EQ4 (2.10/11/12) Flashcards
Why do tundra ecosystems have unique biodiversity?
Plants and animals have adapted to harsh climate, however reduced snow cover and warmer temperatures are making them more vulnerable.
Why does the Artic have unique biodiversity?
Harsh environment: long dark winters, short summers.
What is the cultural value of Periglacial and glaciated landscapes?
- Scientific research
- Indigenous cultures
- Spiritual inspiration
What is the economic value of Periglacial and glaciated landscapes? 5 things
- Farming and fishing
- Mining
- HEP
- Tourism
- Forestry
What is happening to the number of plant species in the Artic in the present day?
Increased number of trees and plants, due to a reduction in the harshness of the environment
What is the environmental value of Periglacial and glaciated landscapes?
- Unique ecosystems
- Carbon and water cycling
- Role in climate regulation
Why do glaciated landscapes play an important role in the water cycle? (Give examples)
- Alps “water towers of Europe”
- river discharge patterns kept regular
- reduces risk of flooding, as water is stored as ice.
- provides gradual meltwater - can be used for human water supply.
- 75% of freshwater held in ice - glaciers contain 2% of all water.
- Glacier’s water used for irrigation.
- Colorado USA, 260 million gallons of drinking water from Arapaho Glacier.
What roles do glaciated landscapes play in the water cycle (2 main points)?
- Massive store of water (2% of all water, 75% of freshwater) - long term store.
- Discharge patterns kept regular, allows water to be accessed during summer.
Define phenology
Timing of natural events and phenomena, e.g. first day snowdrops appear.
What is an example of the world’s glaciers retreating?
- Eastern slopes of Rocky Mountains reduced in mass by 50% since 1850.
- Area in Bolivia & Peru covered by glaciers shrank by 30% in the last 30 years
Where are glaciers advancing - and why?
Scandinavia - increased levels of precipitation
Why is glacial retreating taking place at an exponential rate in Antarctica and Greenland?
Negative feedback cycle - loss of ice leads to loss of albedo effect, which reduced reflection. This will lead to more melting and more ice lost.
What are different stakeholders in a glaciated landscape?
International governmental organisation (e.g. UNEP) - aim to promote international cooperation.
National and local governments - balance economic, social and environmental concerns
Native people e.g. Jnuit - depend on the natural environment for survival.
Tourists - requires infrastructure for travel and accommodation
Local businesses - use economic resources to maintain livelihood
TNCs - try to maximise profits
Global, national and local pressure groups - try to influence public policy - e.g. Greenpeace or WWF (world wide fund for nature)
What are the 3 types of management approaches that could be adopted by different stakeholders towards the environment?
- Total exploitation
- Sustainable exploitation
- Total protection
What is total protection?
Aims to completely conserve the natural envrionemt
What is sustainable management?
Aims to find balance between resource exploitation and the need to conserve the natural environment
What is total exploitation?
Aims to gain maximum economic exploitation without protection of the natural environment.
What are examples of where total exploitation takes place?
- Greenland
- Zermatt, Switzerland
What are examples of where sustainable exploitation takes place?
- The Lake District
- The Alpine convention
- The Sagamartha National Park
What is an example of where total protection takes place?
The Antarctic Treaty
How has total exploitation taken place in Greenland?
- Increased industrial activity
- Increased shipping = increased marine pollution
- Plans for large-scale mining projects for Uranium
How has total protection taken place in the Antarctic treaty?
- Treaty which bans military activity
- No human population
- Exploration of mineral resources is prohibited (Madrid protocol)
How has sustainable exploitation taken place in the Alpine Convention?
- Balance between the preservation of the natural environment and the economic needs of 14 million residents and 120 million tourists per year.
How is total exploitation taking place in Zermatt Switzerland?
- Huge energy and wares demands for 2 million tourists.
- Increased noise and vehicle emission and expansion of ski areas.
