Flashcards
Geography: Ecosystems
Flashcards do conjunto (18)
- 1is there more to polar environments than ice?Majority of the Arctic is made up of ocean, lots of drifting ice packs and iceberg. Sea ice extends further in winter There are also various plants (flora) and (animals).
- 2Features of the land and sea ArcticOn land there are mountainous regions, areas that are permanently covered with snow and ice, and areas of treeless tundra (where only a surface layer of the soil thaws each summer)
- 3Features of the land and sea Arctic 2Large areas of permafrost (ground which has been frozen for a few years). When the top few centimetres thaw it produces a landscape with many depressions which fill with lakes. Marshland and boggy ground cover large areas. The soil flows when it thaws out and is not stable.
- 4Features of the land and sea AntarcticContinent (land mass) which is 99% covered by an ice sheet
A few mountains poke out of the top of the ice sheet (nuntaks) e.g. Transantarctic Mountains
Sea freezes in winter, nearly doubling the size of the continent - 5Flora & fauna ArcticWhales, seals, fish, wolves, polar bears, reindeer, caribou and lots of birds
Most animals have adapted to specific conditions of the Arctic (sub-zero temperatures and absence of liquid water) - 6Flora & fauna Arctic 2Low-growing shrubs, lichen, moss, some flowering plants e.g. Arctic poppies
Plants like dwarf willow and lichens cling to the ground surface to avoid being damaged by strong winds.
Some species have natural 'anti-freeze'
Southern fringes of the Arctic have taiga, large expanses of coniferous forest but these disappear with distance north along a line called the tree line - 7Flora & fauna AntarcticLess vegetation than the Arctic, there are two species of grass which are found in a few places, otherwise only algae and lichen can survive
Sea contains lots of phytoplankton
Whales, seals, penguins, sea-birds
All animals rely on the sea e.g. for food or to provide a habitat for breeding
Penguins nest on ice shelves and Emperor penguins spend the winter there as well. Most other species migrate north to avoid the extremes of the winter cold
Marine creatures, including penguins, avoid the extreme temperatures found inland so most biodiversity is found at sea or around the coast - 8Climate ArcticAverage summer temperatures <10c
Winter temperatures around -20c to -40c
Annual precipitation <500mm
Winds blow strongly - 9Climate AntarcticColder than the Arctic
Summer temperatures around -20c to -5c
Winter temperatures can reach almost -90c
Annual precipitation is lower, around 50mm inland and 200mm on the coast
Windiest continent - 10Flora & fauna Antarctic 2Less vegetation than the Arctic, there are two species of grass which are found in a few places, otherwise only algae and lichen can survive
Sea contains lots of phytoplankton
Whales, seals, penguins, sea-birds
All animals rely on the sea e.g. for food or to provide a habitat for breeding - 11How can polar regions be managed sustainably on a small-scaleUnion Glacier is part of a large expanse of ice in the Ellsworth Range (part of the Transantarctic Mountains). It is used as a logistics hub operated by Adventure Network International (website). The camp is near to a natural blue-ice runway which can be used to land large cargo planes which bring equipment for expeditions and scientific research.
- 12Activities for touristswalking or trekking (low impact activity)
climbing, including a visit to Mt Vinson
visiting penguin colonies - visitors must stay at least 5m away from wildlife, be limited to groups of 20 and follow specific paths to the colony
walking in the footsteps of Amundsen up the Axel Heiberg glacier - 13To ensure tourism is sustainableVisiting Union Glacier is expensive (around £15,000 - £20,000) so not many tourists can afford to go.
Guidelines are given to tourists about how they should behave with respect to the environment; these are based on Antarctic Treaty guidlines.
The continent has been bio-secured to reduce the risk of contamination (i.e. no non-native species are introduced).
Some equipment is run on solar panels to reduce the use of diesel.
All water is carefully contained and removed at the end of the season.
The continent needs advocates to promote the protection of Antartica so by allowing people to experience this place each visitor will become an advocate. - 14To ensure tourism is sustainable 2Visiting Union Glacier is expensive (around £15,000 - £20,000) so not many tourists no Not all can afford to go (£15-20k)
Guidelines are given to tourists about how they should behave with respect to the environment; these are based on Antarctic Treaty guidlines.
The continent has been bio-secured to reduce the risk of contamination (i.e. no non-native species are introduced). - 15How can polar regions be managed sustainably on a global scale?The Antarctic Treaty is an agreement orginally made by twelve countries in 1959 about how to sustainably manage Antarctica's ecosystems. By 2016 53 countries had signed the agreement
- 16The Protocol for Environmental Protection came into force in 1998, outlines six basic principles for human activity:no mineral exploitation
plants and animals must be conserved
areas of the environment must be protected
there are rules for waste disposal and waste must be minimised
there are regulations for the discharge of sewage from vessels
activities must have an Environmental Impact Assessment before they are able to go ahead - 17Rules for visitingThere are also strict rules about the introduction of non-native species so ecosystems aren't disturbed.There are also globally agreed rules amongst tour operators - only 100 visitors are allowed to land at anyone time and cruise ships of over 500 passengers are prevented from stopping.
- 18Rules for visiting 2There are also strict rules about the introduction of non-native species so ecosystems aren't disturbed (e.g. visitors must wear disinfected overboots when they land and there are restrictions on eating, drinking and going to the toilet whilst ashore). The use of sledge dogs is no longer allowed . All dogs were removed from Antarctica by 1994 as it was thought they might spread disease to seals or attack native wildlife.
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- Year 9 Geography FlashCards sobre Geography: Ecosystems, criado por Lewis Drewery em 19-01-2018.
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- Lewis Drewery
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