Polar & tundra

• What are the two main types of cold environments mentioned?

  Polar and Tundra
• What is the typical air temperature in polar and tundra environments?

  Normally below freezing
• What is the maximum temperature during warm months in tundra areas?

  10°C
• How does frozen ground affect plant growth in cold environments?

  It stops soil warming and plants growing
• What is the annual rainfall in polar areas?

  Less than 100 mm
• What is the annual rainfall in tundra areas?

  About 200 mm
• What is the evaporation rate in cold environments?

  Less than 100 mm
• What happens to air temperatures in cold environments?

  They can plunge to -35°C
• What covers polar areas, preventing soil exposure?

  Ice sheets
• Describe the characteristics of tundra soil.

  Thin, acidic, and not very fertile
• What lies beneath the thin soil in tundra areas?

  A layer of permanently frozen ground
• What do the frozen grounds in tundra hold?

  Trapped greenhouse gases
• What types of plants are found in polar areas?

  Lichens and ranges
• What types of plants grow in tundra areas?

  Hardy shrubs, grasses, mosses, and lichens
• What animals are found in polar areas?

  Polar bears, penguins, walruses, and seals
• Which animals live in tundra areas?

  Arctic foxes, reindeer, wolves, and musk oxen
• How populated are polar areas?

  Mostly uninhabited with some indigenous residents
• What activities occur in tundra areas?

  Home to many indigenous people and oil and gas activity
• What are the components of cold environments and their interdependence?

  • Biotic components: plants, animals, people
  • Abiotic components: climate, soil, permafrost
  • Cold climate leads to slow plant growth and decomposition
  • Low plant cover results in nutrient-poor soil
  • Herbivores migrate for food, followed by carnivores
  • Summer plant cover prevents permafrost thawing
• What happens if humans trample plants in cold environments?

  Soil is exposed to sunlight, warming up and potentially thawing permafrost
• What are the consequences of melting permafrost?

  Releases greenhouse gases and affects the entire ecosystem
• What is a key tip for understanding cold environments?

  • Cold environments are often frozen but not lifeless
  • Understanding characteristics helps in recognizing interconnections
  • Drawing diagrams can clarify relationships between components