Unit 1 Dynamic Planet
Topic 8 Extreme Environments—Revision sheet 1 Arctic environments
Investigating the climate of polar and hot arid environments .
Polar Environments = The Arctic, Greenland
1. Locating polar and tropical environments.
2. Label the following lines of latitude on the map below. Use page 326 of your text book.
A. Equator 0 degrees
B. Tropic of Capricorn 23.5 degrees south
C. Tropic of Cancer 23.5 degrees north
D. Arctic Circle 66 degrees north
E. Antarctic Circle 66 degrees south
2. Label the location od Greenland.
3. Describe the location of Greenland —use latitude in your answer.
Greenland is
located between 64 and 10 degrees north. It is a polar region. It is located between the
Arctic and Atlantic ocean. It is the worlds largest island and is north east of Canada.
2. Locating the Arctic
Label the countries of the Arctic on the map below. Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland,
Norway, Russia, Sweden, USA. Use page 137 in your text book
to
help you.
3. Climate in Polar regions
Look at the climate information below for Inuvik Canada and page 125 in your text
book.
Jan Feb Mar April May Jun
ch
e
July Au- Sept Oct Nov Dec
gust
Average
Temp
-29
-29
-24
-14
-1
11
14
11
3
-8
-22
-26
Average
Precipitation mm
16
11
11
13
19
22
34
44
24
30
18
17
Max Temp = 14
Min Temp =
-29
Temperature Range =
43 degrees
Number of months below freezing =
8
Total precipitation =
259mm
(UK 2012 = 1331 mm)
Reason for low precipitation = Precipitation falls as snow in winter. Precipitation is
caused by rising air. At the poles the air is cold and dense. Cold air sinks towards the
ground. This creates high pressure and no rainfall.
Seasonality = The climate of the Arctic is characterized by long, cold winters and
short, cool summers.
There is a large amount of variability in climate across the Arctic, but all regions experience extremes of solar radiation in both summer and winter. Some parts of the Arctic
are covered by ice (sea ice, glacial ice, or snow) year-round, and nearly all parts of
the Arctic experience long periods with some form of ice on the surface.
Average January temperatures range from about −40 to 0 °C (−40 to +32 °F), and
winter temperatures can drop below −50 °C (−58 °F) over large parts of the Arctic.
Average July temperatures range from about −10 to +10 °C (14 to 50 °F), with some
land areas occasionally exceeding 30 °C (86 °F) in summer.
The Arctic consists of ocean that is largely surrounded by land. As such, the climate of
much of the Arctic is moderated by the ocean water, which can never have a
temperature below −2 °C (28 °F). In winter, this relatively warm water, even though
covered by the polar ice pack, keeps the North Pole from being the coldest place in
the Northern Hemisphere, and it is also part of the reason that Antarctica is so much
colder than the Arctic. In summer, the presence of the nearby water keeps coastal
areas from warming as much as they might otherwise.
4. Plant adaptations in the Arctic
The Arctic is an extreme environment and plants have special adaptations to survive there.
Plant/Flora Adaptations The most common vegetation in the Arctic are boreal
(coniferous) forests and tundra vegetation.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/plant-adaptations-extreme-cold/5506.html
DEF: TUNDRA =
Is a biome (a large scale ecosystem) It has no tres. It is a polar
grassland with dwarf shrubs, mosses, lichens and flowers.
A. Use your exercise book and text book page 125 to complete the table below.
Plant
Adaptation
1. Coniferous
Trees
Have short roots as the ground is frozen (perma frost) so
they get water from the active layer (not frozen) close to
the surface.
Are flexible so that they can bend in strong winds.
Have small leaves (needles) so they don’t loose water
through evaporation.
Are evergreen so that they can photosynthesise throughout the year when there is enough sunlight.
2. Tundra
Plants
(algae, lichen,
willow trees,
arctic poppies,
mustard flower)
Algae= Are microscopic plants that grow inside rocks. They
are so small they grow between the rock grains. This protects them from wind.
Lichen = Grows very slowly on rocks. It grows flat on the surface of the rock to protect it from wind.
Willow trees = Grow horizontally along the ground to protect from wind.
Arctic poppies = Rotate to face the sun during the day so
that the seeds are ready in the short arctic summer.
B.
Arctic plants are vulnerable to small changes in climate.
 Warmer temperatures could alter the time of year when plants flower.
 If temperatures increase boreal forest will be able to grow further north. This will
reduce the area of tundra ecosystem.
