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52 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What are the characteristics of a polar climate?
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-Cold winters with few or no hours of light
-Dry (less than 300 mm precipitation per annum) -Coldest ones support no life -Short summers with much light |
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Why are polar climates so cold?
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High latitudes!
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What are the characteristics of a hot arid climate?
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-Cold night because no clouds to keep heat in
-Occasional intense rain that causes flashfloods -Hot daytime temps often above 30 degrees -Very little seasonal change -Hottest support very little life -Sometimes less than 250mm rain per annum |
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Give an example of a polar glacial area
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Greenland
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Give an example of a polar tundra
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Alaska
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How much rainfall does a named desert get every year?
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Sahara, less than 250mm
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How much rainfall does a names Grassland area get per year?
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Sahel, 250-500mm
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What kind of latitude do we find a polar environment at?
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High. (Alaska is 64N 150W)
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What flora and fauna are found in glacial regions versus tundra regions?
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Glaciers have very little life other than insects, arachnids and mice and hardy plants, close to the ground to survive strong winds whereas tundras have many animals and insects and birds that are specially adapted. The boggy conditions support water-loving plants.
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What flora and fauna is found in semi-arid regions?
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-Few scattered trees that require less water
-Shrubs with extensive roots to get water from the ground -Jackals and gazelle |
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Give an example of a semi-arid region?
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Sahel, Africa
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How are the fauna adapted to survive in semi-arid and arid regions?
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-Store water in fat
-Nocturnal -Spend days underground or in shade -Insects collect moisture from air -Large ears dissipate heat |
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How are the fauna in tundra regions adapted?
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-Thick layers of fat
-Insulating fur -Coloured white to hide from predators (e.g. Snowshoe rabbits) |
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What can climate change cause in polar environments?
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-Burst lakes where melted ice builds up and breaks the banks, resulting in destroyed ecosystems
-Solifluction (in tundra regions) where large areas of soil melt and move like a landslide which destroys vegetation in its path -Ice melts & there's less hunting ground |
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What do I mean when I say that extreme climates are fragile?
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They're very susceptible to climate change related issues.
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What are the possible impacts of climate change on arid, hot regions?
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-Drought. Animals and plants can live with little water but not none!
-Increased desertification. Plants and animals that lived in that area can't survive. |
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What are the human adaptations to living in polar environments?
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-Triple glazing
-Wearing fur, wool, layers, etc. -Use of geothermal power |
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What are housing adaptations to living in polar environments?
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-Houses raised off the ground
-Hunting rather than growing crops -Roads built on gravel to prevent cracking them with solifluction -Steep roofs so snow falls off |
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What are the human adaptations to living in hot arid environments?
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-Loose clothes
-Light clothes -Head coverings |
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What are the housing adaptations to hot arid environments?
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-Thick walls and small windows to keep heat out
-Aircon -Flat roofs to catch water -Irrigation to grow crops -Nomadic farming so areas aren't overgrazed |
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What is nomadic farming?
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Nomadic farming is when a farmer moves from one place to another.
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What is permafrost?
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A thick subsurface layer of soil that remains below freezing point throughout the year
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What are your go-to polar and arid examples??
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Polar: Alaska
Arid: Sahel, Africa |
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How is pollution affecting polar and arid regions?
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Oil spills in Alaska have killed wildlife.
Air pollution from newly emerging economies in Sahel may increase drought. |
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How is land degradation impacting polar and arid regions?
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Permafrost is melting in Alaska due to buildings heating up the land.
Desertification in Sahel is leading to disappearing vegetation and soil erosion partly caused by overgrazing of livestock. |
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How is land cultural dilution impacting polar and arid regions?
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In Alaska, loss of native languages.
In Sahel, loss of traditional rituals. Both due to western influence. |
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How is land out-migration impacting polar and arid regions?
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People are moving out of Alaska to bigger cities for social and employment opportunities.
Same in Sahel. |
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Effects of climate change on polar climate?
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Warmer summers: glacier retreat and permafrost melting and species migration
Sea level rise: Coastal flooding, erosion and changes in ecosystem |
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Effects of climate change on hot arid climate?
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Less (reliable) rainfall: random intense storms cause soil erosion, drought, desertification leads to less land for grazing.
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What does 'species migration' mean?
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Species can't adapt fast enough so go looking for warmer or cooler areas.
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Give an example of sustainable water management in an arid MEDC
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The Colorado River Dam supplies a year-round supply of water for consumption and irrigation. Places like Las Vegas benefit.
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Give an example of sustainable water management in an arid LEDC.
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Tanzania in east Africa uses intermediate tech because they can't afford large scale projects. They have wells and rain barrels and hand pumps.
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Give some examples of sustainable management in polar regions.
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Alaska or Iceland
-Use of geothermal energy -Conservation zones -Promote eco tourism -Fish farming rather than trawling -Promote native cultures |
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What is a benefit of ecotourism on areas of extreme climates?
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-Promote local cultures and bring in money
-People may watch traditional performances or buy traditional artwork |
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What was the Kyoto Protocol, 1997?
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Commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% by 2012.
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What was the problem with the Kyoto Protocol?
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Emission increase from China and America (who didn't sign up) made irrelevant any reductions from other countries.
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What was the Cancun agreement 2010?
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Plans to put funds into developing cleaner technology and help developing countries cut emissions.
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What was the Copenhagen Accord 2009?
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190 countries agreed to limit global warming.
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What was the Durban Agreement?
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190 countries agree to legally binding emission cutting targets- comes into affect in 2020.
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What are 4 global environment management plans?
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-Durban Agreement
-Cancun Agreement -Kyoto Protocol -Copenhagen Accord |
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Name two local actions helping to ensure the survival of extreme environments.
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Hunting quotas on seals in Greenland.
Hunting quotas on polar bears in Canada. |
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Explain the local actions of environmental management in Canada.
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Hunting quotas on polar bears are important to the Inuit population because they are spiritually very important. They are also culturally valued so we must preserve them.
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Explain the local actions of environmental management in Greenland.
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Hunting quotas sustain the seal population that are so culturally important for food and also culture is preserved from threats of tourism such as removal of artefacts.
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What is the Arctic Treaty?
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Restrictions placed on commercial development in 1961. Later backed by the Protocol Environmental Protection in 1998.
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What is the Protocol Environmental Protection?
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Extended Arctic Treaty with more rigorous rules. No new activities allow unless they're assessed and consequences are minimised.
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What international agreements are there to protect Arctic environments?
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-Arctic Treaty
-Protocol Environmental Protection |
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What international agreements are there to protect arid environments?
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UN Convention to Combat Desertification since 1994.
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What does the UN Convention to Combat Desertification do?
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195 countries agreed to give money, share info and act together to combat land degradation and reduce poverty, as well as develop sustainable resources.
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What is the difference between top-down and bottom-up development?
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Top down is development funded and carried out by the government or world bank whereasbottom up is basically the opposite. It's carried out and funded by NGOs (non-government organisations).
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What do the Inuits (Greenland or Alaska) do to live in such an extreme environment?
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-No basements bc of permafrost -High fat diet, like seals |
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How are conservation laws limiting culture? |
Inuits have seal and whale hunting quotas imposed on them when eating those is a big part of their culture. |
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What local actions help communities in extreme environments survive? |
Sustainable farming, e.g. Nomadic Farming in Sahel Intermediate technology, e.g. water pumps in Kenya Laws protect local culture e.g. Greenland preventing removal of artifacts Local energy plans e.g. use of solar power in aridregions for lighting for education and refrigeration for health. |
