the carbon and water cycle in the artic tundra

Question 1

what is permafrost

Answer 1

ground that remains frozen for 2 or more years

Question 2

why is the accumulation of carbon low in the artic tundra

Answer 2

due to the low temperatures, which slow down the decomposition of dead plant matter

Question 3

how many times greater is the amount of carbon stored in tundra, than in Biomass

Answer 3

x5

Question 4

where is the north slope located

Answer 4

between the brooks range in the south and the artic ocean in the north

Question 5

what is the average precipitation per month in an artic tundra climate (Barrow)

Answer 5

50mm

Question 6

why is photosynthesis low

Answer 6

due to the lack of trees and low tempreature

Question 7

how much land does the tundra cover

Answer 7

8 million km2

Question 8

there is ….. of the global carbon stored in the artic tundra

Answer 8

1/3

Question 9

what gases could be released, due to the thawing of the permafrost

Answer 9

• carbon dioxide
• methane

Question 10

average temperatures, well blow freezing. why?

Answer 10

• due to low levels of insolation
• meaning that sun rays are reflected, by the ice sheets

Question 11

what is insolation

Answer 11

Insolation is defined as the thermal radiation received from the Sun per unit surface area of the Earth.

Question 12

temperature range varies hugely seasonally (32 degrees difference). Why?

Answer 12

• due to the rotation of the earth
• means that there is 24hr of day light in the summer and 24hr of darkness in the winter

Question 13

Lower precipitation compared to the Amazon. Why?

Answer 13

there air pressure is high most of the time
- during the winter, most of the water is frozen on the ground, thus meaning little plant growth and evapotranspiration

Question 14

net primary productivity is low. Why?

Answer 14

short growing season, due to low amounts of sunlight and little liquid water

Question 15

roughly 3 months of the year where temp is above zero - in these months, temp and precipitation rates higher but still relatively low compared to other biomes

Answer 15

• water flows slightly faster, due to the suns energy
• thus leading to flows of photosynthesis, evapotranspiration, condensation and decomposition

Question 16

what sort of sampling strategy do point frames create

Answer 16

systematic

Question 17

why is the level of precipitation low in the artic tundra

Answer 17

• due to small stores of moisture, in the atmosphere, due to low temperatures, which reduces absolute humidity

Question 18

why are transpiration rates low in the artic tundra

Answer 18

due to the sparse vegetation cover and short growing season.

Question 19

why are the evaporation rates low in the artic tundra

Answer 19

• due to the suns energy, being concentrated on melting snow, thus meaning that ground temperature remains low and inhibits convection, also the soil and surface after, are frozen for most of the year.

Question 20

what is the active layer

Answer 20

the near surface layer, in a periglacial environment, which seasonally freezes and thaws

Question 21

why are there limited groundwater stores

Answer 21

due to the permafrost, being a barrier to infiltration, thus meaning that less water reaches groundwater stores.

Question 22

how is carbon stored in the soil

Answer 22

• mainly as partly decomposed plant remains. (most carbon in the tundra has been locked up for thousands of years)

Question 23

in the summer what happens, in the soil and with micro organisms

Answer 23

activity increases, releasing carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere, by the process of respiration

Question 24

what 3 things determine the albedo in the artic

Answer 24

• amount of sea ice
• snow on top of sea ice
• amount of ice on land

Question 25

how has warming affected the local weather

Answer 25

an increase in precipitation (rain not snow)

Question 26

what is a positive feedback loop and what loop is occurring here?

Answer 26

• as the temperature raises the albedo effect will decrease, thus increasing temperature, leading to a positive feedback loop

Question 27

now the table to the impacts of drilling in the North slope of Alaska

Question 28

how much faster is the artic melting than anywhere else in the world

Answer 28

3x faster

Question 29

know the strategies to reduce the impacts of oil and gas exploration

Answer 29

p27

Question 30

give 4 examples of human activity, that is having an impact on the artic tundra

Answer 30

• construction of oil and gas infrastructure including settlements, oil drilling rigs, houses etc.
• dust deposition by the side of teh road creating darkened surfaces, changing the amount of absorption of light (the albedo effect)
• removal of vegetation
• strip mining of aggregates (sand and gravel) for construction.