cold environments

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  • Created by: sponge808
  • Created on: 06-01-20 12:58
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  • Cold Environments
    • Facts
      • Svalbard is located north of Finland and north of the Artic circle
      • Capital of Svalbard is longyearbyen
      • Population of 2642
      • Temperatures range from summer highs of 6 to winter lows of -16
      • You can’t live in Svalbard for more than 7 years due to the extreme weather conditions
    • Challenges
      • Melting permafrost (frozen soil) can cause buildings to tip and fall.
      • Difficult to provide reliable resources eg. water and electricity.
      • Winter temperatures -30
      • Darkness from 25th October - 8th  March (can cause mental health issues)
      • Working outdoors is very difficult and slow due to the weather contains that can cause frost bite.
      • Building and maintaining roads is a difficult process due to freezing cracking.
      • Poor transport links make places unaccessible.
      • Construction work is difficult and can’t happen during winter.
      • Gravel roads are only suitable for dogs and sleds rather than cars.
    • Opportunities
      • Fishing
        • Cold waters of the Barents Sea are some of the richest fishing areas in the world.
        • There are over 150 species of fish including cod.
        • The waters need to be protected control important breeding and nursery grounds
        • The Barents seas is jointly controlled by Russia and Norway.
      • Energy development
        • Energy in Svalbard is mainly produced by burning coal.
        • Longyearbyenis the only coal power station in Norway.
        • Like Iceland Svalbard has only geothermal energy opportunities.
        • Some believe it should be closed down and energy should then be made by renewable sources.
      • Tourism
        • It  provides around 300 jobs for Svalbard residents.
        • There is the opportunity to see poplar bears and Northern lights in their natural environment.
        • Torism has been increasing in recent years as people seek more extreme experiences.
        • In 2011 70,000 people visited the capital of Svalbard. With 30,000 of them being cruise ship passengers.
        • The harbour at Longyearbyen has been increased to enable it to cope with the rising numbers of cruise ships.
      • Mineral extraction
        • Coal mining is vital to their economy.
        • Rich coal reserves.
        • In recent years the industry has declined ed due to the decrease in coal prices.
        • Mining coal is controversial because of all the greenhouse gases it releases.
        • More than 300 people are employed in mines.

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