5. Animal adaptations in the Arctic
The Arctic is an extreme environment and animals have special adaptations to
survive there.
A. Use your exercise book and text book page 125 to complete the table below.
Animal
Adaptation
1. Polar Bears
Have thick white fur to protect from cold and for camouflage in
snow.
They hibernate in the winter to protect from the cold. They eat
all summer to build up fat reserves for hibernation.
They dig dens in the snow as they cant dig into the permafrost.
2. Seals
Regulating body temperatures
Harp seals are very good at conserving their body heat. With a
thick layer of blubber under their skin, harp seals are able to
hold their body heat more easily. This layer of fat also provides a
means of buoyancy, stores energy, and gives the seals a shape
that is better suited for the aquatic environment where they are
often found. In young harp seal pups you can find fur on the
surface of their skin in order to keep their small bodies warm.
B. Animals are vulnerable to climate change.
 Warmer temperatures effect hibernation and migration
 Animals need floating sea ice to move about– this is melting
 If arctic plants change this effects their habitat
-
6.How people adapt to Arctic environments.
Greenland has a population of 56 000. It is the least densely populated country in
the world.
2 main groups of people live in Greenland. Define the terms below using page
126.
DEF: INDIGENOUS PEOPLE /INUIT= People who still live traditionally in a place e.g.
Inuit
IMMIGRANTS = People who have moved into a region to work in mining, oil and
gas drilling and other industries.
Challenges faced by the arctic population (page 126)=
1.
Extreme cold for long periods of time
2.
Darkness and isolation in winter
3.
Permafrost—permanently frozen ground—if this melts because of global
warming it will effect buildings, roads and other infrastructure.
How people adapt. Complete the table below using page 126 and 127.
Adaptation
Description
1. Building Styles
Triple Glazing and very thick insulation to keep cold out
and warmth in.
Roofs are steep to shed snow to stop them collapsing
under the weight.
Traditional homes were temporary igloos or mobile
animal skin
2.Clothing
Traditional clothing is made from animal skins e.g. Polar
bear trousers. Modern high tech clothing has replaced
this and protect from frost bite and hypothermia.
3. Transport
Driving is easier in winter when ground is frozen solid. In
summer it is boggy and unstable. Skis, traditional dog
sleds and modern snow mobiles are often used. “Ice
roads” cross frozen lakes, rivers and even sea, allowing
heavy goods to be transported on trucks in winter.
4. Energy Use
Oil and gas are the main sources of energy, because
renewable energy such as solar and hydro electric
power is unsuitable in polar areas. Energy demand for
heating is high.
Arable farming is not possible due to the climate.
Reindeer herding is traditional among Sami people in
Arctic Europe. The traditional Inuit diet (40% protein and
50% fat) included whale, seal, polar bear and caribou,
as well as berries and sea weed. Most food has to be
imported and is expensive.
5. Farming
6. Unique Cultures in the Arctic
The Inuit people are unique as their lifestyle is carefully adapted to the environment in
which they live. They have a lot of knowledge about the arctic environment. Their
traditional lifestyle is sustainable and they live in balance with the natural environment.
Due to this understanding of the natural environment the Inuit are the first people to
notice changes caused by climate change. This makes them very important in the fight
against climate change.
Western people who move to the Arctic to work suffer from seasonal affective disorder
(SAD) and depression because the cold, dark, long winters are so hard to cope with.
7. Threats to the Arctic .
Use page 139 to complete the notes below.
Climate Change.
A. Impact on area (size) of sea ice. The Arctic ocean is covered with floating sea ice.
This expands in winter, to cover a huge area, and then melts back in summer. In September 2012 the sea ice shrank to the smallest area ever recorded.
B. Impact on Temperature. A rise in temperature by 1-2 degrees since the 1960s. This 9s
double the global average.
C. Impact on Permafrost. Large areas of permafrost have melted making the ground
unstable and waterlogged– effecting buildings, roads and other infrastructure.
D. Impact on Temperatures (winter and summer) Winters are less cold. Summer 2012
97% of the surface of Greenland ice sheet was melting.
Ecosystems
A. Polar Bears
may starve.
As ice sheets retreat (melt) polar bears find it harder to hunt, and
B. Beetle Infestations.
warmer winters.
Are increasing in coniferous forests as their larvae survive in
C. Caribou (reindeer) Grazing lands are shrinking as forests spread over tundra: caribou herds are an important food source.
