You are viewing a free preview of this lesson.
Subscribe to unlock all 10 lessons in this course and every other course on LearningBro.
Cold environments — including polar regions and tundra — are an optional part of the AQA GCSE Geography Living World topic. Some schools choose to study cold environments instead of (or in addition to) hot deserts. This lesson provides an overview of cold environment characteristics, biodiversity, adaptations, and the challenges these fragile ecosystems face.
Cold environments are areas where temperatures are below or near freezing for most of the year. They include:
| Type | Location | Temperature |
|---|---|---|
| Polar | Arctic (North Pole region), Antarctic (South Pole region) | Below -20°C for most of the year |
| Tundra | Northern edge of North America, Europe, and Asia (above ~65°N) | Average below 0°C; summer up to 10°C |
| Alpine (montane) | High mountain areas at any latitude | Decreases with altitude |
For GCSE, the focus is usually on polar and tundra environments.
Cold environments are found at high latitudes (near the poles) and at high altitudes (mountain tops):
Subscribe to continue reading
Get full access to this lesson and all 10 lessons in this course.