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cold enviroments Flashcards

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1
Q

what are the two type of environments found in cold climates

A

tundra and polar

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2
Q

what is the average winter temp of polar climates

A

tend to drop below -40 and can reach -90

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3
Q

what is the temperature like in tundra climates

A

summers can reach up to 10 while winters can plunge to -20

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4
Q

what is the precipitation like in polar and tundra climates

A

low
- less than 100mm in polar areas
- less than 380 mm in tundra

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5
Q

what are the season like in polar and tundra environments

A

they are defined
- cold summers even colder winters

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6
Q

what plantation like in polar environments and what are some examples of plants

A

polar enviroments have few plants
lichens and mosses that grow on rock
grass grows on the coast

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7
Q

whats re some examples of plants in tundra areas

A
  • hardy shrubs - bearberry
  • lichen + mosses, grasses
  • small short trees may grow in warmer areas
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8
Q

what is the soil like in polar environments

A

ice sheets cover the ground so no soil is exposed

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9
Q

what is the soil like in tundra enviroments

A

thin,acidic and not very fertile
- beneath soil is a layer of permafrost

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10
Q

what does permafrost hold

A

trapped greenhouse gases

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11
Q

what is human population like in polar enviroments

A

uninhabited - some scientists + indigenous residents

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12
Q

what is human population like in tundra environments

A
  • home to many indigenous people
  • oil + gas workers in larger towns
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13
Q

what is animal diversity like in tundra and polar environments

A

there are relatively few species in these ecosystems

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14
Q

what are examples of animals in polar enviroments

A
  • polar bear
  • penguin
  • whales + seals
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15
Q

what are example of animals in tundra environments

A
  • lemmings
  • wolves
  • reindeer
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16
Q

what does biotic mean

A

living
e.g plants,animals,people

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17
Q

what does abiotic mean

A

non-living
e.g climate,soils,permafrost

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18
Q

what does it mean when we say an enviroment is interdependent

A

many of the biotic and abiotic components of the environment is dependant on each other

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19
Q

what is an example of how an cold environment is interdependant

A
  • summer tundra areas have greater plant cover
  • plants absorb heat from sun preventing permafrost from thawing
  • the permafrost provides water to the plants
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20
Q

what is an example of one change in a ecosystem than will have knock on effect on the whole ecosystem

A
  • humans trample plants
  • soil exposed to sunlight
  • permafrost thaw
  • prevents plant growth
  • animals cant eat plants + struggle to survive
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21
Q

what do plants in tundra environments have to adapt to.

A
  • cold + strong winds
  • dry winter conditions
  • boggy summer conditions when top layer of soil thaws
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22
Q

how have plants adapted to survive the cold dark winters

  • 5 things
Study These Flashcards
A
  • dormant in winter
  • low growing + round shaped - protection from wind
  • shallow roots - permafrost beneath soil
  • small leaves to limit moisture lost through transpiration
  • summer is short so plants have a short growing season
23
Q

what does dormant mean

24
Q

how are polar bears adapted to cold environments

Study These Flashcards
A
  • thick fur to retain heat
  • black nose and paws to absorb sunlight

reduces amount of energy needed to keep warm

25
what are some adaptations of animals in cold environments
- migration - hibernation - camouflage - with snow to sneak up of prey
26
how can low biodiversity affect a ecosystem
if one species changes then it will affect the population of a dependent species. e.g lemming population decreases will affect the population of their predator
27
where is svalbard
in norway
28
how many people live in Svalbard
2700
29
what are Svalbard opportunities for development
- extracting minerals - fishing - tourism - energy developments
30
how is tourism an opportunity for Svalbard
- tourism provides jobs for local people - natural wildlife - northen lights - harbour of longyearbyen has been enlarged to cope with cruise ships
31
what is the main island most residents live on in svalbard
spitzbergen
32
what is the main town in svalbard
longyearbyen
33
how is fishing an opportunity for development in svalbard
- one of the richest fishing grounds in the world - 150 species of fish
34
how is mineral extraction a opportunity for development in svalbard
- rich coal reserves - main economic activity - provides jobs
35
what is the sea called in Svalbard where fishing is
Barents sea
36
what is the most likely future energy source for Svalbard
geothermal energy
37
why is mining on svalbard a controversial issue
environmentalists groups are against it as burning coal is a major source of green house gases however mining is vital to the economy of svalbard
38
what are the challenges for development in svalbard
- extreme temperatures - inaccessibility - buildings and infrastructure
39
why does Svalbard extreme temperatures pose as a problem for development
- longyearbyen tem drops below -30 in winter - extreme temps make it dangerous to work outside - frostbite - the amount of clothes people have to wear makes work difficult and slow
40
how is inaccesibility a problem for development in svalbard
- road system in svalbard in limited - Svalbard can only be reached by air or sea - most people travel by snowmobile
41
why does building and infrastructure pose as a problem for development in svalbard
- warmth from buildings could make permafrost melt - this would cause the buildings to collapse - buildings have to be carefully designed - water pipes have to be heated so water doesn't freeze + raised above the ground - permafrost
42
plants in cold environments grow ______ and decompose _______
slowly slowly
43
what are wildness areas
areas that are undeveloped,uninhabited and undisturbed
44
what makes up a large part of cold enviroments
wildness areas
45
why should we conserve wildness areas
- provides habitats - scientists can study environments that are not effected by people - this helps scientists replicate these ecosystems which can help preserve rare species
46
why are cold environments fragile and take a long time to recover
- plant growth is slow so if plants are damaged by vehicles it takes a long time to re grow -species are specialised so it takes a while to adapt and change E.g polar bears hunt on ice - ice caps melting polar bears cant adapt.
47
what strategies can be used to balance economic development with conservation in cold environments
- the role of the government - international agreements - technology - conservation groups
48
how does the role of the government balance economic development with conservation in cold environments
- unregulated development can damage environment e.g mining pollutes water - gov can pass laws to protect designated wilderness areas - development has to take place elsewhere
49
how can international agreements balance economic development with conservation in cold environments
- 1959 antarctic treaty stops people from harming the fragile ecosystem by limiting visitors and ensures non-military actives
50
how does using technology balance economic development with conservation in cold environments
- heated buildings can melt permafrost - buildings collapse + pipes crack - modern construction to minimise impacts e,g buildings on gravel beds.
51
how do conservation groups balance economic development with conservation in cold environments
- pressure government to protect cold environments - leads to sustainable development - WWF + green peace
52
What Act, passed in 1964, designated large wilderness areas and protected them from development?
wilderness act
53
how is geothermal energy a develop opportunity
Svalbard is over a plate boundary to geothermal energy is easily accessible

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