Question 1: Permafrost

Answer: A layer of permanently frozen ground found in polar regions and high-altitude areas.

Question 2: Tundra

Answer: A treeless biome found in cold regions with short growing seasons.

Question 3: Glacial

Answer: Relating to glaciers or ice sheets.

Question 4: Cryosphere

Answer: The part of the Earth's surface covered by ice and snow.

Question 5: Albedo effect

Answer: The reflectivity of Earth's surface, where ice and snow reflect sunlight, influencing climate.

Question 1: What is the primary feature of permafrost?

Answer: A layer of permanently frozen ground

Question 2: Name one major area where tundra is found.

Answer: Siberia, northern Canada, or Arctic regions

Question 3: Which process is primarily responsible for shaping glacial landscapes?

Answer: Erosion by moving ice

Question 4: Explain what causes the high reflectivity (albedo) in polar regions.

Answer: Ice and snow surfaces reflect most of the sunlight, reducing heat absorption and helping maintain low temperatures.

Question 5: Describe the climate conditions typical of the Arctic.

Answer: The Arctic has extremely cold temperatures, long dark winters, short cool summers, and low precipitation mainly as snow.

Question 1: The Arctic region has experienced significant ice melt over the past 30 years. Explain how this melting affects global climate patterns and sea levels.

Answer: Melting Arctic ice contributes to rising sea levels, which can cause coastal flooding worldwide. It also disrupts ocean currents and weather systems, leading to more extreme weather events elsewhere. The loss of reflective ice surfaces accelerates warming due to decreased albedo, further intensifying climate change.

Question 2: Using the case of Greenland's ice sheet, discuss the potential impacts of ice mass loss on local ecosystems and human communities.

Answer: The reduction in Greenland's ice sheet leads to rising sea levels, threatening coastal settlements. Melting releases freshwater into the ocean, disrupting marine ecosystems and ocean currents. Locally, indigenous communities face habitat loss, changes in wildlife migration patterns, and challenges to traditional livelihoods.

Question 1: Explain why cold temperatures lead to the formation of permafrost.

Answer: Persistent low temperatures prevent the complete thawing of soil, causing the ground to remain permanently frozen. This occurs in regions where summer temperatures are too low to melt the entire soil profile, resulting in permafrost formation.

Question 2: Analyse the causes of glacial erosion and how it shapes landscape features such as U-shaped valleys and fjords.

Answer: Glacial erosion occurs as moving ice picks up and carries debris, carving out landscape features. The immense force of glaciers erodes the valley sides and floor, creating U-shaped valleys. When glaciers retreat, these valleys may be flooded by seawater, forming fjords. Factors like climate, glacier size, and movement speed influence erosion rates.

Question 3: Explain the role of albedo effect in maintaining cold temperatures in polar regions.

Answer: The high reflectivity of ice and snow surfaces reflects most incoming solar radiation, reducing heat absorption. This helps maintain low temperatures, reinforcing the cold environment and contributing to the stability of the cryosphere.

Question 1: To what extent are current strategies effective in managing the environmental impacts of climate change in the Arctic?

Answer: Strategies such as international agreements to limit emissions, protected areas, and indigenous-led conservation efforts have helped mitigate some impacts. However, enforcement challenges, economic interests like resource extraction, and ongoing greenhouse gas emissions limit their overall effectiveness. While some measures promote sustainable management, global efforts need strengthening to effectively address climate change impacts in the Arctic.