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Geography > Living World : Cold Environments > Flashcards

Living World : Cold Environments Flashcards

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1
Q

Physical Characteristics of POLAR Environments?

A

Climate - Winter temps often below -50 degrees, low precipitation

Soils - Permafrost

Plants - Mosses, lichens

Animals - Well adapted

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2
Q

Characteristics of a TUNDRA Environment?

A

Climate - Less extreme, winters may drop to below -20 degrees, brief summer but quite warm, precipitation, mostly snow, can be high in coastal regions

Plants - Low growing plants, mosses

Soils - Permafrost, but in Summer can melt, infertile, waterlogged

Animals - More animals than polar, insects

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3
Q

How do plants adapt to the physical conditions?

A
  • Flowering happens in a short period during short summers
  • Plants are low growing to protect them from strong dry winds
  • Hairy stems for insulation
  • Thin waxy leaves reduce water loss
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4
Q

How has the Bearberry adapted to cold environments?

A
  • Low growing (5-15cm)
  • Stems have bark for stability in winds
  • Leathery leaves help retain water
  • Hairy stems for insulation
  • Berries eaten by birds to distribute seeds
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5
Q

How are cold environments fragile?

A
  • Plants and animals are highly adapted, so any change poses great threat
  • Can take a very long time for the environment to recover from any human damages
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6
Q

How do humans damage cold environments?

A
  • Off road vehicles
  • Oil spills
  • Mining for oil, gas and gold reserves
  • Construction of roads, foot paths, housing
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7
Q

Why should we protect cold environments?

A
  • Many indigenous people live here
  • Home to many plants and animals
  • Important for scientific research
  • Areas of natural beauty
  • Opportunities for fishing and forestry
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8
Q

How can we reduce the risk for cold environments?

A
  • Use of technology
  • Work of conservation groups
  • Action by governments
  • International agreements
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9
Q

Example of use of technology to reduce damage in cold environments?

A

Trans-Alaskan Pipeline

  • Transports oil 1300km
  • Raised from ground to prevent it from melting permafrost
  • Flow of oil stops automatically if there is a leak
  • Raised to allow migrating caribou underneath
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10
Q

Example of action by governments to protect Cold environments?

A

Western Arctic Reserve

  • 9 million hectare protected wilderness
  • Home to lots of plants and animals
  • No drilling is permitted in these areas
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11
Q

Example of international agreements to protect cold environments?

A

Antarctic Treaty

  • Recognises importance of landscape for scientific research
  • Controls tourism
  • Controls development, drilling
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12
Q

Example of a conservation group to protect cold environments?

A

WWF in Canada

  • Works with local communities to manage critical ecosystems
  • Supports scientific research to protect endangered species, eg. Greenland shark
  • Works with oil companies to reduce development
  • Works for a sustainable future
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13
Q

Opportunities for development in SVALBARD?

A
  • Mineral Extraction
  • Energy developments
  • Fishing
  • Tourism
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14
Q

Mineral Extraction is Svalbard :

A
  • Rich reserves in coal
  • Main economic activity
  • 300 people employed in mines
  • In recent years, industry has declined due to lower world coal prices, some jobs have been lost
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15
Q

Energy development in Svalbard :

A
  • Longyearbyen power station used for electricity from coal
  • Energy should be obtained from a geothermal energy source
  • Located near a constructive plate margin (Mid Atlantic Ridge) so geothermal energy is a good source of energy
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16
Q

Fishing in Svalbard :

A
  • Barents Sea
  • Herring and Haddock
  • Important breeding and nursery grounds for these fish
  • One of largest Cod stocks in the world
17
Q

Tourism in Svalbard :

A
  • Beautiful landscapes attract tourists
  • People want to experience cold environments
  • People want to take part in activities in Cold environments, including hiking, fishing, cruising, snowmobiling, northern lights in winter
  • Tourism provides 300 job opportunities
18
Q

Challenges for development in Svalbard?

A
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Construction
  • Services
  • Accessibility
19
Q

How do extreme temperatures prove to be a challenge to development in Svalbard?

A
  • negative 30 degrees Celsius
  • Dangerous to work outside
  • Must dress warm, which is a problem because it makes work slow and difficult
20
Q

How does construction prove to be a challenge to development in Svalbard?

A
  • Limited light (daylight hours) make it hard to work

- Permafrost has to be protected from melting, which is challenging

21
Q

How does accessibility prove to be a challenge to development in Svalbard?

A
  • Very remote
  • Can only be reached by plane or ship
  • Few roads to transport materials

Geography (26 decks)

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