D. Migrations. Timing of animal migration has changed by up to 15 daysfor some animals in the last 20 years.
7. Continued
Impact of Climate Change (use page 139)
Positive
Negative
A. Indigenous people
-Traditional ice fishing and hunting
will decline as sea ice retreats.
-Moving about is harder if permafrost
melts and ground is waterlogged in the
winter.
-As migration times change and breeding
areas shift, people will have difficulty
hunting.
B. Oil and mineral companies
As ice retreats on land, new areas are
Exposed that can be mined more easily.
- Oil exploration will become easier,
Increasing the risk of spills and other
pollution.
C. Shipping Companies
The Arctic ocean will open up to shipping
Reducing journey times between Europe and
Asia.
Increase risk of oil and waste dumped
From ships.
D. Tourism
Tourist season longer, increase income.
Fragile env swamped by visitors.
E. Fishing
As temp rise cod could be replaced by
shrimp. Fishing techniques will need to
change.
8. Other Human Threats
A. Pollution Through Resource Exploitation
As the ice pack becomes smaller valuable minerals are easier to extract.
 Oil and gas are already extracted in the Arctic
 An Iron Ore mine in the Canadian Arctic is being expanded to 18-30 million tonnes a year.
 Mine waste creates visual pollution in the landscape.
 Mining uses lots of water and creates polluted water that needs to be disposed of.
 The trans Alaskan Oil pipeline in the Arctic has leaked 4 times since opening in 1997.
 In 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil tanker spilled 11 million gallons of oil into the sea in Alaska. 250 000 seabirds were
killed and 3 000 sea otters.
B. Tourism
In the Arctic tourists watch whales and view glaciers from cruise ships.
 Extreme environments are fragile and can only cope with small numbers of tourists.
 Polar plants can be trampled and wildlife breeding disrupted.
 Arctic coastal settlements can be swamped by visitors.
 Traditional cultures have often only had limited contact with outsiders before tourists arrive. There is a danger
of cultural dilution as their traditions are “put on show” for tourists. For example dog sleds might only be used
for tourist trips instead of hunting.
C. Out migration
Extreme environments have limited economic opportunities. Although jobs are found in tourism (seasonal) and
mining. Mining areas experience “boom and bust”, depending on the price of oil, gold and other resources. There
are lots of jobs when the price of the resource is high. Mines close when all of the resource has been extracted.
8. Sustainable management of the Arctic
Sustainable management is needed locally and globally if communities in extreme environments are to survive.
A. Global Sustainable management– The Kyoto Summit (page 143)
Date of Kyoto summit = 1997 Japan
Aim = To cut greenhouse Gas emissions by 5.2% by 2012.
Number of countries signing =
191
Strengths = Lots of countries signed
It is a good target
Some countries e.g. UK France Germany Poland are meeting their
targets.
Weaknesses =
Some countries signed but aren't meeting their targets e.g.. Japan.
Some countries (big GG gas producers) signed but weren't set targets e.g. China,
India and other LEDCS as they need time to develop.
Some large GG gas producers e.g. USA didn't sign up.
Even if every country met its targets global temp would only be reduced by 0.1
degree.
Copenhagen meeting
Date =
2009
Agreement =
That CC is a major challenge.
Action should be taken to limit global warming to no more than 2 degrees.
Strengths = Big GG producing countries China and India and Brazil were involved.
Some countries have set their own targets.
Weaknesses = No binding targets were agreed.
Unit 1 Dynamic Planet
Topic 8
Extreme Climates
Important vocabulary to learn and use in this
topic. (Give examples)
1. Outback = Desert and semi desert areas in
Australia.
2. Adaptation = A way a plant or animal changes
over time to survive in a particular environment.
3. Succulents = Plants that store water in their
stems, leaves and roots.
4. Drought tolerance = plants that are adapted
to survive in drought conditions.
5. Drought avoidance = Plants that avoid
drought e.g. by having a very short lifecycle.
6. Stomata = Pores in a leaf. Water is lost
(transpiration) through stomata.
7.Flora = Plants
8. Fauna = Animals
9. Indigenous = The people who originally occupied an area eg. Inuit in arctic. Aboriginies in
Australia.
10. Aborigine = Australian indigenous population.
11. Uluru =_______________________
________________________________
12. National Park =________________
________________________________
13. El Nino =_____________________
________________________________
14. Heritage = ____________________
________________________________
15. Aquifer = _____________________
________________________________
2. Describe the climate of the Australian Outback
9including seasonality)
Desert and semi desert areas have rainfall under
250mm a year.
