LW- Cold Environments

Question 1

What are the main characteristics of polar regions?

Answer 1

Polar regions are characterized by extremely cold temperatures, ice-covered landscapes, and unique ecosystems. They experience long periods of darkness in winter and continuous daylight in summer.

Question 2

How do polar regions impact global climate?

Answer 2

Polar regions play a crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate. They reflect solar radiation due to their ice cover, which helps cool the planet. Melting polar ice contributes to rising sea levels and affects ocean circulation patterns.

Question 3

What are the opportunities for development in Svalbard?

Answer 3

• Coal mining(at on point had over 300 people working at coal mine) environmentally contraversial.
• Energy Production: There is a coal fired power station that meets the islands needs - not sustainable
  
  • Solar energy is also viable during the summer months due to 24-hour daylight
• Fishing: The surrounding Barents Sea has over 150 species of fish, providing excellent fishing grounds. Luckily overfishing is illegal, however it is not strictly policed.
  
  • Sustainable fishing practices ensure long-term viability
• Tourism: main source of income. Atrractions: Arctic wildlife, the Northern Lights, snowmobiles, hiking, kayaking and the unique polar environment. Over 70, 000 tourists have visited in 30, 000 cruise ships
  
  • The tourism sector continues to grow, offering job opportunities in hospitality and guiding
  • As climate change warms up Svalbard, port no longer freezes in winter- ships can stop in winter.

Question 4

What are some facts about Iceland?

Location, main island, population, governace, industry, wildlife.

Answer 4

Location: An archipelago in the Arctic Ocean, halfway between Norway and the North Pole.
Main Island: Spitsbergen, the largest and most populated island.
Population: Around 2,700 residents.
Governance: A part of Norway, but has a special treaty status allowing citizens of signatory countries to live and work there without a visa.
Industry: Mainly driven by tourism, research, and some coal mining.
Wildlife: Home to polar bears, Arctic foxes, reindeer, and various seabird species.

Question 5

Why do Polar Regions have a low temp?

Answer 5

Sun’s Angle: The sun’s rays strike polar regions at a very low angle, spreading the solar energy over a larger surface area, which reduces the intensity of the heating.
Reflection by Ice and Snow: The high albedo of ice and snow in polar regions reflects a significant portion of the incoming solar radiation back into space, further decreasing the amount of heat absorbed.