AQA GCSE Geography · 3.1.2

Cold environments

50 revision questions with answers for 3.1.2 Cold environments in AQA GCSE Geography (spec 8035). Practise with flashcards, a topic quiz, a random quiz across the course, 5 crosswords, or read every question and answer below. Not official AQA material.

All 50 questions and answers

Question 1 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Where are cold environments found?
Answer:
Polar regions around the Arctic and Antarctic (above about 66 degrees north and south), and tundra in northern Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Scandinavia and Siberia.
Question 2 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Describe the climate of the tundra.
Answer:
Very cold: winter temperatures of minus 20 to minus 40 degrees C, summer only 0-10 degrees. Precipitation is low (under 250 mm, mostly snow), with long dark winters and 24-hour summer daylight.
Question 3 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Why are cold environments so cold?
Answer:
The sun is low in the sky so its energy is spread thinly, winters are dark for months, and snow and ice reflect much of the sunlight that does arrive.
Question 4 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What is permafrost?
Answer:
Ground that stays frozen all year round. In summer only a shallow top layer (the active layer) thaws, leaving the ground boggy and waterlogged.
Question 5 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Describe tundra soils.
Answer:
Thin, frozen for much of the year, waterlogged in summer, acidic and low in nutrients. Cold slows decomposition, so dead plant material builds up as peat.
Question 6 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Describe the vegetation of the tundra.
Answer:
Low-growing mosses, lichens, sedges, grasses and dwarf shrubs. There are no trees, and the growing season is only about 50-60 days.
Question 7 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Why are there no trees on the tundra?
Answer:
Permafrost stops deep roots, the growing season is too short, the soil is poor and strong cold winds damage tall plants.
Question 8 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Explain the interdependence of climate, permafrost, soils, plants, animals and people in cold environments.
Answer:
Cold climate keeps permafrost frozen, which limits soil and plant growth. Few plants support few animals, and people depend on those animals and the fragile land.
Question 9 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How do plants adapt to cold environments?
Answer:
They are low-growing to avoid wind and shelter under snow, have shallow roots above permafrost, small hairy or waxy leaves to keep heat, and flower and set seed very quickly in summer.
Question 10 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How do animals adapt to cold environments?
Answer:
Thick fur or feathers, layers of fat, small ears and tails to cut heat loss, white winter coats for camouflage, hibernation or migration to find food.
Question 11 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How is a polar bear adapted to the cold?
Answer:
Thick white fur and a layer of blubber for insulation and camouflage, small ears, large furry paws that spread weight on ice and provide grip, and an excellent sense of smell for hunting seals.
Question 12 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How is an Arctic fox adapted to the cold?
Answer:
Thick fur, even on its feet, small ears and a short muzzle to reduce heat loss, and a coat that changes from brown in summer to white in winter.
Question 13 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Why do caribou migrate?
Answer:
They move south in winter to find lichen under shallower snow and north in summer to feed on fresh growth and escape biting insects.
Question 14 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How have people adapted to cold environments?
Answer:
Indigenous peoples such as the Inuit and Sami traditionally wore layered fur clothing, used igloos or turf houses, and hunted or herded animals. Many now live in towns with modern technology.
Question 15 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What are the biodiversity issues in cold environments?
Answer:
Few species, simple food webs and slow growth mean the ecosystem is fragile. Climate change, pollution and development quickly harm species such as polar bears.
Question 16 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How does a simple food web make cold ecosystems vulnerable?
Answer:
With few species at each level, losing one, such as lichens or a prey species, can break the chain and affect predators such as wolves and foxes.
Question 17 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How does climate change affect cold environments?
Answer:
Permafrost thaws, sea ice shrinks, shrubs spread, and coasts erode. Thawing permafrost can release methane, which speeds up warming.
Question 18 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Case study: where is the Alaskan tundra?
Answer:
The North Slope of northern Alaska (USA), between the Brooks Range and the Arctic Ocean. It includes the Prudhoe Bay oilfield and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Question 19 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What mineral extraction opportunities exist in Alaska?
Answer:
Large oil and gas reserves, found at Prudhoe Bay in 1968, and mining for zinc and lead at Red Dog mine. They bring jobs, taxes and export income.
Question 20 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What energy opportunities exist in cold environments?
Answer:
Oil and gas, hydroelectric power from rivers, and wind power. In Alaska, oil revenue pays for services and a yearly payment to residents.
Question 21 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What fishing opportunities exist in Alaska?
Answer:
The cold, nutrient-rich seas support valuable catches of salmon, cod, pollock and crab, which employ many people and are exported worldwide.
Question 22 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What tourism opportunities exist in cold environments?
Answer:
Wilderness scenery, wildlife, glaciers, the northern lights, cruises and adventure sports attract visitors and give jobs, but only in a short season.
Question 23 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How do extreme temperatures make development challenging in the Arctic?
Answer:
Machinery and fuel freeze, workers need protective clothing and heated shelter, working time is short, and costs are high.
Question 24 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How does inaccessibility make development challenging in the Arctic?
Answer:
Sites are remote, with few roads, sea ports blocked by ice and rivers frozen or flooded. Everything must be flown in or moved on ice roads at great cost.
Question 25 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How does permafrost make building difficult?