Temperatures are often 40 degrees. Most of the
worlds deserts are between 15-30 degrees north and
south of the equator. Semi desert/arid areas are
found on the edges of deserts. These areas get 500700mm of rainfall a year. Most of the rain falls in a
short rainy season.
Marble bar, North West Australia. Average high between 28 and 42 degrees. Average low 13– 27 degrees.
Rainy season = Dec– March. Water availability is low.
3. Shade in the desert areas on the map below
4. Copy the diagram on p123 to explain why most
of Australia is desert
Normally rain bearing winds blow across the pacific towards Australia. The mountains that border the coast– the great dividing range cause air
to rise and cool rapidly. This leads to rain and
condensation. Therefore most rain falls in eastern Australia.
Arid areas are fragile environments as summer
temperatures can be above 40 degrees, rain is
rare and soils are thin and infertile.
3. Locating the Australian Outback
Use page 128 to label the following.
A. Desert and semi desert (use a key)
B. Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean.
C. Great Sandy Desert, Gibson desert,
Simpson Desert, Great Victoria Desert, Strzelecki Desert, Strut Stony Desert.
D. Perth, Sydney, Bourke.
E. Nullarbor Plain
4. Australia is vulnerable to climate change.
Describe and explain 3 major impacts of climate change on Australia's outback. (p138)
Temperatures in the outback are predicted to
be 1.4-5.8 degrees higher by 2100. This will
make it harder to survive in the outback.
1. Drought. Will be more frequent, water supplies will decrease. There was a big drought
between 2001 and 2010. It cost the government £3 Billion and stretched the water
supply to the limit.
2. Evaporation will increase reducing water
supply.
3. Bush fires will become more common.
4. Desertification. The desert in south western Australia could expand by up to 100200km further south. If drought continues
productive farmland will become desert. Soil
erosion is caused when animals (sheep) remove too much vegetation through overgrazing. Many farmers abandoned there farms
during the drought and had to leave (out
migration) to find jobs elsewhere.
5. How can Australians reduce the impacts of
climate change?
Global actions to protect extreme environments from climate change.
See Kyoto agreement for the Arctic.
Local Actions
See sand dams in Kenya for arid environments.
7. Investigate the adaptations people make in arid
environments.
A. Farming Methods.
(i) Indigenous/Aboriginal people.
Use fire to drive animals out to hunt them. Fire is also
used to clear ground so grass can grow and animals can
graze.
They have traditional hunting tools eg boomerang.
They collect/gather food from the bush eg. Bush bananas, Acacia seeds (food and dressings for wounds),
witchetty grubs (for protein) and hunt wild animals
such as Kangaroo, crocodile and emu.
(ii) Commercial farmers.
Practise extensive farming. E.g. sheep grazing over a
very large area so that there is enough food and water
for all of the animals. Animals are often rounded up by
off road vehicles or helicopters. Farmers have dams
and reservoirs to trap and store water for animals.
Farms have boreholes to pump out groundwater.
B. Building styles.
Desert houses have very thick walls to keep heat out.
Flat roofs can be used for sleeping– as pitched roofs
are not needed to shed rainfall in desert areas. Buildings in Coober Pedy are underground to keep cool.
6. Complete the spider diagrams and explain how
these adaptations help them to survive in the
Outback (p130-131).
1. Plant Adaptations.
A. Succulence. Australia has over 400 succulent
species. They store water in fleshy leaves,
stems or roots. Desert rains are infrequent,
light, short and evaporate quickly so water
must be caught and stored.
They can quickly absorb rain water through their
shallow roots (close to the surface) They can
store this water for long periods of time.
They have waxy cuticles to reduce evaporation.
Stomata can be closed to reduce water loss. Water stores make them attractive to thirsty animals so they have spines, are toxic or use camouflage.
B. Drought Tolerance.
These plants can survive drought. They can shed
leaves in a drought to reduce transpirtation. Ecalyptus have waxy cuticles and few stomata to reduce water loss. They have deep roots to access
ground water.
C. Drought Avoidance. They are “annuals” they
survive 1 season then die. Seeds last for years and
only germinate when it rains.
2.Animal Adaptations.
A. The Bilby. Is nocturnal– avoids daytime heat
and avoids water loss. Burrows underground
for moisture and cool. Absorbs the moisture it
needs from its food.
