Physical characteristics of cold environments Flashcards
1
Q
Four types of cold environments
A
- Periglacial
- Glacial
- Alpine
- Polar
2
Q
Polar
A
Climate
- Wide range of climates = 4 to -28 degrees = continuously cold
- Wide range levels of precipitation = average 100mm
- Strong westerly winds
- Antarctica has colder climates than the Arctic
- Substantial wind chill factor
- Coastal areas of Antarctica are much milder = -10 degrees
Soils
- No organic matter
Vegetation
- Short growing season
- Little vegetation
3
Q
Alpine
A
Climate
- Situated at altitudes for snow and ice to remain all year round
- -10 degrees in winter periods
- Summer periods above 20 degrees at lower altitudes
Soils
- Weakly developed
- Low bulk density as some alpine areas are volcanoes
Vegetation
- Have many different plant species;
- Forbs
- Mosses
- Grasses
4
Q
Glacial
A
Climate
- Permanently cold
- Substantial masses of ice can remain on the landscape throughout the year
Soils
- No organic matter
Vegetation
- Short growing season
- Little vegetation
5
Q
Periglacial
A
Climate
- Low levels of precipitation
- Cold temps = average -20 degrees
- Brief, mild summers with temps of 5 degrees
- Strong frequent winds = increases windchill
- 8 months of the year, temps remain below 0 degrees
- Temp is frequently below zero but not covered in ice.
Soils
- Surface litter is restricted by limited tundra vegetation
- Thin surface organic layer, acidic
- Blue-grey colour
- Waterlogged in summer - Gleyed
Vegetation
- Very few plant species, low biological diversity
- 5 types of plants = liches, moss, grass, cushion plants and low shrubs
- 50-60 day growing season (short)
- Vegetation is sparse = ground hugging
- Permafrost occurs
6
Q
Sun’s isolation
A
Intensity of the incoming solar radiation
7
Q
Albedo
A
When snow reflects heat energy
High latitudes - short growing seasons because of the angle of the sun - total darkness in some months
8
Q
Windchill factor
A
Strong winds make it feel colder than it is - KATABATIC WINDS
9
Q
Pleistocene
A
Last ice age - 18000 was the last glacial maximum
10
Q
Interglacial
A
Warm
11
Q
Glacials
A
Cool
12
Q
Holocene
A
What we are in currently - interglacial