- Construction of ski slopes damages the fragile ecosystem
- WWF said it was “one of the most ecologically devastating leisure activities”
How does sustainable exploitation take place in the Lake District?
- Footpath erosion can reduce infiltration rates
- Tourism may lead to pollution
- Increased demand for housing
- Much of the landscape is left untouched.
How does sustainable exploitation take place in The Sagarmartha National park?
- National park will lead to a level of conservation
- Tourism will lead to footpath erosion, illegal trails, water pollution and increased waste disposal.
- Rise in demand for lodges and hotels, means using forest products, e.g. firewood.
What international legislation is in place to protect glaciated landscapes?
ATS (Antarctic Treaty System):
- Agreed measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Flora and Fauna (AMCAFF)
- Convention for conservation of Antarctic seals (CCAS)
- Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR)
- Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (EP)
What National legislation is in place to protect glaciated landscapes?
National parks - prohibit certain levels of construction e.g. houses.
E.g. National Park in Alaska - ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge)
What is the problems with national legislation regarding protecting glaciated landscapes?
Drilling for oil has still been permitted in ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) - despite legislation protecting.
What is an example of a glacial landscape?
Greenland
What is an example of a relict glacial landscape?
The Lake District
What is an example of an active landscape?
Sagarmartha National Park - Nepal
What is an example of a Periglacial landscape?
The Yamal Peninsula - Russia
What is the cultural value of the Lake District?
- Benefits local people (better transport and roads)
What is the economic value of Lake District?
Tourism brings in money - also provides 16,000 jobs
- Visitors spend about £1.6 billion
What is the environmental value of the Lake District?
- Provides habitats for species
- Plans improve air quality
- maintains biodiversity
What are physical threats to the Lake District?
Climate change:
- Loss of animal and plant species
- Increased insect species
- More precipitation means more soil + chemicals washed into a lake.
What are human threats to the Lake District?
- Walking, climbing and canoeing can cause footpath erosion.
- Trampling and littering can challenge the area’s resilience
- Increase demand for housing
What is the cultural benefit of Sagarmartha National Park?
- Tourism (37,000 visitors)
- Home to 6,000
- Number of migrant workers increasing
- Improved standard of living
What is the economic value of Sagarmartha National Park?
- Businesses are established in the area
- Tourism has boosted the local economy
What is the environmental value of Sagarmartha National Park?
- National Park
- Home to snow leopard
- Large water storage
What are physical threats to Sagarmartha National Park?
- Earthquakes can trigger avalanches
What are human threats to Sagarmartha National Park?
- Footpath erosion
- Water pollution
- Problem with waste disposal
- Greater demand for new hotel and lodges
What is the cultural value of Greenland’s glaciers?
- Many Greenlandic people still do traditional job types - e.g. fishing.
- Huge potential for scientific research (contains ancient ice - used for studying previous climates)
What is the economic value of Greenland’s glaciers?
- Meltwater provides potential for Hydroelectric Power
What is the environmental value of Greenland’s glaciers?
- Contains biodiversity - e.g. polar bears, reindeer, Arctic fox and whale etc.
- Scientific research of animals
- Water storage massively prevents flooding.
- Regulates feedback cycle - high albedo effect
What is a physical threat to Greenland’s glaciers?
- Climate change has brought stress to the environment
What are human threats to Greenland’s glaciers?
- Overfishing of marine wildlife
- Oil and gas exploitation
What is the cultural value of The Yamal Peninsula?
- Sustainable living
What is the economic value of the Yamal Peninsula?
- Reindeer meat
- Biggest gas reserve on the planet
- 1/4 of World’s gas reserve
What is the environmental value of The Yamal Peninsula?
- Summer home for many migratory birds
- Permafrost has global value as a large-scale Carbon Sink.
What are physical threats to The Yamal Peninsula?
- When permafrost melts, the gases stored in ice will be released.
- Climate change poses a significant threat
What are human threats to The Yamal Peninsula?
- Infrastructure built to exploit natural gas reserves puts pressure on the natural environment.
