Extreme_Environment

=Extreme Environments=



**SYLLABUS REQUIREMENTS**

This optional theme considers two different kinds of extreme environment:

Cold and high altitude environments (polar, glacial areas, periglacial areas; high mountains in non-tropical latitudes) Hot, arid environments (hot desert and semi-arid areas).

Describe the relief and climatic characteristics which make these environments extreme. Explain how these characteristics present challenges for resource development and human habitation.
 * =====**1. Challenging environments**===== ||
 * • **global distribution of extreme environments** || Explain the global distribution of each of the two kinds of extreme environment.

Identify ways in which people adapt their activities to extremes of weather and climate.
 * 4 hours ** ||
 * • **population** || Explain the other factors responsible for a low density of population in these areas: human discomfort, inaccessibility, remoteness.


 * 2 hours ** ||
 * =====**2. The physical characteristics of extreme environments**===== ||
 * • **glacial environment** || Explain the advance and retreat of glaciers and the main features resulting from the processes of erosion and deposition by glaciers.


 * 3 hours ** ||
 * • **periglacial environment** || Explain permafrost, patterned ground, solifluction, thermokarst, pingos.


 * 3 hours ** ||
 * • hot, arid environments (hot deserts and semi-arid areas) || Explain weathering and the processes involved in wind and water-formed features. Explain the occurrence of flash floods.


 * 4 hours ** ||
 * =====**3. Opportunities and challenges for management**===== ||
 * • **agriculture** || Hot, arid areas: examine the opportunities for agriculture in these areas; the distinction between aridity and infertility; the importance of irrigation and risk of salinization; the processes and factors involved in desertification.


 * 4 hours ** ||
 * • **mineral extraction** || Periglacial areas: examine the opportunities and challenges posed by permafrost and other characteristics of periglacial areas for resource development (mineral extraction and any associated settlement and communications).


 * 2 hours **

Hot, arid areas: examine the opportunities and challenges posed for resource development (mineral extraction and any associated settlement and communications).


 * 2 hours ** ||
 * • **tourism** || Examine the opportunities and challenges posed by the development of tourism and any associated settlement and communications in one type of extreme environment. Examine the impacts of tourism on the environment, such as mass movements and erosion; land degradation; vulnerability to hazards; aesthetic change; water usage; waste disposal.

Discuss the potential impact of global climatic change (global warming) on the indigenous populations, settlement and economic activities in extreme environments.
 * 3 hours ** ||
 * =====**4. Sustainability**===== ||
 * || Discuss the degree to which human activities in extreme environments are unsustainable.


 * 3 hours ** ||

==**ONLINE RESOURCES** == rss url="http://groups.diigo.com/group/ib-geography-2009-extreme-environments/rss" link="true" description="true" number="20" date="true" author="true" enclosure="true"

[[image:skills.png]]GEOGRAPHICAL SKILLS
Produce written material (including essays, reports and investigations) Collect and select relevant geographic information > >
 * make observations
 * conduct interviews
 * take measurements
 * make images

[[image:resources.png]]TEXTBOOK RESOURCES
All matters to do with Arid Areas and their management: Arid and Semi-Arid Environments. Michael Hill. Access to Geog Series [Submitted by: Ann]


 * =====**1. Challenging environments**===== ||
 * Explain the global distribution of each of the two kinds of extreme environment.

Describe the relief and climatic characteristics which make these environments extreme. Explain how these characteristics present challenges for resource development and human habitation. || Planet Geography Codrington pages 248 and 249

Geography - and integrated approach. David Waugh pages 178 to 190. ||
 * Explain the other factors responsible for a low density of population in these areas: human discomfort, inaccessibility, remoteness.

Identify ways in which people adapt their activities to extremes of weather and climate. || Geography - and integrated approach. David Waugh pages 346 ||
 * =====**2. The physical characteristics of extreme environments**===== ||
 * Explain the advance and retreat of glaciers and the main features resulting from the processes of erosion and deposition by glaciers. || Landform Systems. Bishop and Prosser Pages 130, 134 to 152

A2 Geography. Bowen and Pallister. pages 127 to 133 ||
 * Explain permafrost, patterned ground, solifluction, thermokarst, pingos. || Landform Systems. Bishop and Prosser Pages 158, 161 to 168

A2 Geography. Bowen and Pallister. pages 127 to 151 ||
 * Explain weathering and the processes involved in wind and water-formed features. Explain the occurrence of flash floods. || Landform Systems. Bishop and Prosser Pages 201 to 207 ||
 * =====**3. Opportunities and challenges for management**===== ||
 * Hot, arid areas: examine the opportunities for agriculture in these areas; the distinction between aridity and infertility; the importance of irrigation and risk of salinization; the processes and factors involved in desertification. || Landform Systems. Bishop and Prosser Page 207 to 209 ||
 * Periglacial areas: examine the opportunities and challenges posed by permafrost and other characteristics of periglacial areas for resource development (mineral extraction and any associated settlement and communications).

Hot, arid areas: examine the opportunities and challenges posed for resource development (mineral extraction and any associated settlement and communications). || A2 Geography. Bowen and Pallister. pages 157 to 169 ||
 * Examine the opportunities and challenges posed by the development of tourism and any associated settlement and communications in one type of extreme environment.

Examine the impacts of tourism on the environment, such as mass movements and erosion; land degradation; vulnerability to hazards; aesthetic change; water usage; waste disposal. || Landform Systems. Bishop and Prosser Page 181 to 185 ||
 * =====**4. Sustainability**===== ||
 * Discuss the degree to which human activities in extreme environments are unsustainable.

Discuss the potential impact of global climatic change (global warming) on the indigenous populations, settlement and economic activities in extreme environments. || Planet Geography Codrington pages 259 to 267 ||

[[image:resources.png]]ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
'On shaky ground' Permafrost article. Geography Review Vol 21 No 3 February 2008 - Submitted by Ann.