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Geography - Unit One > Extreme Environment > Flashcards

Extreme Environment Flashcards

1
Q

What is the geography of the Arctic like?

A

Has some ice-sheet covered areas surrounded by tundra. It is partly enclosed by the Arctic Ocean.

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2
Q

What is the geography of the Antarctic like?

A

Completely covered in ice with very few plants. Totally surrounded by the Southern Ocean.

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3
Q

Who governs the Arctic?

A

Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the USA.

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4
Q

Who governs the Antarctic?

A

The Antarctic Treaty.

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5
Q

What kind of people live in the Arctic?

A

Indigenous communities such as the Inuit.

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6
Q

What kind of people live in the Antarctic?

A

Trick question! It has no permanent population.

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7
Q

How much rain do polar regions receive a year?

A

Less than 50mm.

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8
Q

How many months of summer do polar regions receive?

A

Four

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9
Q

How are polar bears adapted to life in the Arctic?

A
  • Greasy coat sheds water after swimming.
  • White appearance provides camouflage.
  • Thick layers of fat and fur act as insulation.
  • Small surface area to volume ratio to minimise heat loss.
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10
Q

How are trees adapted to survive in the Arctic?

A
  • Cone shape helps shed snow.
  • Top of tree is thin so that it bends in strong winds.
  • Small leaves limit water loss.
  • Shallow roots avoid permafrost.
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11
Q

How are buildings adapted to the Arctic?

A
  • Triple glazing.
  • Thick insulation.
  • Slanted roofs to keep snow off.
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12
Q

What are traditional Arctic homes like?

A

They were usually igloos or mobile animal skins.

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13
Q

What is traditional Arctic clothing made from?

A

Animal skins

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14
Q

What should one wear in the Arctic?

A

Gloves, hats and lots of layers that are equipped with modern insulation methods.

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15
Q

What transport is commonly used in the summer in the Arctic?

A

Skis, dog sleds and snowmobiles.

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16
Q

What transport is used in the Arctic in the winter?

A

Cars

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17
Q

What are the two main energy sources in the Arctic?

A

Coal and gas.

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18
Q

What is demand for energy like in the Arctic?

A

Very high.

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19
Q

Why is food expensive in the Arctic?

A

It has to be imported as arable farming isn’t possible.

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20
Q

What can we learn from the Inuit?

A

How to detect small changes in the environment.

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21
Q

What can we learn from the Nanets?

A

A greater respect for nature as they are animists.

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22
Q

What can we learn from the Aleuls?

A

How to use any part of a seal or a whale.

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23
Q

Why does most of Australia get hardly any rainfall?

A

Because the Great Dividing Range on the coast causes any incoming air to rise and rapidly cool. This leads to condensation and then rain. This means that very little range gets to the rest of Australia.

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24
Q

What are Australian summers like?

A

Cold and dry

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25
Q

What are Australian winters like?

A

Warm and wet

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26
Q

How are plants in the desert adapted to survive?

A
  • They have vet fleshy leaves, stems and roots that can hold lots of water.
  • They have extensive root systems to capitalise on any rainfall.
  • Shed their leaves to preserve water.
  • Seeds can survive without moisture for years and only grow when they have enough moisture.
27
Q

What are three ways a kangaroo is adapted to its environment?

A
  • Can use dew instead of water.
  • Feeds at the coolest time of day.
  • Hops rather than walks to conserve energy.
28
Q

What do water sources do farmers in Australia use?

A
  • Dams and reservoirs

* Boreholes that force water to the surface from the Artesian Water Supply.

29
Q

Why might boreholes not be an option for much longer?

A

The Artesian Water is being overexploited so could run out.

30
Q

How are buildings in Australia adapted?

A
  • Thick walls keep cool in.
  • Flat roofs are suitable for sleeping on.
  • Some are underground.
  • Verandas keep sun out of buildings.
31
Q

What are two popular energy sources in Australia?

A

Solar panels and wind turbines.

32
Q

What transport is used in the desert?

A
  • Camels
  • 4x4s
  • Light aircraft
  • Trans-Australian Railway
33
Q

What is clothing like in deserts?

A

Light, baggy and white. Head coverings are popular.

34
Q

What fruits are popular amongst the aborigines?

