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3.1.2.4 Cold environments (part a) GapFill
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Cold environments are located at high
or altitude. There are three different types.
Closest to the poles is the Polar climate - you may see these called 'glacial' areas. These are very cold - the temperature is likely to never reach above degrees C and will be far below zero during the dark winters - perhaps as low as -40°C. The land is likely to be covered in a thick layer of made from compacted snow with only the peaks of mountains sticking out - called nunataks. But it doesn't actually snow much. Because of the high pressure as air descends within the Polar cell and the air is very dry (cold air can't hold much moisture), little precipitation occurs. There's so much ice because it doesn't melt very quickly, and has accumulated over thousands or even millions of years! Antarctica and are examples of Polar climates.
Next are the climates - characterised by sparse landscapes without trees but there are small shrubs, mosses and sedges unlike polar areas. You may see them referred to as 'periglacial' which means on the edge of glaciers. These are found further from the poles and where there is greater warming from oceans. There are large areas of such climate in northern and Russia. While the winters are still very cold (but warmer than glacial regions), such areas have a short summer where temperatures reach above zero. There is more precipitation in the tundra climate, and it can even fall as rain during the summer. The land in cold environments is underlain by , which is ground which is frozen for at least two years. The further north or south you go (depending on the hemisphere!), the and more continuous the permafrost is. During the summer months, the surface of the soil melts (it re-freezes in the autumn), and plants are able to grow. The landscape is boggy in the summer as the water can't go any deeper as there is ice at depth. This is called the layer. The active layer is highly mobile, and can flow on very gentle slopes. The soil is very peaty because organic matter decomposes very in the cold. You are likely to find thaw lakes - their black peaty bottoms can allow the water to get quite warm, and winds help to elongate the lakes. But be warned if you want to take a dip - as this is and mosquito season! Cold environments are very windy because there is very little vegetation to inhibit the wind.
The third type of cold environment can be found much closer to the equator in mountainous regions - you may have heard these referred to as . This is because as you get higher up, the temperature drops. Mountain glaciers, and periglacial tundra environments can be found here. An example would be the Alps in Europe, or the Andes in South America.
It is important that cold environments stay cold! This is because of the they could cause the Earth - they reflect away a lot of heat, and when permafrost melts it's vast stores of carbon are released back into the atmosphere. Some will be released as - which is a very potent greenhouse gas.
Closest to the poles is the Polar climate - you may see these called 'glacial' areas. These are very cold - the temperature is likely to never reach above degrees C and will be far below zero during the dark winters - perhaps as low as -40°C. The land is likely to be covered in a thick layer of made from compacted snow with only the peaks of mountains sticking out - called nunataks. But it doesn't actually snow much. Because of the high pressure as air descends within the Polar cell and the air is very dry (cold air can't hold much moisture), little precipitation occurs. There's so much ice because it doesn't melt very quickly, and has accumulated over thousands or even millions of years! Antarctica and are examples of Polar climates.
Next are the climates - characterised by sparse landscapes without trees but there are small shrubs, mosses and sedges unlike polar areas. You may see them referred to as 'periglacial' which means on the edge of glaciers. These are found further from the poles and where there is greater warming from oceans. There are large areas of such climate in northern and Russia. While the winters are still very cold (but warmer than glacial regions), such areas have a short summer where temperatures reach above zero. There is more precipitation in the tundra climate, and it can even fall as rain during the summer. The land in cold environments is underlain by , which is ground which is frozen for at least two years. The further north or south you go (depending on the hemisphere!), the and more continuous the permafrost is. During the summer months, the surface of the soil melts (it re-freezes in the autumn), and plants are able to grow. The landscape is boggy in the summer as the water can't go any deeper as there is ice at depth. This is called the layer. The active layer is highly mobile, and can flow on very gentle slopes. The soil is very peaty because organic matter decomposes very in the cold. You are likely to find thaw lakes - their black peaty bottoms can allow the water to get quite warm, and winds help to elongate the lakes. But be warned if you want to take a dip - as this is and mosquito season! Cold environments are very windy because there is very little vegetation to inhibit the wind.
The third type of cold environment can be found much closer to the equator in mountainous regions - you may have heard these referred to as . This is because as you get higher up, the temperature drops. Mountain glaciers, and periglacial tundra environments can be found here. An example would be the Alps in Europe, or the Andes in South America.
It is important that cold environments stay cold! This is because of the they could cause the Earth - they reflect away a lot of heat, and when permafrost melts it's vast stores of carbon are released back into the atmosphere. Some will be released as - which is a very potent greenhouse gas.