Fragility of Cold Environments (AQA A Level Geography)

Environmental Fragility of Cold Environments

Cold environments are fragile

• Development and processes within cold environments occur slowly 

• They are long term carbon and methane stores with a high albedo of up to 90% reflection of insolation

• Any changes quickly cascade, and once damaged, it takes a long time for the ecosystem to recover, if at all

• Adaptations of flora and fauna occurred over a long period of time, in order to survive their harsh surroundings 

• Plants and animals have to cope with a lack of daylight, climatic variations and a very short growing season

• Specialism, limited species numbers, sensitivity to changes, and slow development make this environment very fragile

Human activities

• Cold environments, have been and still are, considered to be of high value due to a number of factors:

  • The species found within them - seals for fur, whales for blubber

  • Wilderness environments - ecotourism and scientific research

  • Mineral resources - silver, gold, copper etc 

  • Fishing 

  • Energy sources - gas, oil, uranium

• Indigenous peoples have adapted to the landscape and climate, with small, scattered populations 

• Their lifestyles are considered sustainable, as they cause minimal intrusion on the environment

• Theirs is a process of subsistence hunting and gathering and of not taking more than is necessary to meet their needs

• Subsistence in this instance, also includes sharing the hunt, along with their associated social and cultural activities 

• However, in recent years, exploitation of cold environments has become intensive and on a much larger scale

• These concentrated activities have immediate and long-term effects and are more damaging to the environment than small-scale subsistence living both physically and socially

• Cold environments provide opportunities but are put at risk by the development and exploitation of its resources

• Any development requires supporting infrastructure, adding pressure to the already damaged environment or encouraging further development of the region due to improved access

• Mineral extraction: 
  

  • There are valuable reserves of gold, silver, iron ore and copper

  • Many countries are increasing their mining activities beneath the tundra

  • Leading to ground and surface water contamination through the use of chemicals or from the mineral itself 

    • Up until 1990 lead and zinc were mined at Maarmrilik in Greenland

    • However, nearby fjords are still polluted with high levels of lead and zinc from the closed mine 

  • Mining produces both solid and liquid waste

  • This requires disposal that is both economically viable but also environmentally safe, and procedures are usually put in place to ensure this happens

  • However, many mines do not comply with local laws, do not have the funds or facilities to dispose of the waste safely and waste is discharged into the environment, polluting local areas

• Energy extraction:

  • Gas and oil are abundant

  • The US government is extracting oil from the oilfields near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska

  • Heat from the terminal buildings, workers' homes and transport to and from the oil fields has led to permafrost melt and buildings subsiding

  • Oil spills during transportation or pipeline leaks contaminate the soil which pollutes habitats and impacts the flora and fauna of the area

    • The 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill killed over 250,000 birds and fish when the tanker crashed and poured 40 million litres of oil into the ocean off the coast of Alaska

    • The Trans-Alaska pipeline runs the length of Alaska and on average suffered 30-40 oil spills a year between 1977 and 1994 - the total amount of oil spilled is unknown

    • In the last 20 years there have been less than 18 spills of oil, ranging from less than a barrel to 6,800 barrels of oil

    • The estimated cost has been $52.7 million in damage from the 9,784 barrels of spilt oil in that time

• Fishing:

  • The cold coastal waters have good fish stocks and attract commercial fishing vessels

  • The deep, cold water is ideal for unusual fish species that command a high price in markets around the globe

    • The Patagonian Toothfish or Chilean Sea Bass is a large, predatory fish, native to the Southern Ocean around Antarctica

    • The freezing conditions make it difficult to catch which adds to its exclusivity and a high retail price tag 

  • Overfishing has led to depleted fish stocks and can disrupt food chains 
    

    • In the Southern Ocean, extensive krill fishing has depleted whale and penguin food supplies

  • Bottom trawling by dragging nets along the sea-bed disrupts the ecosystem

    • The disturbed sediments reduce light levels even further

    • It damages the sea bed and other marine life

    • It is an indiscriminate fishing method, catching other species, the fry, and the target fish

• Tourism:

  • Places such as Antarctica have seen an increase in the number of tourists

  • Approximately 170,000 tourists visited Antarctica in 2020 and large cruise ships increase pollution in the area - both from the ship and the tourists themselves 

  • Seeds from non-native species, caught on tourist clothing, are being seen growing in the ice-free coastal areas, threatening the continent's biodiversity

  • Adventure tourism to extreme cold environments is a growth industry for countries and local communities

  • Developments such as roads and hotels, disrupt wildlife and damage habitats and migratory patterns, leading to reduced biodiversity

    • In the European Alps, social mobility and wealth have increased the rate of deforestation for ski resorts and supporting infrastructure, leading to habitat loss and fragmentation