Cold Environments

• Describe the climate of a Polar Biome

  -Very cold and below freezing all year -50 to even -90 degrees

  -Low precipitation as the air is too cold to hold water vapour
• Describe the soil in Polar Biomes

  -The soil is permanently frozen- permafrost
• Describe the Animals and plants in Polar Biomes

  -Very few species of plants and animals

  -Lichens and moss that grow on rocks and some grass grows on the coast

  -Polar bears, pengiuns and whales
• Describe the Climate in Tundra Biomes

  -Cold but not as cold as Polar Biomes- around -20 degrees in winter

  -Warmer summers up to 10 degrees

  -Wetter than Polar Biomes
• Describe the Soil in Tundra Biomes

  -The soil is permanently frozen- Permafrost

  -But the top layer melts in summer

  -Low fertility
• Describe the Plants and Animals in Tundra Biomes

  -Many low lying plants like grass and moss

  -More animal species like Wolves, Reindeer and Lemmings
• There are very little indigenous people in Polar biomes and only a few scientific researchers
• There are many indigenous people in Tundra Biomes and many oil and has workers
• Cold environments are fragile and interdependent ecosystems
• Cold environments have low biodiversity- very few species.

  This also means that when the population of one species changes the species that are dependant on it will aslo be effected
• Give 3 ways in which Plants have adapted to survive cold environments

  1. Some plants become dormant to survive cold and dark winters
  2. Plants have to have shallow roots due to the layer of permafrost underneath the soil
  3. Short growing season due to the short summers
• Give 3 ways in which animals have adapted to survive cold environments

  1. Thick fur which acts as a layer of insulation and reduces the amount of energy used to keep them warm
  2. White fur to be camoflaged to hide from predators
  3. Animals that dont migrate are adapted to survive on little food and resources
• How is the Bearberry plant adapted to survive cold environments

  -Less than 15cm of the ground

  -Thick stems to protect against the wind

  -Hairy stem to keep warm

  -Bright berries to attract birds which help with seed dispersal
• How is the Polar Bear adapted to survive cold environments

  -Thick fur and a layer of fat insulation

  -Black nose and foot pads to absorb heat from the sun

  -Hunt seals in the sea

  -Hibernate in the winter
• Thew cold climate causes plants to decompose slowly which means that the soil relatively low in nutrients
• Why are cold environments valuable to us?

  1. They provide habitats for organisms that could not survive elsewhere
  2. The white tips of the mountains reflect sunlight helping to maintain global temperatures
  3. Permafrost traps methane
  4. Scientific research- Gain knowledge about fragile ecosystems and scientists may be able to replicate the same conditions in managed ecoystems to prevent extinction
  5. Fragile and take a long time to recover
• What are the 4 stratergies to sustainable managment in cold environments

  1. International Agreements
  2. Government responsibility
  3. Conservation groups
  4. Technology
• How can Technology help to manage cold environments?

  -Bulidings can be built on gravel beds to prevent the heat from the buildings melting the permafrost and releasing methane

  -To prevent out-migration by replicating the modern world through tv's snowmobiles and ICT

  -Better connect these isolated places to the rest of the world

  -Provide online education and healthcare
• What are 5 opportunities in Svalbard

  1. Tourism
  2. Fishing
  3. Mining
  4. Educaation/research
  5. Energy development
• What are 4 challenges in Svalbard

  1. Extreme Cold
  2. Building is difficult
  3. Providing Services
  4. Inaccessibility
• Global warming is causing species to move to the poles where it is colder due to temperature rise in their habitat. The species that are already adapted to their cold environments can't go anywhere else so they are at risk of being endangered or extinct if their habitats warm up too much