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Geography - Glaciation > Nature and distribution of cold environments > Flashcards

Nature and distribution of cold environments Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the four types of cold environments

A

Alpine
Polar
Periglacial
Glacial

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2
Q

What is an example of a Polar environment

A

Antarctica

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3
Q

Where are Polar environments located

A
  • Located at the poles (high latitudes)
  • Within the Arctic Circle (66°N) and Antarctic Circle (66°S)
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4
Q

What are the characteristics of climate in Polar environments

A
  • Temps consistently below 0°C (freezing)
  • Little rainfall never exceeds 100 mm per year
  • Slow nutrient cycles
  • Temps cause little wildlife to thrive
  • ## Winter temp -40°C
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5
Q

What are the characteristics of vegetation in Polar environments

A
  • Highly adapted vegetation such as lichens and mosses due to harsh, cold climate & little rainfall
  • Plants rarely decompose – lack of decomposers = slow nutrient cycle
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6
Q

What are the characteristics of soils in Polar environments

A
  • Lack of nutrient rich vegetation causes soils to be low in nutrients
  • Nutrient deprived frozen soil limits nutrient rich plant growth
  • Cycle created:
    poor vegetation = poor soil
    poor soil = poor vegetation
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7
Q

What is an example of an Alpine environment

A

The Alps located in south central Europe

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8
Q

Where are Alpine environments located

A
  • Areas of high altitude, mountainous regions
  • Found at any latitude
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9
Q

What are the characteristics of climate in Alpine environments

A
  • Temps fluctuate annually
  • Summer temps above 0°C to 15°C
  • Winter temps below 0°C to -10°C
  • Heavy snowfall in winter (more than Polar regions)
  • Milder temps in summer = heavy rainfall + meltwater from melting snow & ice
  • Climate allows adapted animals to move to higher altitudes
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10
Q

What are the characteristics of vegetation in Alpine environments

A
  • Milder temps stimulate plant growth, thawing & decomposition
  • Adapted vegetation thrives in summer & dies in winter
  • Milder temps & wildlife allows for quicker nutrient cycle
  • Vegetation decomposes quicker than Polar due to soil fertility & warmer temps
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11
Q

What are the characteristics of soils in Alpine environments

A
  • Higher temps = soil thaws – increases the area vegetation can grow in
  • Nutrient rich plants allow fertile soil to develop
  • Nutrient rich soil allows nutrient rich vegetation
  • Soil freezes in winter - limits plant growth
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12
Q

What is an example of a Glacial environment

A

Greenland

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13
Q

Where are Glacial environments located

A
  • Area where temps consistently cold enough to sustain glaciers or ice sheets
  • Found in both Alpine and Polar regions
  • Mountainous regions
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14
Q

What are the characteristics of climate in Glacial environments

A
  • Dependent on the region in which glaciers develop
  • Temps must be below 0°C long enough in the year that the glacier does not melt entirely
  • Heavy snowfall in winter
  • Warm summers promote meltwater
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15
Q

What are the characteristics of vegetation in Glacial environments

A

Dependent on the region in which glaciers develop

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16
Q

What are the characteristics of soils in Glacial environments

A

Dependent on the region in which glaciers develop

17
Q

What are three examples of a Periglacial environment

A

Spitsbergen, Canada and Russia

18
Q

Where are Periglacial environments located

A
  • Found on edge of Alpine and Polar environments
  • High latitudes in Northern Hemisphere
19
Q

What are the characteristics of climate in Periglacial environments

A
  • Low rainfall (still occurs in summer)
  • Temp consistently below 0°C
  • Consistently cold enough ground permanently frozen (permafrost)
20
Q

What are the different types of permafrost

A
  • Continuous
  • Discontinuous
  • Sporadic
  • Isolated
21
Q

What do the different types of permafrost indicate

A

The extent of permafrost coverage

22
Q

What are the characteristics of vegetation in Periglacial environments

A
  • Vegetation more frequent than Polar
  • Only highly adapted plants survive in the cold temps + little rainfall
  • Temp + poor soil = slow nutrient cycle
  • Lack of nutrient rich plants – soil infertility
  • Plants cannot infiltrate frozen soil = limited plant growth
23
Q

What are the characteristics of soils in Periglacial environments

A
  • Frozen all year round
  • Slightly warmer temps thaw upper soil (active layer)
  • Extremely waterlogged in summer from thawing soil so plants become deoxygenated & cannot survive + often the nutrients are leached out

Geography - Glaciation (4 decks)

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