human impact on cold environments Flashcards
(13 cards)
what is environmental fragility
sensitive environment where even the slightest change can have a significant effect
what does fragile mean
handled with care
why are cold environments so fragile
3 reasons
slow ecosystem too develop - harsh climate to adapt to . takes time
sensitive to change - plants and animals have adapted to particular conditions
once damaged a ecosystem will take a very long time to recover if ever
4 ways cold environments are being managed
energy and minerals
fishing
tourism
bioprospecting
what is a global common
an area of land which in unowned by any specific country
who are the Innuit people
indigenous people of North America
sustainable life in the arctic
how have Inuit people adapted to their lifestyle
lifestyle - low pop density’s , small families , fur trading , natural environment is a spiritual connection
food - meat Diet of seal meat and fish . all parts of the animal is used . kill only what is needed
shelter - portable tents made from seal skin in the summer following migrations . igloos in the winter
transport - dog sleds in the winter
kayaks in the summer
modern day cold environment adaptation
small buildings design - elevated buildings so as to not melt the permafrost . gaps between buildings to circulate the air so was not to Melt the permafrost . remove heat from going into the ground
larger design - built on sand and gravel to reduce insulating effect on the sand and gravel
utilidors design - large box insulated and elevated above the ground to transfer suplys and water, eg heating pipes and sewers
pipes aren’t burried underground
how are humans impacting the cold environments
oil extraction
tourism - alps
how many barrels of oil spill in Russia each year
30 million
expand on oil extraction - human impact on the cold environment
oil extraction - Russia
most of arctics oil in in Russia . oil contaminates the soil , kills plants and contaminated the water . 30 million barrels spill in Russia every year . poisons water and kills wildlife
tourism in the alps - human impact in cold environments
increased due to high wealth
120 million visit each year
most destructive human impact are from the ski industry
illegal developments in Bulgaria - habitats lost and major disturbance to wildlife
