Learning Objectives
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.
- 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.
- Explain the advance and retreat of glaciers and the main features resulting from the processes of erosion and deposition by glaciers.
- Explain permafrost, patterned ground, solifluction, thermokarst, pingos.
- Explain weathering and the processes involved in wind and water-formed features. Explain the occurrence of flash floods.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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 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.
Online Resources
Best content in IB Geography Extreme Environments
- http://www.rgs.org/NR/rdonlyres/06EBE369-3D18-4BB4-BEB4-DF0DF7D0B951/0/Lesson1termsanddefinitionsactivity.pdf Mar 9, 2014Tags: ib_geog2009, Extreme environments, The physical characteristics of extreme environments, Glacial, Periglacial, keywordsby: Gemma Archer
- Mount Everest litter targeted by authorities Mar 6, 2014Tags: Extreme environments, Opportunities and challenges for management, Sustainabilityby: Kathleen Noreisch
- http://www.unep.fr/shared/publications/pdf/DTIx0957xPA-MountainsEN.pdf Nov 10, 2013Tags: ib_geog2009, Extreme environments, Opportunities and challenges for management, Sustainability, mountains, UNEPby: Gemma Archer
- Chasing Ice Aug 14, 2013Tags: ib_geog2009, Patterns in environmental quality and sustainability, Patterns and Change, The physical characteristics of extreme environmentsby: Richard Allaway
- China and India 'water grab' dams put ecology of Himalayas in danger | Global development | The Observer Aug 12, 2013Tags: ib_geog2009, Patterns in environmental quality and sustainability, Patterns in resource consumption, china, india, water, ecology, himalayas, Extreme environments, Opportunities and challenges for management, mountains, infographic, powerby:...
- Karamoja's gold rush – in pictures | Global development | guardian.co.uk Jun 10, 2013Tags: ib_geog2009, Extreme environments, Hot arid, development, mining, gold, marginalisation, Uganda, marble, uranium, cobalt, photosby: Gemma Archer
- The British Geographer - The British Geographer Mar 26, 2013Comments:[Submitted by: Paul Christmas]"The following site has a detailed section on freshwater and many other topics. It will be useful for the options section of the IB and in future will develop sections for the core. A key highlight are some o...
- Allan Savory: How to green the desert and reverse climate change | Video on TED.com Mar 10, 2013Comments:Allan Savory works to promote holistic management in the grasslands of the world to stop desertification - Ann SmithTags: Extreme environments, Hot arid, desertification, Sustainabilityby: Ann Smith
- Shell Rig Accident off Alaska Shows Dangers of Drilling in Arctic | TIME.com Jan 6, 2013Tags: ib_geog2009, Extreme environments, Sustainability, Periglacial, Opportunities and challenges for managementby: Richard Allaway
- Gigapan of Everest Dec 20, 2012Comments:Good for identifying glacial landforms - Kathleen NoreischTags: gigapixel, everest, ib_geog2009, Extreme environments, The physical characteristics of extreme environmentsby: Kathleen Noreisch
- geographyalltheway.com - AS / A2 / IB Geography - Impact of Global Climatic Change on High Latitude Extreme Environments Jul 18, 2012Tags: ib_geog2009, Extreme environments, Sustainability, Periglacial, redev-geog, extremeby: Richard Allaway
- geographyalltheway.com - AS / A2 / IB Geography - Hot, Arid: Resource Development Uranium Mining in Niger Jul 9, 2012Comments:Lesson AimTo examine the opportunities and challenges posed for resource development (mineral extraction and any associated settlement and communications) in hot, arid areas - focusing on uranium extraction in Niger.Updated July 2012 - Ri...
- Australia's mining boom puts pressure on local communities | World news | The Guardian Jul 4, 2012Tags: australia, mining, Opportunities and challenges for management, Sustainabilityby: Kathleen Noreisch
- World's most northerly oil platform Jun 5, 2012Comments:LUKOIL's platform in the Barents Sea. - Robert CooperUseful for resource development in a periglacial environment. Also see the excellent TV advert at emerson/lukoil; and details of the ice breaking oil tanker, Timofey Guzhenko, that rea...
- geographyalltheway.com - AS / A2 / IB Geography - Desertification Jun 4, 2012Comments:Updated June 2012To examine the processes and factors involved in desertification - Richard AllawayTags: ib_geog2009, Extreme environments, Opportunities and challenges for management, desertification, redev-geogby: Richard Allaway
- geographyalltheway.com - AS / A2 / IB Geography - Agriculture in Hot, Arid Environments May 31, 2012Comments:Updated May 2012Lesson AimTo be able to examine the opportunities for agriculture in hot, arid environmentsTo be examine the distinction between aridity and infertility.To examine the importance of irrigation.To examine the risk of salini...
- Everest mountaineer says crowding by 'hobby climbers' is path to tragedy | World news | The Guardian May 30, 2012Tags: ib_geog2009, Extreme environments, Sustainability, tourism, everest, nepal, himalayasby: Kathleen Noreisch
- Illustrated Glossary of Alpine Glacial Landforms - Arete May 22, 2012Tags: ib_geog2009, Extreme environments, The physical characteristics of extreme environmentsby: Richard Allaway
- BBC News - Some Asian glaciers 'putting on mass' Apr 20, 2012Tags: Glacial, ib_geog2009by: Matt Podbury
- geographyalltheway.com - AS / A2 / IB Geography - Tourism - The Alpine Ski Industry Mar 17, 2012Tags: ib_geog2009, Extreme environments, Opportunities and challenges for management, Glacial, tourism, redev-geogby: Richard Allaway