cold regions

Cold RegionsIn

Global Environmental Change

IntroductionsBasic concepts

Definitions

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

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

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…

Where?

• High Latitude– Arctic– Antarctic

• High Altitude– alpine

Arctic

Arctic

Antarctica

East Antarctica

West Antarctica

Space shuttle view of the Andes

Space shuttle view of the Himalayas

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

Other Definitions

• Snowline• Vegetation

– Tundra-forest ecotone, related to potential evapotranspiration (Thornthwaite, 1948)

• Climate– Koppen (1936), 10°C

July isotherm

• Permafrost

Other Definitions (2)

• Snowline• Vegetation

– Tundra-forest ecotone, related to potential evapotranspiration (Thornthwaite, 1948)

• Climate– Koppen (1936), 10°C

July isotherm

• Permafrost

Vegetation of CircumArctic

Source: http://maps.grida.no/arctic/

Other Definitions (3)

• Snowline• Vegetation

– Tundra-forest ecotone, related to potential evapotranspiration (Thornthwaite, 1948)

• Climate– Koppen (1936), 10°C

July isotherm

• Permafrost

Other Definitions (4)

• Snowline• Vegetation

– Tundra-forest ecotone, related to potential evapotranspiration (Thornthwaite, 1948)

• Climate– Koppen (1936), 10°C

July isotherm

• Permafrost

Permafrost Distribution

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?

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.

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.