What are the two main categories of cold environments?
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What are the two main categories of cold environments?
The two main categories of cold environments are:
Polar
Tundra
Where are polar environments found?
Polar environments are found within the Arctic and Antarctic circles (66.5° to 90° N and S ).
Why are tundra environments found mostly in the northern hemisphere?
Tundra environments are found mostly in the northern hemisphere because the southern hemisphere lacks land mass.
What are the characteristics of the tundra climate?
The characteristics of the tundra climate are:
Temperatures range from -50 °C in winter to 10 °C in summer (average is between -6 °C and -12 °C).
Permanent darkness in winter and permanent sunlight in summer.
Precipitation is low, with less than 380 mm.
Clearly defined seasons.
What are the characteristics of the polar climate?
The characteristics of the polar climate are:
The coldest places on earth with temperatures rarely rising above 0 °C in summer and reaching -40 °C and below in winter.
Precipitation is less than 100 mm per year.
Permanent icecap cover.
Seasons are clearly defined, with cold summers and even colder, longer and windier winters.
What is permafrost?
Permafrost is soil that remains below freezing point (0 °C) throughout the year.
What does the term interdependence mean?
Interdependence means the living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) rely on each other for survival. For example, seals and polar bears rely on sea ice for breeding and hunting.
State three adaptations that plants have made to cope with cold environments.
Some adaptations that plants have made to cope with cold environments are:
Most plants become dormant to survive the cold, dark winters.
Most plants have adapted to a growing season of just 50–60 days and use underground runners or bulbs instead of seeds to reproduce.
They are very bright and vibrant to attract as many insects as possible for pollination.
Most plants have shallow roots because the permafrost prevents any further growth.
Plants are small and round-shaped to provide protection from the wind.
State three adaptations that animals have made to cope with cold environments.
Some adaptations that animals have made to cope with cold environments are:
Some animals hibernate to conserve energy and survive the winter.
Many birds migrate to warmer areas during the winter.
Many animals have physical adaptations, such as:
Short legs.
Round, squat bodies.
Layers of fur and insulating blubber.
White coats in winter for camouflage
Why is a lack of biodiversity in cold environments such an issue?
The lack of biodiversity in cold environments is such an issue because adaptation takes time, but any changes in the ecosystem are fast, leaving species at risk of extinction because they cannot adapt as quickly.
What opportunities are there in cold environments?
Opportunities in cold environments include:
Mineral extraction.
Energy.
Fishing.
Tourism.
Why has fishing in cold environments become an opportunity?
Fishing in cold environments has become an opportunity because the deep, cold waters are ideal for unusual fish, which command a high price in markets around the globe.
What are some challenges of developing in cold environments?
Some challenges of developing in cold environments are:
The physical geography can make areas inaccessible to vehicles.
Extreme temperatures can make living and working in the environment difficult.
Developing infrastructure and buildings is difficult when the ground is frozen.
The permafrost prevents deep, solid foundations from being constructed.
If the permafrost melts, roads and buildings can collapse.
Pipelines cannot be buried and need to withstand freezing.
What are some of the challenges of inaccessibility?
Some challenges of inaccessibility are:
Extremely remote and mountainous areas make access difficult and expensive.
In winter, the only way to get to some towns is via air or dangerous ice roads.
In the summer, there are no roads to some towns because the ground is too soft.
People in small towns may be a long way from employment opportunities or services.
What development opportunities does Alaska present?
Development opportunities in Alaska are:
Over half of Alaska’s income comes from the oil and gas industry.
Alaska has large mineral and ore deposits and is worth over $2.2 billion a year.
Fishing for salmon, crab and pollock employs 100,000 people and contributes over $6 billion to Alaska’s economy.
Over 2 million tourists visit Alaska wilderness scenery each year.
What challenges to development does Alaska face?
The challenges to development that Alaska faces are access to resources, finding and keeping a workforce, providing buildings and infrastructure, and protecting them from extreme weather.
What challenges do extreme temperatures bring to development in Alaska?
Alaska's extreme temperatures challenge development because:
Exposure to low temperatures with snow and strong winds can kill, and healthcare is usually at a distance.
Vehicle and equipment failures are common, and getting them repaired is difficult and time-consuming.
In winter, it can be dark nearly all the time, causing physical and mental health issues.
The low temperatures make building difficult and expensive, and it has to take place during the summer.
How are buildings and infrastructure adapted to overcome the challenging conditions in Alaska?
Alaskans overcome challenging conditions by:
Building in the summer when the days are longer and warmer.
Pipelines are raised on stilts, which prevents the permafrost from melting and becoming unstable ground.
Houses are raised on stilts to prevent their heat from melting the permafrost beneath, which can cause the land to sink and subside.
Reducing heating costs through triple-glazed homes and geothermal power.
Alaskan roads are built on 1-2-metre-thick gravel pads that stop heat transferring from vehicles to the soil beneath, which would cause permafrost to melt and roads to crack.
What does the term wilderness area mean?
A wilderness area is a wild, natural environment that is mostly unchanged by people. They are mainly, undisturbed, undeveloped and usually uninhabited.
Why are wilderness areas valuable?
Wilderness areas are valuable because:
They provide niche habitats for organisms, which protect biodiversity.
Scientists can research plants and animals in their natural habitats.
They are the last remaining areas that are unaltered by human activity.
What are the main threats to the value of cold environments?
The threats to the value of cold environments are mainly from humans because:
Species are highly specialised, and climate change would make it difficult for them to further adapt.
Plant growth is slow, and any damage to them (e.g. by vehicle tyres) takes even longer to regrow, if at all.
Pollution from development, such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill, has caused environmental catastrophes.
Land degradation occurs through heat from buildings melting the permafrost, especially around big urban centres.
What does the term sustainable management mean?
Sustainable management means making sure that the use of areas and resources is sustained in such a way that future generations can also use them.
What does sustainable management involve?
Sustainable management involves:
Making sure an environment can recover quickly from any use.
Preventing further damage to the environment.
Helping local people benefit from their environment.
Helping local people understand the benefits of protecting their environment.
What are the basic management strategies in cold environments?
Basic management strategies include:
Using geothermal power where available.
Having conservation zones to protect Arctic fauna and flora.
Promoting indigenous community cultures.
Protecting the environment from pollution.
Promoting ecotourism.
How can global actions protect cold environments?
Global actions can protect cold environments by having treaties in place, such as the 1961 Antarctic Treaty.
How does the 1961 Antarctic Treaty protect the Antarctic region?
The 1961 Antarctic Treaty protects the region by restricting all commercial exploitation of Antarctica.
What does the 1998 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty set out?
The 1998 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty prohibits all activities relating to Antarctic mineral resources, except for scientific research, and these must have an environmental impact assessment in place.
Cruise ships to the area are restricted to no more than 500 passengers, with a visitor quota of no more than 100.
True or False?
Governments have less power than conservation groups when protecting cold environments.
False.
Governments can create environmental protection laws, such as those protecting cold environments from development. Governments can also invest in environmental science work groups such as NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
How can conservation groups protect cold environments?
Conservation groups can protect cold environments by pressuring governments to pass laws protecting against development. They can campaign for change and spread awareness on issues impacting cold environments.