A

Nuh tomatoes, desert limes, quandongs and bush bananas.

35
Q

What seeds are popular amongst the aborigines?

A

Wattle seeds and sandalwood nuts.

36
Q

Name a grub that the aborigines eat.

A

Vitchetty grubs

37
Q

What meat is popular amongst the aborigines?

A

Kangaroo, crocodile and emu.

38
Q

Why are trees in the outback fire-resistant?

A

Because the aborigines used to set fire to them to ward off animals so only the fire resistant ones survived.

39
Q

Name two traditional aboriginal crafts.

A

Boomerangs and didgeridoos.

40
Q

What is so special about aboriginal stories?

A

They are never written down.

41
Q

What are four things we can learn from the aboriginal way of life?

A
  • They have very few possessions and waste nothing.
  • They conserve their resources.
  • Their homes have superb natural insulation.
  • They have a vast knowledge of natural medicines.
42
Q

What are three ways tourism is endangering traditional culture and natural systems in extreme environments?

A
  • Aboriginal cave paintings are easily damaged.
  • Plants can be trampled and breeding disrupted.
  • Small Arctic settlements can get swamped with visitors.
43
Q

How can getting resources from extreme environments threaten traditional cultures and natural systems?

A
  • Mine waste spoils landscape.
  • Mining pollutes water.
  • Oil leaks very dangerous. Trans-Alaskan Pipeway had leaked 4 times since its construction.
44
Q

What are four implications of climate change on Australia?

A
  • More droughts
  • Increased evaporation
  • More bushfires
  • Spread of desert by up to 200km in the south
45
Q

What I happening to the Arctic because of global warming?

A
  • Large areas of permafrost have melted
  • Winters have become less cold
  • Beetle infestations are growing
  • Caribou grazing lands are shrinking
  • Migrations patterns have changed
46
Q

What are three negative effects of global warming on the indigenous people of extreme environments?

A
  • Traditional ice fishing endangered
  • Movement will be harder
  • People will have difficulty hunting
47
Q

What are two advantages and one disadvantage of global warming on the oil and gas companies?

A

+Oil exploration will be easier

+New reserved exposed

-Increased risk of spills and pollution

48
Q

What is an advantage and a disadvantage of global warming on shipping companies?

A

+Journey times between Europe and Asia slashed

-Increased risk of waste dumping

49
Q

What is an advantage and a disadvantage of global warming on tourism?

A

+Longer tourist season

-Fragile areas swamped with visitors

50
Q

What will a negative impact of global warming be on fishing?

A

There will be less cod in the ocean

51
Q

Where is the Sahel?

A

Between the Saharah and the African grasslands.

52
Q

What are four reasons why the Sahel is turning into a desert?

A
  • Overgrazing
  • Deforestation
  • Boreholes have poisoned the Artesian water supply
  • Wind erosion
53
Q

What could be a positive and a negative impact of rain returning to the Sahel?

A

+The grass will die without it

-Rain will wash away vulnerable soil

54
Q

In what year did Oxfam introduce Projet Agro-forestier?

A

1979

55
Q

What were the aims of Projet Agro-forestier?

A

To prevent soil erosion and preserve as much rainfall as possible.

56
Q

How did Projet Agro-forestier intend to achieve its aims?

A

Building diguettes

57
Q

What is a diguette?

A

A line of stones laid in contours of sloping farmland. They slow the rain down and give it a chance to soak into the ground and catch loose soil.

58
Q

Where are diguettes used? How many villages there have them?

A

Burkina Fasp. 400 - and a large majority have seen improvements.

59
Q

What are the features of single crop farming?

A
  • All land ploughed so moisture easily evaporates
  • One crop planted
  • All crop harvested at once
  • If crop fails all income is lost
60
Q

What are the features of conservation farming?

A
  • Only plough where crops will be so moisture only partially evaporates
  • Several crops planted together
  • Harvesting all year round
  • If one crop fails there are others
61
Q

What could a global response to climate change be?

A

An international agreement to cut greenhouse emissions.

62
Q

When was the Kyoto Summit?

A

1997

63
Q

How many countries signed the Kyoto agreement?

A

191

64
Q

Why didn’t the Kyoto agreement work?

A

Because some major countries like the USA refused to sign.

Geography - Unit One (8 decks)

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