Topic Summaries

Physical characteristics of cold environments

IGCSE > Geography > Pearson IGCSE > IGCSE Geography Topic Summaries > Cold environment ecosystems > Physical characteristics of cold environments
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Weather hazards and atmospheric circulation

Hot desert ecosystems

Cold environment ecosystems

Glacial landscapes

Glacial landform processes

Energy supply

  • Polar regions:
    • Climate: extremely cold, with temperatures often below -50°C. Low amounts of precipitation (mostly snow), making it a cold desert.
    • Landscape: covered in ice sheets and glaciers, with little exposed land. Examples include Antarctica and Greenland.
    • Vegetation: almost no vegetation due to the extreme cold. Some mosses and lichens may grow on exposed rocks.
    • Wildlife: limited species adapted to the cold, such as polar bears, penguins, and seals.
  • Tundra:
    • Climate: cold, but less extreme than polar regions. Temperatures can rise above freezing in summer, but winters are long and harsh. 
    • Landscape: permafrost (permanently frozen ground) underlies the soil. In summer, the top layer thaws, creating boggy conditions. 
    • Vegetation: low-growing plants like mosses, lichens, grasses, and shrubs. No trees due to the short growing season and frozen soil. 
    • Wildlife: animals like Arctic foxes, caribou, and snowy owls, adapted to survive the cold and limited food supply

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