Cold Environments Flashcards
All 34 cards in this deck
What is permafrost?
Permanently frozen ground, frozen for at least two years.
What is the active layer in a tundra soil?
The thin surface layer of ground that thaws in summer and refreezes in winter.
Give two climate characteristics of the tundra.
Long cold winters and short cool summers; low precipitation (under 200 mm a year) with dry winds.
Why are tundra soils thin and infertile?
Cold slows decomposition, so there is little organic matter, and permafrost keeps them frozen or waterlogged.
True or false? Tundra soils are often waterlogged in summer.
True. Meltwater cannot drain through the permafrost beneath, so only hardy plants like moss cope.
Why do tundra plants have shallow root systems?
Only the thin active layer thaws — permafrost below blocks deeper roots.
Why do tundra plants grow low to the ground in clumps?
To shelter from strong, cold winds and keep warmth near the soil.
Give one plant adaptation to the very short growing season in the tundra.
Plants are dormant rather than dying off, and many use underground runners or bulbs instead of seeds so they grow as soon as light returns.
True or false? Cold environments have low biodiversity compared with tropical rainforests.
True. The harsh climate and short growing season mean few species can survive there.
Why is the tundra ecosystem described as fragile?
Few species and slow growth mean damage takes decades to recover and food chains are easily broken.
Give two human activities that threaten biodiversity in cold environments.
Drilling for oil and mineral extraction; also commercial fishing, tourism and road building.
How does climate change threaten species in cold environments?
Melting snow and ice make adaptations like white camouflage less useful and force animals to migrate or forage further.
Name the four development opportunities in cold environments in the AQA specification.
Mineral extraction, energy, fishing and tourism.
Why is mineral extraction an opportunity in cold environments?
They hold large reserves of raw materials such as oil, gas and coal that give a good financial return.
Give two economic benefits of developing a cold environment.
Employment and spending in the local economy (multiplier effect), plus improved infrastructure.
Name the three challenges of developing cold environments in the AQA specification.
Extreme temperature, inaccessibility, and provision of buildings and infrastructure.
Why does extreme temperature make development difficult in cold environments?
Mean annual temperatures are below freezing, so working outside risks frostbite, injury or death, and healthcare is far away.
Why is building on permafrost a problem?
Heat from construction melts the permafrost, making the ground unstable so buildings subside and roads break up.
Give two ways inaccessibility makes life hard in cold environments.
Many settlements are reached only by air, ship or ice road, and people are far from jobs and services.
True or false? Variable daylight hours are a challenge to development in cold environments.
True. In winter it can be dark nearly all the time, which limits work and affects health.
What is a wilderness area?
A wild, natural region that is largely untouched by human activity.
Give two reasons cold wilderness areas are valuable to science.
Ice cores record past climate, and the untouched ecosystems allow study of species and climate change.
Why should cold wilderness areas be protected for indigenous people?
Their traditional ways of life, such as herding and hunting, depend on the undamaged environment.
Name the four types of strategy used to balance development and conservation in cold environments.
Use of technology, role of governments, international agreements and conservation groups.
How can an oil pipeline in a cold environment be built to protect the permafrost and wildlife?
It is insulated and raised above the ground, so heat from the oil does not melt the permafrost and animals can migrate beneath it.
Give one example of a conservation group protecting cold environments and what it does.
The WWF Arctic Programme works with governments, communities and businesses to protect Arctic biodiversity.
Give two ways activity in Antarctica is regulated to protect it.
Fishing boats have quotas and seal hunting is controlled; tourist numbers and routes are limited under IAATO rules.
True or false? The Arctic fox keeps white fur all year round.
False. Its coat changes with the seasons – white in winter for camouflage in snow, brown or grey in summer.
How do many cold-environment animals stay warm?
They are insulated by a thick layer of fat (blubber) or dense fur, which traps body heat.
Give two ways animals survive the long winter in cold environments without facing the worst conditions.
Hibernating through the coldest months to save energy, or migrating to warmer areas with more food and returning in summer.
Why does thawing permafrost speed up global warming?
Frozen ground stores carbon from dead plants; as it thaws, carbon dioxide and methane are released, which causes more warming and more thawing (positive feedback).
How does a polar climate differ from a tundra climate?
Polar areas are colder and usually drier: in most places no month rises above 0 degrees C, winters are far colder than in the tundra, and most of the land is covered by ice sheets all year, so there is little exposed soil.
How can buildings in cold environments be designed to stop them melting the permafrost?
They are raised off the ground on piles or built on thick gravel pads, so heat from the building does not reach the frozen ground.
Give one way governments can conserve cold environments while allowing some development.
Passing laws that make parts of the area protected wilderness, where activities such as drilling, mining or building are banned or tightly controlled.