B. Red Kangaroo. Hops– to find food quickly/
over large distances in the sparsely vegetated
desert. Feeds at dawn and dusk when it is cooler.
Dew (created from condensation at night) forms
an important part of its water intake. Rain triggers a hormonal response in females so they only
breed during the rains when food is available.
7. Continued…
C. Clothing.
Head to foot– to protect from sun. Loose—for coolness to
prevent water loss through sweating. Light coloured—so it
doesn't absorb the heat of the sun. Head covering to prevent
sunstroke.
D. Transport.
Camels were traditionally used as they can survive for days
without water. Modern vehicles are 4x4 to avoid getting
stuck in the sand. Light aircraft and trains are more reliable
than trains. Vehicles have “Roo bars” to protect the vehicles
and passengers from the impact of a Kangaroo. Drivers carry
extra fuel as petrol stations are large distances apart.
E. Energy Use.
Modern buildings have air conditioning– this uses a lot of energy. Solar panels work well in hot sunny climates. Deserts
8. Explain why aboriginal culture is special and
unique and why this culture is valuable to others.
Aboriginal beliefs focus on the land.. They see it as
sacred and something to be protected. Aboriginal
groups move around according to the seasons.
Their culture is special/unique because.
A. They survive in an extreme environment by
hunter gathering. (see food)
B. Their customs and stories are spoken never written.
C. Aboriginal crafts are based on hunting
(boomerangs) or music and tribal celebrations
(didgeridoos)
D. They have inhabited the outback for a very long
time. The oldest aboriginal settlements are
20 000 years old.
Their culture/way of life is valuable to others because:A. They live with few possessions– they waste nothing.
B. They have learnt to conserve water, firewood
and other scarce desert resources.
C. They have deep knowledge of the medicinal properties of plants, which could be useful to everyone.
9. What is threatening the Aborigine way of life?
(p136 and 137).
A. Cultural dilution through tourism.
DEF: Cultural Dilution= Traditional beliefs, dress, art
music and family relationships are degraded by contacts
with outsiders such as tourists.
(i) Parts of the outback are very popular with tourists. For
example Uluru had 450 000 tourists in 2005.
It is a sacred aboriginal site and it is very disrespectful to
climb it. Tourists also leave litter and go to the toilet on
the rock. This is very polluting in an arid area and can pollute water sources used by aboriginal people.
(ii) Aboriginal cave paintings at Uluru can be damaged by
tourists.
(iii) Aboriginal people put on a “show” for tourists. They
produce souvenirs to suit tourists tastes, or dress up in
traditional costumes. This might be a good way to earn
money, but over time their beliefs and values could be lost.
(iv) Desert plants can be trampled by tourists and wildlife
breeding be disrupted.
B. Resources and pollution.
(i) The Super Pit gold mine in Australia is so large it can be
seen from space.
(ii) iron and manganese ore are mined in the Pilbara region
of Australia. There is increasing demand for water and
housing for the miners to live in.
Mining can provide jobs but it is also damaging to the
environment.
9. Continued……
C. Out migration
DEF: OUT MIGRATION = When people
leave an area and move to live somewhere
else. Young people often leave to look for a
job elsewhere. Young people are attracted to
the cities by jobs and educational opportunities
Extreme environments have limited economic
opportunities. Although jobs can be found in
tourism and mining. Mining areas experience
“boom or bust”, depending on the price of resources. In 2011-2012 the number of visitors
visiting Uluru dropped by 195—not good news
for tourism jobs. Droughts in Australia have
reduced farming jobs. These factors lead to
out migration. People move to the city for
jobs. Mining areas have growing populations.
Farming areas and settlements of indigenous
people, have declining populations.
10. Local Actions to achieve sustainable
future for aboriginal communities.
A. Managing Tourism at Uluru.
(i) Visitors are asked to respect aboriginal
beliefs and not climb Uluru. “I didn't climb
Uluru” T shirts are a popular souvenir.
(ii) Aboriginal Cultural Centre at Uluru. Educates visitors about aboriginal history and
walks.
(iii) Jobs for aboriginal people. Bush tucker
guides are led by aboriginal people themselves. Over 30 aboriginal people are employed within Uluru—Kata Tjuta National
Park.
Exam questions:
1. Giving examples, explain how plants cope with living in extreme climates. (4 marks)___________
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2. Using examples, explain the value of traditional culture in extreme parts of the world. (6 marks)
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3. Using examples explain how tourism can both threaten and enhance National Heritage Sites
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