Human Impacts on Cold Environments (AQA A Level Geography)

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  • True or False?

    Cold environments have a high albedo of up to 90%

    True.

    Cold environments have a high albedo of up to 90% reflection of insolation.

  • Define the term environmental fragility.

    Environmental fragility is the susceptibility of an ecosystem to damage from external factors and its limited ability to recover quickly from such disturbances.

  • What does subsistence hunting and gathering mean?

    Subsistence hunting and gathering means obtaining only the food and resources necessary to meet basic needs without taking more than is required for survival.

  • State the meaning of albedo.

    Albedo is the proportion of light or radiation that is reflected by a surface.

  • True or False?

    Human activities in cold environments have only short-term effects.

    False.

    Human activities in cold environments can have both short and long-term effects.

  • What does habitat fragmentation mean?

    Habitat fragmentation is the process by which large areas of habitat are divided into smaller, isolated patches, often due to human activities.

  • State the meaning of bottom trawling.

    Bottom trawling is a fishing method that involves dragging heavy nets along the sea floor, which can disrupt ecosystems and damage marine habitats.

  • True or False?

    Cold environments are highly resilient to human activities.

    False.

    Cold environments are highly fragile and sensitive to disturbances.

  • What does environmental degradation mean in the context of cold environments?

    Environmental degradation in cold environments refers to the deterioration of natural habitats due to pollution, climate change, and human activities.

  • What opportunities do cold environments present for human activities?

    Cold environments have been and still are, considered to be of high value. They present opportunities such as mineral and energy extraction, fishing and tourism.

  • True or False?

    Since 1960, average air temperatures in the Arctic have increased by more than 2 °C.

    True.

    Since 1960, average air temperatures in the Arctic have increased by more than 2 °C.

  • What are phytoplankton?

    Phytoplankton are microscopic marine algae that form the base of many aquatic food webs and play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle.

  • What effect does increased UV radiation have on phytoplankton?

    Increasing UV radiation damages DNA and affects photosynthesis, which causes alterations in phytoplankton communities, impacting the food chain.

  • True or False?

    By 2050, only ski resorts above 1 500 m will be able to offer snow for 100 days or more.

    True.

    By 2050, only ski resorts above 1 500 m will be able to offer snow for 100 days or more.

  • What do ice-dependent animals mean?

    Ice-dependent animals are species that rely on sea ice for critical parts of their life cycle, such as breeding, hunting, or resting.

  • What are the consequences of climate change in cold environments?

    The consequences of climate change in cold environments are increased melting of ice caps, thawing of permafrost, and disrupted ecosystems, making cold environments even more fragile.

  • What impact will climate change have on bird migration patterns?

    Migratory patterns of birds and animals will change the availability of food, such as plants and insects, and degrade certain habitats that migratory birds need.

  • Why will sea levels change due to climate change?

    Sea levels will rise due to a warmer atmosphere melting glaciers and ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica.

  • What are the three approaches to managing cold environments?

    The three approaches to managing cold environments are prevention, reaction, and adaptation.

  • Define the term conservation.

    Conservation is the protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and their ecological communities.

  • True or False?

    Reaction involves attempting to prevent a harmful event from happening.

    False.

    • Reaction involves responding rapidly to an event once it has happened.

    • Prevention involves attempting to prevent a harmful event from happening.

  • What does offsetting carbon emissions mean?

    Offsetting carbon emissions means compensating for carbon dioxide emissions by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving elsewhere.

  • State the meaning of Indigenous communities.

    Indigenous communities are groups of people who are native to a particular region and maintain traditional cultures and ways of life.

  • Define geothermal power.

    Geothermal power is electricity generated by harnessing heat from the earth's core and is often used as a renewable energy source in cold environments.

  • True or False?

    Adaptation involves learning from and adjusting to changes in the environment.

    True.

    Adaptation involves learning from and adjusting to changes in the environment.

  • What is permafrost melt prevention?

    Permafrost melt prevention refers to techniques and strategies used to minimise the thawing of permanently frozen ground, such as raising buildings on stilts or using insulation.

  • What does cultural heritage mean?

    Cultural heritage refers to the legacy of physical artefacts, intangible attributes, and natural heritage inherited from past generations and maintained in the present.

  • Define sustainable management.

    Sustainable management is the practice of using natural resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.