Cold Environments Term 4

Question 1

define cold environments

Answer 1

environments that experience temperatures that are at or below 0°C for long periods of time

Question 2

explain two reasons why polar regions are so cold

Answer 2

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.

Question 3

describe the climate in polar regions

Answer 3

winter temperatures often fall below -50°C.

these areas have low precipitation totals.

Question 4

describe the climate in tundra regions

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

describe the soils and plants in polar regions

Answer 5

permanently covered by ice so soils are frozen.

some plants such as lichen and mosses are found on ice fingers.

Question 6

describe the soils and plants in tundra regions

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

describe the animals found in polar regions

Answer 7

polar bears and penguins are well adapted for polar environments

Question 8

describe the animals found in tundra regions

Answer 8

with more food options and less extreme climate, animals such as foxes and hares live here.
birds and insects are abundant in summer.

Question 9

describe Svalbard

Answer 9

Norweigan territory in the Arctic Ocean.
most northerly permanently inhabited group of islands in the world.
much of Svalbard experiences a polar climate.

Question 10

name 7 adaptations that polar bears have to cope with the polar climate

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

name 8 adaptations of plants in cold environments

Answer 11

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).

Question 12

which is the most polluting of all fossil fuels

Answer 12

coal

Question 13

what percentage of china, india and the usa get energy from burning coal?

Answer 13

china - 80%
india - 70%
usa - 50%

Question 14

how does carbon capture work

Answer 14

technology is used to capture CO2 produced from the use of fossil fuels in electricity generation and industrial processes

Question 15

what percentage if CO2, that would otherwise end up in the atmosphere, is it possible to capture?

Answer 15

90%

Question 16

once captured, what happens to the carbon gas? (in the carbon capture process)

Answer 16

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

Question 17

true or false - carbon capture is not a future option for Svalbard

Answer 17

false.

Question 18

define opportunity

Answer 18

a chance

Question 19

name four development opportunities for Svalbard

Answer 19

fishing, coal mining, tourism, renewable energy

Question 20

give two advantages to coal mining in Svalbard

Answer 20

gives jobs to more than 300 people, is the main economic activity on Svalbard

Question 21

give 3 disadvantages to coal mining in Svalbard

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

why is Svalbard popular with tourists?

Answer 22

wildlife, fantastic scenery including glaciated landscapes, chance to see the northern lights

Question 23

how does tourism boost the economy of Svalbard?

Answer 23

provides jobs for 300 people

Question 24

explain geothermal energy production in svalbard

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

why was the trans-alaskan pipeline needed?

Answer 25

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

Question 26

give 2 facts about the pipeline

Answer 26

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

Question 27

how has the pipeline been modified to cope with the environment?

Answer 27

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

Question 28

what are the advantages of the trans-alaskan pipeline?

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

disadvantages of the trans-alaskan pipeline

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

when was the antarctic treaty signed and by who?

Answer 30

in 1959 by countries with territorial claims to Antarctica

Question 31

what is the main aim of the Antarctic Treaty?

Answer 31

to protect the natural environment of the largest wilderness on Earth

Question 32

the antarctic treaty has 14 articles, what do some of these include?

Answer 32

nuclear explosions and nuclear waste disposal are banned, no military use shall be made, there will be complete freedom of scientific investigation

Question 33

why are cold environments fragile?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

how does industry affect cold environments?

Answer 34

• 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

Question 35

explain how fishing can put cold environments under threat

Answer 35

• 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

Question 36

explain how tourism can put cold environments under threat

Answer 36

• cruise ships increase pollution (from ships and tourists)

- tourists may damage habitats by littering or off-road driving

Question 37

define extreme temperatures

Answer 37

temperatures that present challenges for people, animals and plants living in certain environments

Question 38

define permafrost

Answer 38

permanently frozen ground, found in polar and tundra regions

Question 39

define geothermal energy

Answer 39

energy generated by heat stored deep in the Earth

Question 40

define tundra

Answer 40

a vast, flat, treeless Arctic region of Europe, Asia and North America where the subsoil is permanently frozen

Question 41

define international agreements

Answer 41

promises made between countries and/or organisations to mitigate the destruction of natural habitats

Question 42

define polar

Answer 42

the most extreme cold environment with permanent ice, ie. Greenland and Antarctica

Question 43

what is a wilderness area?

Answer 43

• remote, unspoilt parts of the world including deserts, mountains and cold environments
• are typically unspoilt by human development and remain natural

Question 44

give 3 arguments in favour of wilderness areas being protected

Answer 44

• 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

Question 45

give 3 arguments against wilderness areas being protected

Answer 45

• 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

Question 46

what are the three main strategies that can be used to maintain cold environments?

Answer 46

actions by government, conservation groups, technology

Question 47

how does technology solve the problem of the trans-alaskan pipeline crossing rivers and mountain ranges?

Answer 47

pumping stations keep the oil moving. the pipeline passes beneath rivers to minimise the impact on the landscape

Question 48

how does technology solve the problem of the trans-alaskan pipeline potentially melting the permafrost?

Answer 48

the pipeline is raised and insulated to retain heat and prevent it melting the permafrost

Question 49

how does technology solve the problem of the trans-alaskan pipeline leaking?

Answer 49

the pipeline is supported and can slide if earthquakes happen. the flow of oil stops automatically if there is a leak

Question 50

how does technology solve the problem of the trans-alaskan pipeline disturbing migration routes?

Answer 50

the pipeline is raised to let species such as caribou migrate underneath

Question 51

what happens to a river if it is polluted by oil?

Answer 51

• trees and wildlife killed
• risk of fire in river
• high level of pollution
• habitats destroyed in a way they may never recover from

Question 52

how can oil enter a river?

Answer 52

via pipes, factories and tanker spills

Question 53

give an example of a major oil spill

Answer 53

Exxon Valdez Disaster, 1989

Question 54

how far can temperatures drop to in Longyearbyen?

Answer 54

-30 degrees Celsius

Question 55

how are services such as water and electricity provided in Svalbard?

Answer 55

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

Question 56

describe the accessibility in Svalbard

Answer 56

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.