Cold Environments (Optional Context)

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.

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What Are Cold Environments?

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.

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Global Distribution

Cold environments are found at high latitudes (near the poles) and at high altitudes (mountain tops):