Synoptic: Biodiversity under Threat

Arctic on the Edge

Wordle of advance info whole text

Wordle of advance info (minus Arctic)

Arctic on the Edge: The key ideas

Geopolitics….

Conflict…

Threats…

Players….

Actions….

Futures….

Arctic: Geographical overview

Physical features:- Oceans / tectonics- Climate / Ice sheets- Biodiversity- Natural resources (energy, food, minerals)

Human features:- Population - Geopolitics- Economic activity

What is the Arctic?

http://www.amap.no/about/organisational-structure

Why is the Arctic a hard area to define?

Why might that be an issue in future?

Physical features

Find out some facts and figures about the key areas of the Arctic

(how big, deep, etc..?)

Physical features: Ocean and tectonics

http://map.arctic.ac.uk/home

Eurasian basin opened by plate tectonics 65mya

(constructive plate boundary)

Gakkel ridge is extension of Mid-

Atlantic ridge (nearby volcanic activity = natural cause of climate change..)

Lomonosov ridge was part of Eurasian plate until

65mya when Eurasian basin opened and split it from

Eurasian plate/Russia

Physical features: Link to global climate system

http://theterramarproject.org/thedailycatch/atlantic-meridional-overturning-circulation-amoc-may-be-weakening/

Physical features: Ice caps and ice sheets

https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/glaciers/gallery/icecaps.html

Be able to name and define the key Arctic

ice sheets and ice caps.

Why are they important?

Physical features: Sea ice and climate change

http://nsidc.org/arcticseaicenews/

What are the issues with Arctic sea ice?

>refer back to AS climate change notes,

albedo, positive feedback etc..

Physical features: Climate

Can you compare the Arctic climate

(temperatures and levels of rainfall) with

the UK?

Physical features: Boreal forest and tundra

http://www.grida.no/publications/other/geo3/?src=/geo/geo3/english/212.htm

Make sure you understand what

these two biomes are like, why they are like that and why they are

sensitive…

Physical features: Ecosystems

Make sure you understand what

processes occur in the ecosystems of the Arctic and how they might be affected by human activity and

natural changes.

Physical features: Energy resources

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=4650https://www.regjeringen.no/en/aktuelt/the-strategic-challenges-in-the-arctic-a/id622209/

Human features: Population density

http://circhob.circumpolarhealth.org/data-brief-1-introduction-and-population/

Can you put these figures into context with other places? How low are they?

What is life like here?

Human features: Geopolitics

http://map.arctic.ac.uk/home

Why are these countries interested

in the Arctic and extending their

EEZs?

What conflicts and issues are there

now and in future?

Themes/ideas: Goods and services model

Supporting services:

The aspects of the biomes:

- Primary production- Soil formation- Nutrient cycling- Flora and fauna

Climate services:- Climate cooling/Energy transfer

- Carbon sink- Ocean circulation

Provisioning services:- Food (fish, seals, caribou etc.)

- Timber- Oil, gas and minerals

Cultural services:- Spiritual connection- Recreation (tourism)

- Education- Aesthetics

Based on the MEA model (2005)

Themes/ideas: Spectrum of management strategies

Themes/ideas: Sustainable development

Sustainable development

Environmental safeguarding/ improvement

Economic needs

Social needs

Topic map of overall theme

Biodiversity: Arctic on Edge

Futures

Physical / human

features

Players

Actions

Issues

Energy

Marine

Topic map of overall theme

Biodiversity: Arctic on Edge

Futures

Features/ Characteristics

Players

Actions

Issues

Physical features

Biomes

Conflict

Climate

Human features

IGOs TNCs

Local

Population

Regional

Global

Economic activity

NGOs

How can I be

“synoptic”?

Use of broad geographical

themes

Links to areas of AS and A2

course

Use ‘new’ information from

researchParallel

examples

Globalisation

Inequality

PlayersAntarctica

Arctic

Use of broad geographical

themes

Use ‘new’ information

from research

Parallel examples

BP Gulf spill

Sustainability

Going Global

Water Conflict

Links to areas of AS

and A2 courseEnergy

Security

Statistics Issues

Geopolitics

Superpowers

Falklands

World at Risk

Climate change

Ecosystems

ANWR

Parallel examplesGeopolitical tension/conflict over resources:Falklands conflicthttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/guides/457000/457033/html/default.stm

Oil / energy:Shell in the Arctichttp://www.shell.com/global/future-energy/arctic.htmlGulf 2010http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special_reports/oil_disasterExxon Valdezhttp://www.evostc.state.ak.us/index.cfm?FA=facts.QA

British Antarctic Survey website (v.good on geopolitics, Treaty, tourism etc..)http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/about_antarctica/index.php

RGS A level website on Antarctica (great on geopolitics, Treaty etc..)http://www.discoveringantarctica.org.uk/alevel.html

Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR)http://www.fws.gov/refuge/arctic/http://arcticcircle.uconn.edu/ANWR/anwrpreface.html

Further research / updates

Great website with overview of all areas (climate, people, resources etc.)http://www.discoveringthearctic.org.uk

Interactive map with GIS layers on almost everything in here:http://map.arctic.ac.uk/home

Website and BBC video clips on Inuit people and history, issues etc..https://www.itk.ca/about-inuithttp://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/humanplanetexplorer/environments/arctic

Article on geology and geopolitics, land claims etc.:http://www.nature.com/news/2008/020108/full/451012a.html

Energy challengeshttp://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=4650

Arctic biomes:http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/taiga.htmhttp://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/tundra.htm

Further research / updatesWebsites in pre-release: Arctic Biodiversity Assessment (CAFF)

http://www.arcticbiodiversity.is/the-report/report-for-policy-makers/key-findings

Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (report and video at bottom of page)http://www.amap.no/arctic-climate-impact-assessment-acia

Arctic Council:http://www.arctic-council.org/index.php/en/

Greenpeace:http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/climate/arctic (https://www.savethearctic.org)http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/arctic/save_the_arctic_map

Background films:http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/battle-for-the-arctic/Alaska: Frozen Kingdom (series of three films about life and biodviverity issues in Alaska)http://bryplayer.bryanston.co.uk/view.aspx?id=6671~4u~vC7fUOMY

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/water_and_ice/arctic

You can also find Bruce Parry's five "Arctic" programs on BryPlayer

Some ideas for questions…1. Account for the current levels of biodiversity in the Arctic.

2. Explain how physical factors have affected biodiversity in the Arctic.

3. Assess the relative importance of human and physical factors in influencing levels of biodiversity in the Arctic.

4. Explain how a range of threats could affect physical processes in the ecosystems of the Arctic.

5. With reference to Figure 5, account for the current trends in biodiversity in the Arctic region.

6. Explain how human activity has affected the condition of ecosystem goods and services in the Arctic

7. To what extent will economic activity impact on biodiversity in the Arctic region?

8. To what extent does political tension threaten biodiversity in the Arctic?

9. Climate change the biggest threat to the biodiversity of the Arctic. Discuss.

More ideas for questions…

1. Assess the severity of local and global threats to the Arctic in future.

2. To what extent are local, small-scale conservation schemes more likely to protect Arctic biodiversity than global initiatives?

3. With reference to Figure 9, explain how the three scenarios could lead to very different futures for biodiversity in the Arctic.

4. Outline the advantages and disadvantages of the management scenarios in Figure 9.

5. Examine the roles that a range of players could take in managing biodiversity in the Arctic.

6. Assess the global and local value of the goods and services in the Arctic region.

7. Assess the local and global importance of the Arctic region.

8. Evaluate the impact that globalisation could have on the condition of ecosystems in the Arctic.