COLD ENVIRONMENTS | The Living World 🍀 Flashcards
Define ‘biodiversity’
The variety of plants and animals living in a particular ecosystem.
Define ‘permafrost’
Permanently frozen ground, typical of tundra and polar regions.
What is a cold environment?
- Tundra and Polar environments are classed as cold environments.
- Extreme cold environments are those that experience temperatures below 0°c like Antarctica. Less extreme cold environments experience extremely cold winters like those in the Arctic circle.
Where are cold environments located?
- Polar environments are found at 90°N and 90°S of the equator (Arctic and Antarctica)
- Tundra environments are at high latitudes in the Northern hemisphere (Northern Canada, Northern Russia). Not in the Southern hemipshere due to lack of land at these latitudes.
What is the climate (temperature and precipitation) like in cold environments (polar and tundra)?
- Polar: -40°c, less than 100mm rainfall per year
- Tundra: -20°c, less than 380mm rainfall per year
Why are cold environments cold and generally dry?
- Cold - they are a high latitudes, further from the equator so the suns rays are less concentrated here
- Dry - located at high pressure where air is descending.
What is the soil like in cold environments (polar and tundra)?
- Polar: covered in ice
- Tundra: covered in permafrost (permanently frozen ground)
What wildlife would you find in cold environments (polar and tundra)?
- Polar: polar bears, penguins, well adapted to the cold climate, limited vegetation, mainly lichens.
- Tundra: Arctic fox, hares, low bushes and mosses.
How have animals adapted to cold environments?
- Thick fur to insulate against cold
- Camouflage white coat
- Many can survive on limited food or they hibernate during winter
How have plants adapted to cold environments?
- Most vegetation is short and dome shaped to protect against winds
- Small leaves to reduce moisture loss
- Shallow roots due to layer of permafrost
What is the biodiversity like of cold environments?
- Limited due to extreme climate
This means any changes can have drastic consequences
Climate change is the biggest threat to cold environment biodiversity.
What are the opportunities in the cold environment of Alaska?
- Tourism: 2 million tourists per year. Attracted by scenery
- Mining: Gold, silver and iron ore. Worth $2.2 billion in 2013
- Energy exploitation (oil and gas): 50% of wealth comes from oil & gas
- Fishing: large fish stocks i.e. salmon. Worth $5billion. Employs nearly 80,000 people.
What are the challenges facing the cold environment of Alaska?
- Extreme climate: lows of -10°c, strong winds and snow.
- Inaccessibility: icy roads. Long distance from other locations.
- Mountainous terrain.
- Provision of buildings: difficult terrain to build on.
- Infrastructure: difficult to construct throughout the year.
Why are cold environments interdependent ecosystems?
- Climate & wildlife – Cold conditions shape ecosystems.
- Plants & animals – Adapt to harsh conditions.
- Permafrost & carbon cycle – Stores greenhouse gases.
- Food chains – Small disruptions have big impacts.
- Indigenous people – Rely on natural resources
Why are cold environments valuable?
- Areas of biodiversity
- Many areas are uninhabited and not destroyed
- Area of scientific study
- They are vulnerable to changes in climate, species and may not be able to recover
List the four strategies used to balance the economic development and conservation of cold environments
- Use technology
- Conserve the areas
- International agreements
- Government regulation
How can technology be used to balance the economic development and conservation of cold environments
- Insulated buildings – Prevent permafrost thaw.
- Ice roads – Reduce permanent damage.
- Remote sensing – Monitors ecosystems.
- Directional drilling – Limits land disruption.
- Renewable energy – Reduces fossil fuel use.
How has the Trans-Alaskan pipeline solved challenges of oil drilling in Alaska?
- Elevated – Prevents permafrost melting.
- Zigzag design – Resists earthquakes.
- Animal crossings – Protects migration routes.
- Heated sections – Stops freezing.
- Leak detection – Prevents spills.
How can conservation be used to balance the economic development and conservation of cold environments
- National parks – Protect habitats from industry.
- Sustainable tourism – Limits environmental damage.
- Indigenous conservation – Supports sustainable resource use.
- Fishing & hunting laws – Prevent overexploitation.
- Carbon offsets – Reduce emissions impact.
How can international agreements be used to balance the economic development and conservation of cold environments
- Antarctic Treaty (1959) – Bans mining & military use.
- Madrid Protocol (1991) – Strengthens environmental protection.
- Polar Code (2017) – Regulates shipping to prevent spills.
- Arctic Council – Promotes sustainable development.
- MPAs – Limit fishing & resource exploitation
How can the role of a government can be used to balance the economic development and conservation of cold environments
- Regulate resource extraction: Ensure sustainable use of oil, gas, and minerals.
- Promote renewable energy: Invest in wind, hydro, and geothermal energy.
- Create protected areas: Use eco-tourism to generate income while conserving nature.
- Enforce sustainable land-use: Encourage responsible farming, fishing, and construction.
- Monitor and enforce laws: Ensure industries comply with environmental regulations.
