth
define tundra
a vast, flat, treeless Arctic region of Europe, Asia and North America where the subsoil is permanently frozen
define international agreements
promises made between countries and/or organisations to mitigate the destruction of natural habitats
define polar
the most extreme cold environment with permanent ice, ie. Greenland and Antarctica
what is a wilderness area?
- remote, unspoilt parts of the world including deserts, mountains and cold environments
- are typically unspoilt by human development and remain natural
give 3 arguments in favour of wilderness areas being protected
- wildeness areas are fragile and are easily damaged by economic activities
- untouched natural environments form important outdoor labs for scientific research
- rare plants and animals will be protected
give 3 arguments against wilderness areas being protected
- cold environments are rich in resources such as oil, precious minerals, fish and imber
- over 4 million people already live in the Arctic in balance with the environment
- technology now allows cold environments to be exploited with less impact
what are the three main strategies that can be used to maintain cold environments?
actions by government, conservation groups, technology
how does technology solve the problem of the trans-alaskan pipeline crossing rivers and mountain ranges?
pumping stations keep the oil moving. the pipeline passes beneath rivers to minimise the impact on the landscape
how does technology solve the problem of the trans-alaskan pipeline potentially melting the permafrost?
the pipeline is raised and insulated to retain heat and prevent it melting the permafrost
how does technology solve the problem of the trans-alaskan pipeline leaking?
the pipeline is supported and can slide if earthquakes happen. the flow of oil stops automatically if there is a leak
how does technology solve the problem of the trans-alaskan pipeline disturbing migration routes?
the pipeline is raised to let species such as caribou migrate underneath
what happens to a river if it is polluted by oil?
- trees and wildlife killed
- risk of fire in river
- high level of pollution
- habitats destroyed in a way they may never recover from
how can oil enter a river?
via pipes, factories and tanker spills
give an example of a major oil spill
Exxon Valdez Disaster, 1989
how far can temperatures drop to in Longyearbyen?
-30 degrees Celsius
how are services such as water and electricity provided in Svalbard?
most services are provided to individual houses by over-ground heated water - they need to be kept off the ground to prevent them thawing the permafrost and to allow easy maintentance
describe the accessibility in Svalbard
there is 50km of road in Longyearbyen. no roads serve the other outlying communities. most use snowmobiles. Svalbard can only be reached by plane or ship. the islands are inaccessible and almost all transport systems are restricted to the immediate area around Longyearbyen.
