What sort of environment do periglacial regions tend to be?
Tundra
Where is Baffin Island?
Northern Canada
What type of region is Baffin Island?
A continuous permafrost region
What are the three types of tundra?
- Arctic
- Antarctic
- Alpine
What is the climate like on Baffin Island?
- Winters are long, dark and cold
- In the short summers, the snow and soil layer above the permafrost melt, there is also 24 hour sunshine
What develops in the summer in tundra environments?
The snow and soil melt feed vast wetlands, streams and rivers
What grows in the summer in tundra environments?
Small compact plants (no trees)
What currently is causing change in the Arctic Tundra?
Global warming
How is global warming impacting the animals in the tundra?
Animals typically further south (like the red fox) are moving into the tundra and competing with tundra species for food and territory
Long term impacts of this are unknown
What species in the tundra is threatened by the red fox?
The Arctic Fox
Competes with it for food and territory
What is at the foundation of the unique Arctic ecosystem?
The Arctic’s permafrost is the foundation for much of the region’s unique ecosystem
BUT, it is deteriorating with global warming and the warmer climate
In the Arctic, what is it suspected the melting permafrost is contributing to?
The melting permafrost may be contributing to global warming due to positive feedback mechanisms
What percentage of the Earth’s carbon stores are in permafrost?
Around 14%
How has the tundra acted as a carbon sink?
Captured huge amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as part of photosynthesis
This has helped reduce the amount of greenhouse gases accumulating in the atmosphere
How has the tundra’s role as a carbon sink changed?
As the permafrost melts and dead plant material decomposes, it releases carbon dioxide and methane
The tundra has flipped from being a carbon sink to a carbon contributor
When did the tundra change from being a carbon sink to a carbon contributor?
2024
What is the impact of melting permafrost on humans living in the tundra?
All foundations for houses and infrastructure are laid on permafrost
- subsidence and collapse of housing
- roads now bend and wave
* you can’t dig through the permafrost as its too deep so currently no real solutions
What environmental impacts in the tundra are triggered by global warming?
- Warming means soils soften
- When soils soften, the water in the ice leaks out
- Lakes and ponds drain
- The permafrost areas begin to shrink
- Carbon dioxide and methane are released from the ground and from lake beds
- Potential feedback mechanisms kick in
- Animals struggle as other invasive species move in
- Slumping
What was proposed to potentially stop further global warming and melting of the tundra?
Proposed trees could be planted to take in carbon
HOWEVER in 2024 this was proven to be ineffective
How can permafrost degradation be hidden?
Degradation can be hidden underground through the slow deepening of the active layer
What is retrogressive thaw slump?
RTS is landforms that occur because of permafrost melt combined with human activity
When was the millennium ecosystem assessment released?
2005
What did the millennium ecosystem assessment (2005) state?
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) concluded that human activities have transformed ecosystems more rapidly in the last 50 years than ever before, enhancing human well-being but causing widespread ecosystem degradation.
What are some important values of polar ecosystems?
- Fisheries
- Wild foods
- Genetic resources
- Fresh water
- Carbon sequestration
- Climate regulation
- Aesthetic value
- Spiritual value
