Question 1: Define the term 'permafrost' and explain its significance in Cold Environments.

Answer: Permafrost is permanently frozen ground found in polar regions. It influences soil stability, ecosystem types, and human activity in Cold Environments.

Question 2: What is 'albedo' and how does it affect climate in polar regions?

Answer: Albedo is the reflectivity of a surface. High albedo in ice and snow reflects sunlight, helping to maintain low temperatures in Cold Environments.

Question 3: Describe 'polar desert' and identify where it is typically found.

Answer: A polar desert is an area with very low precipitation and extreme cold, such as parts of Antarctica and Greenland.

Question 4: Explain the term 'glacial erosion' and its role in shaping Cold Environments.

Answer: Glacial erosion is the process by which moving ice shapes the landscape through scraping, plucking, and carving, creating features like fjords and U-shaped valleys.

Question 5: What is the significance of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current?

Answer: It is a major ocean current that flows around Antarctica, regulating climate and influencing ice sheet stability.

Question 1: Which of the following best describes the climate of the Arctic and Antarctic? A) Mild and wet B) Extremely cold and dry C) Hot and humid D) Temperate and rainy

Answer: B

Question 2: Name two physical features commonly found in Cold Environments.

Answer: Ice sheets and glaciers

Question 3: What is the main cause of the cold climate in these regions?

Answer: The high latitude position and angle of sunlight result in low solar energy and cold temperatures.

Question 4: Identify one adaptation that plants or animals have developed to survive in Cold Environments.

Answer: Animals like the Arctic fox have thick fur and fat layers for insulation.

Question 1: Based on the case of the Arctic, describe how permafrost affects human settlements and infrastructure.

Answer: Permafrost makes ground unstable, complicating construction, and causes buildings to settle or collapse. It also restricts agriculture and affects transportation routes.

Question 2: Explain how melting ice in the Arctic could impact global sea levels and climate patterns.

Answer: Melting ice adds freshwater to the oceans, raising sea levels globally. It also disrupts ocean currents and weather systems, potentially causing more extreme climate events.

Question 1: Analyse the causes of glacial erosion in Cold Environments and its effects on landscape formation.

Answer: Glacial erosion occurs due to moving ice that plucks and scrapes bedrock, creating U-shaped valleys, fjords, and shaping the terrain. Factors include temperature fluctuations and ice movement speed.

Question 2: Explain why the Antarctic continent remains largely covered by ice despite global warming.

Answer: The high latitude, altitude, and the presence of an ice sheet with high albedo prevent significant melting, although some ice loss has been observed due to climate change.

Question 1: To what extent are current conservation efforts effective in protecting Cold Environments like the Arctic and Antarctic? Consider both successes and challenges.

Answer: Conservation efforts such as international treaties (e.g., the Antarctic Treaty) and protected areas have helped limit exploitation and preserve ecosystems. However, challenges like climate change, illegal fishing, and resource extraction threaten these environments. While some policies are effective locally, global climate change remains a significant obstacle to long-term preservation. Overall, conservation efforts are partially successful but require stronger international cooperation and action to address climate change.

Question 2: Evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on the physical characteristics and ecosystems of Cold Environments.

Answer: Climate change is causing rising temperatures, leading to melting ice sheets and glaciers, which alter landscape features and threaten habitats. Permafrost thawing releases greenhouse gases, exacerbating global warming. Ecosystems dependent on cold conditions, such as polar bears and penguins, face habitat loss and population decline. While some adaptive measures can mitigate impacts locally, the overall effect is a significant threat to the physical and biological integrity of Cold Environments, requiring urgent global action.