This Game Quiz On Polar Regions Online is for students in 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grades. Learn about polar regions, their ecosystems and location in different parts of the world. The poles are found in the two extreme parts of the world; hence the North Pole and the South Pole. These regions are extremely cold and mostly uninhabited. There are a few fauna and flora species that have adapted to the extreme weather through specialized features like thick fur and the ability to store huge amounts of fat. Polar bears are not the only species here. There are also insects and snakes that hibernate during the winter. There is more to discorver about this region in this game. The game is a quiz with 15 multiple choice questions. Have fun learning about this region.
This article will help you understand the importance of these regions. And, remember that the Polar regions are still a little unknown to many.
The climate of polar regions is highly variable and sensitive to changes in external climate. The ice sheet and sea-ice patterns in the northern polar regions have warmed more than twice the global average in the past several decades. In contrast, the Southern Polar regions have experienced sea-ice advance and loss during recent decades. Consequently, understanding the climate of these regions is an important part of understanding the effects of climate change.
A number of feedback processes involve biological and biogeochemical cycles. One of these feedbacks, called bio-optical feedback, occurs when climate change leads to phytoplankton blooms. The blooms trap the penetrating solar heat flux at the ocean surface, raising sea temperatures. In turn, the decrease of sea ice concentration is linked to increased absorption of solar energy. This feedback process contributes to the observed decline in polar sea ice concentration.
A key difference between the climate of the polar regions and the climate of tropical rainforests lies in the amount of heat that is lost to the atmosphere in the polar regions. The polar regions lose more heat energy each year than they receive. This is what keeps them from getting warmer. The climate is generally very cold during most of the year. The climate of tropical rainforests, on the other hand, is hotter. A polar climate is found on continents that are bordered by the Arctic Ocean, Antarctica, and Greenland. Winters are cold and dark and temperatures remain low.
Because these environments are so extreme, animals in these areas have adapted by acquiring thick fur or feathers that blend in with the white snow. During the coldest months, many animals hibernate. They also tend to be homeothermic, which means they conserve energy.
Despite the cold climate, the polar regions are home to a variety of animals and plants. Seals, of which there are about 2.5 million, are found in the polar regions, while whales are also common, though usually near the surface of the water. Interestingly, some of these animals are also found on land, such as penguins. Procellariiformes, or penguins, are common in Antarctica.
Among the best known polar animals is the polar bear, the largest predator in the world. There are 19 distinct populations in the Arctic. Male polar bears weigh up to 1,540 pounds, while females weigh only 400 to 700 pounds. The polar bear is also the most endangered species, with a population of about 17,000 individuals. It depends on ice and other aquatic habitats to survive.
The polar regions feature extreme temperatures and extensive glaciation. As a result, they have high ice plateaus and swampy coastal plains. Even though these climates are harsh, animals and plants have survived and adapted to their harsh surroundings. Tourism to the polar regions is growing, as is the economic interest in their resources. The polar regions have strict limits imposed by international treaties that protect their natural and cultural heritage.
As the polar regions have such large, unique ice sheets and glaciers, they play a crucial role in the global climate system. They significantly influence the circulation of the air and oceans, so even small changes in the polar regions can affect the rest of the world. For example, melting polar ice sheets will raise sea levels by 70 meters worldwide and flood long stretches of coastline. Changing the polar regions can have major consequences for human societies around the world, so it is important to understand their importance and impact.
The polar regions are made up of two main areas. The northern one is the Arctic Circle, which encompasses icecaps, while the southern one has a continental landmass called Antarctica. Both have unique landscapes and climates, but they are similar in some ways. One main difference is that the polar regions receive less sunlight than other areas of the world. Because of the way the Earth rotates around the sun, sunlight does not reach all parts of the Earth in the same way. In addition, the sunlight strikes these regions at a shallow angle, spreading the same amount of light over a wider area.
Mountain ranges are found throughout the Arctic. In fact, mountain ranges found in the Arctic Circle are among the most remote locations on Earth. The Watkins Mountains of Greenland are the tallest, culminating at 12,119 feet. The Arctic Cordillera includes the Brooks Range in northern Alaska, while the Richardson Mountains arc into the Yukon. The Polar Regions have a rich diversity of landscapes and geological features.
International cooperation in the Arctic and Southern Ocean has been hampered by territorial claims by different nations. Attempts to establish marine protected areas have been stalled by these claims. Moreover, countries that make territorial claims have often been involved in negotiations, which observers see as an attempt to consolidate their claims. In the Weddell Sea, Germany and the European Union recently proposed a protected zone. Norway objected and instead proposed to pursue additional research and separate protection measures based on the results of its research.
Since 1959, countries with interests in the polar regions have cooperated and negotiated. The Antarctic Treaty, which was signed in 1959, has led to the collective management of the southern polar region. The Arctic Council, which was established in 1996, is the venue for consultations on fundamental policy issues among countries with stake in the region. As climate change continues to alter the polar regions, this multilateral dialogue forum faces challenges related to global geopolitical developments. The dispute in the region could destabilize the stability of the entire world.
Even though there are a number of overlapping lands in the Arctic, the sovereignty of countries is generally clear. Nevertheless, countries may still disagree on the allocation of these territories. The polar region is a valuable resource for nations, offering natural resources, tourism opportunities, and research. While the temperature of the Arctic is increasing and the region is warming, indigenous peoples have also settled there. The Thule people, for example, were present in the area for thousands of years. Their descendants still practice their traditional ways.
The Russian Federation has also made territorial claims in the Arctic. In 1935, it extended its territory up to the Arctic Pole, claiming huge energy and mineral reserves beneath the ice. However, Canadians were uneasy about this claim, as many of these islands are Canadian. However, the Northwest Passage is part of Canada's territorial waters, and the Coast Guard's Polar Sea traverses it without permission.
As the Arctic continues to grow warmer and the global population increases, the polar regions are undergoing major changes. Warming due to greenhouse gas emissions is amplified by positive feedback mechanisms in the Arctic, and the temperatures in the north of the region are rising twice as quickly as the rest of the world. If the trend continues, this will affect the entire planet. While the polar regions are relatively small in size, the consequences are vast.
For example, melting sea ice reduces the amount of bright surfaces on the ocean's surface, which absorbs more solar energy. Warmer ocean water also delays the growth of ice in fall and speeds up its melting in spring. Melting sea ice can disrupt normal ocean circulation, affecting the climate of the entire planet. Over time, even small increases in temperature can have huge consequences. Thus, the consequences of climate change are already apparent.
The arctic region is one of the most vulnerable regions of the world, and an international agreement on limiting global warming is critical to preserving the polar regions. Global warming has led to a rapid change in the Arctic, including the melting of ice sheets and sea ice. It has also melted peat bogs and lowered permafrost, a key component of polar ecosystems.
The global average temperature has increased more than one degree Celsius over the past half-century, and the polar regions are heating up faster than other regions of the world. For example, in Alaska, average temperatures increased 1.6 degC in the period between 1976 and 2018. In the Arctic, these warming trends have been particularly severe, and the consequences are not just visible but tangible. Sea ice is melting, and frozen ground has thawed, creating a huge threat to the region's wildlife.
I hope you have learned a thing or two about polar regions. Remember to practice with the game above this page.