Answer:
Heat from buildings, roads and pipes thaws the ground, which sinks and buckles. Structures are put on stilts or piles and kept insulated from the ground.
Question 26 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Why was the Trans-Alaska Pipeline built?
Answer:
To carry crude oil about 1,300 km from Prudhoe Bay in the Arctic to Valdez, an ice-free port in the south, where tankers load it. It was finished in 1977.
Question 27 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How does the Trans-Alaska Pipeline cope with permafrost?
Answer:
About half is raised on supports fitted with heat pipes to keep the ground frozen. The pipe zig-zags to allow movement and rises in places so caribou can pass underneath.
Question 28 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What are the environmental risks of oil development in Alaska?
Answer:
Oil spills such as the Exxon Valdez disaster in 1989, habitat loss, air and water pollution, disturbance of wildlife and extra carbon emissions.
Question 29 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How does development affect wildlife in Alaska?
Answer:
Roads, pipelines and noise can disrupt caribou migration, destroy nesting areas and disturb breeding. Spills harm marine life and seabirds.
Question 30 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How does development affect indigenous people?
Answer:
It brings jobs, income and services, but can also bring pollution, changes to hunting and traditional ways of life, and land disputes.
Question 31 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Why are cold environments valuable as wilderness?
Answer:
They have rare wildlife and untouched landscapes, scientific value for climate research, cultural value for indigenous people, and they store carbon and reflect sunlight.
Question 32 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Why should fragile cold environments be protected?
Answer:
Plants and animals grow slowly, soils and permafrost are easily damaged, and scars such as vehicle tracks can last for decades.
Question 33 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How can technology help balance development and conservation in cold environments?
Answer:
Directional drilling reaches oil from smaller sites, ice roads and pads melt in summer, raised pipelines and insulated buildings protect permafrost, and strict waste handling reduces pollution.
Question 34 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What is the role of governments in protecting cold environments?
Answer:
They set up protected areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, require environmental impact assessments, control licences, and set fishing quotas.
Question 35 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What international agreements protect cold environments?
Answer:
The Antarctic Treaty (1959) bans military activity and promotes science. The Madrid Protocol bans mining in Antarctica. The Arctic Council helps countries cooperate on protection.
Question 36 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How do conservation groups help protect cold environments?
Answer:
Groups such as WWF and Greenpeace campaign, lobby governments, monitor activity and raise public awareness, sometimes stopping or changing developments.
Question 37 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How is tourism managed in Antarctica?
Answer:
Operators in IAATO follow strict guidelines, such as limiting landings to 100 people at a time, keeping away from wildlife and removing all waste.
Question 38 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What is the Madrid Protocol?
Answer:
An agreement to the Antarctic Treaty, in force since 1998, that designates Antarctica a natural reserve devoted to peace and science and bans mineral extraction.
Question 39 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How does tundra differ from polar environments?
Answer:
Tundra has a short, cool summer when plants grow and the ground partly thaws. Polar environments such as Antarctica stay below freezing and have almost no plant life.
Question 40 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What is the active layer?
Answer:
The top layer of permafrost soil that thaws in summer. Meltwater cannot drain through the frozen ground below, so the surface becomes boggy.
Question 41 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How do people use ice roads?
Answer:
In winter they use frozen ground and lakes as temporary roads to move heavy equipment, and the roads melt in summer, leaving less permanent damage.
Question 42 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How can roads be built on permafrost?
Answer:
A thick layer of gravel insulates the ground so heat from the road does not thaw it. Engineers also use raised embankments and drainage to avoid water pooling.
Question 43 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How can fishing in cold seas be managed sustainably?
Answer:
Catch limits (quotas), closed seasons, gear restrictions and onboard observers keep fish stocks from collapsing, as in Alaska's regulated fisheries.
Question 44 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What are the benefits and problems of wilderness tourism?
Answer:
It creates jobs and income and supports conservation, but brings waste, disturbance to wildlife, damage to paths and pollution from ships and aircraft.
Question 45 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Evaluate oil development in Alaska.
Answer:
It provides jobs, income and energy, but threatens wildlife, permafrost and indigenous lifestyles, adds carbon emissions and risks spills.
Question 46 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Why does lichen matter in the tundra food web?
Answer:
Lichens are a key producer and winter food for caribou. They grow very slowly and are easily damaged by pollution and trampling.
Question 47 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Why is cold-environment decomposition slow?
Answer:
Low temperatures and waterlogged, acidic soils reduce the activity of bacteria and fungi, so nutrients are released slowly.
Question 48 · Spec 3.1.2.4
How does permafrost thaw threaten settlements in Alaska?
Answer:
Ground subsidence cracks buildings, roads and runways, and coastal erosion removes land from villages, making some communities consider relocation.
Question 49 · Spec 3.1.2.4
What is the albedo effect and why does it matter in cold environments?
Answer:
Snow and ice reflect most sunlight. As they melt, darker ground and sea absorb more heat, which speeds up warming.
Question 50 · Spec 3.1.2.4
Why is the Arctic changing faster than the global average?
Answer:
Loss of reflective ice and snow means more heat is absorbed, so the Arctic warms several times faster than the rest of the planet.

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