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3.1.2.4 Cold environments (part b) management GapFill

Target Level
4-5
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Cole environments are challenging places to live and work, however there are lots of resources there to be exploited. Whether we can or should exploit the resources is a very different matter!

People have lived in cold environments for  thousandstwohundredsbillions of years. Their use of the land was sustainable. Of course indigenous peoples still do live there - but their lifestyles are becoming more of a challenge due to  treesoilweatherclimate change and conflicting commercial land uses. Traditionally, cold environments were used for activities including hunting, reindeer herding, fishing and trapping. An example would be the Sami People in Scandinavia.

Nowadays, large-scale commercial operations take place in cold environments on a much greater scale than before. Some of the activities can be highly polluting. Cold environments are very  hospitableresilientsnowyfragile. Because of their short growing seasons, damage to the soil can take decades to recover. An example would be mining metal ores. The process removes the top  stonerockjellysoil (completely destroying the habitat) to expose the bedrock, large amounts of waste rock is generated, and poisonous chemicals are used in the extraction of  metalsrockgravelsand such as gold. Fishing is also at a much larger scale, to the detriment of the natural ecosystems.

Problems may become worse in the future from increased pressure for resources as the population grows and existing reserves are depleted.  carbonClimate changepermafrostships will also open up new areas for exploitation, uncovering areas of deep ice and permafrost, and increasing the accessibility of the northern seas as sea-ice is reduced.

There are vast reserves of  forestmedicinesfossil fuelsmethane potential in cold environments - examples include Alaska's North Slope, and offshore oil. A huge pipeline crosses Alaska from coastal oil fields - it's construction was a challenge as the pipe needed to be built on  icestiltswheelssoil and even cross a mountain range! Oil spills can be devastating to cold environments (e.g. low carrying capacity) and major coastal spills can affect huge areas - such as the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 which affected 2,100 km of coastline. Fossil fuel extraction enhances the  negative feedbackaerosolsacid raingreenhouse effect, indirectly affecting the Arctic through melting the permafrost and releasing methane. But not all energy production has to be damaging - Hydroelectric and  gaswastenucleargeothermal power are clean - and companies are even moving data centres to the Arctic to take advantage of the cheap, clean electricity. There's almost no need for air conditioning either!

Cold environments are also opening up to tourism. Examples include cruises in both the Arctic and the Antarctic, as well as more traditional activities. Many people visit to see the beautiful landscapes - but they'll only visit during the short summer, making the employment  only in Octobervery seasonalall year roundonly in March ! There are also issues associated with tourism - for example trampling, litter and  water vapourpollutionicestilts from vehicles, boats and aircraft.

This is your 1st attempt! You get 3 marks for each one you get right. Good luck!

Pass Mark
72%