Cold Regions
description
Transcript of Cold Regions
![Page 1: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Cold RegionsIn
Global Environmental Change
IntroductionsBasic concepts
Definitions
![Page 2: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
What constitutes a region?(Revisiting Geo 105)
• Formal– Some characteristic is homogeneous
• Functional– Characteristic has a central node,
diminishes with distance
• Vernacular– Perceptual region, a region that exists as
part of a people’s cultural identity
![Page 3: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Why is the concept of a region useful?
• Can distinguish between areas – helps to understand process similarities and differences
• Understand how differences influence interactions between regions
• Understand how processes and differences affect rates of diffusion
• Explain processes through understanding interactions across space
![Page 4: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
What kind of regions are cold regions?
• Formal– Homogeneous physical processes, strongly influenced by
freezing temperatures.– Latitudes higher than 66.5°; altitudes above snow line.
• Functional– Extent influenced by a particular process (e.g., influence
of arctic sea ice, extent of vegetation of non-arboreal species).
• Vernacular– Inuit and Saami perceptions of “home”, “hunting
grounds”– Southerners perception of “The Great White North”.
• Can we map cold regions?– Yes and no– Depends on definition…
![Page 5: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Where?
• High Latitude– Arctic– Antarctic
• High Altitude– alpine
![Page 6: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Arctic
![Page 7: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Arctic
![Page 8: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Antarctica
East Antarctica
West Antarctica
![Page 9: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Space shuttle view of the Andes
![Page 10: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Space shuttle view of the Himalayas
![Page 11: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Geographic Delineation
• Latitude– 66 33’ N and S– http://www.athropolis.com/sun-fr.htm
• Weaknesses
Eagle Summit, Alaska – 66.5ºN, MarchTromsø, Norway – 69.5ºN, September
![Page 12: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Other Definitions
• Snowline• Vegetation
– Tundra-forest ecotone, related to potential evapotranspiration (Thornthwaite, 1948)
• Climate– Koppen (1936), 10°C
July isotherm
• Permafrost
![Page 13: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Other Definitions (2)
• Snowline• Vegetation
– Tundra-forest ecotone, related to potential evapotranspiration (Thornthwaite, 1948)
• Climate– Koppen (1936), 10°C
July isotherm
• Permafrost
![Page 14: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Vegetation of CircumArctic
Source: http://maps.grida.no/arctic/
![Page 15: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Other Definitions (3)
• Snowline• Vegetation
– Tundra-forest ecotone, related to potential evapotranspiration (Thornthwaite, 1948)
• Climate– Koppen (1936), 10°C
July isotherm
• Permafrost
![Page 16: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Other Definitions (4)
• Snowline• Vegetation
– Tundra-forest ecotone, related to potential evapotranspiration (Thornthwaite, 1948)
• Climate– Koppen (1936), 10°C
July isotherm
• Permafrost
![Page 17: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Permafrost Distribution
![Page 18: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Why or why not study cold environments?
• Sparsely populated?• US has few interests?• Doesn’t matter if climate changes there?• I’ve never visited and never plan to?
![Page 19: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Why? (from an entirely americentric viewpoint!)
• Sparsely populated?– True, but how important are cold regions to the global and US
economy (addresses point 2 also?)– Where does most US territory oil come from?– Where are the most strategic military sites (particularly during the cold
war)?– What’s the shortest route between the U.S. and Asia and Russia?– Where does New York State buy much of its electric power from?– Where are many of the largest world coal and mineral reserves?
• US has few interests?– Alaska is primarily in a cold environment. Its economy and population
are part of US interest. AK is one of the country’s largest oil producing states.
– Ski industry is based in cold environments. Skiing is a multimillion $ industry.
– Mountain tourism, tourism in Alaska, all bring in foreign exchange.
![Page 20: Cold Regions](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022062301/568138cd550346895da0877e/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Why?• I’ve never visited and never plan
to?– What’s wrong with learning about
places you’ve never been? It might help alleviate all sorts of international conflict if citizens were more “global” in their knowledge.
• Doesn’t matter if climate changes there?– Well, actually. . . That’s what this
course is really all about. The answer to this question will be discussed throughout the semester, with the conclusion that, yes, it does matter if climate changes there.