To what extent can an understanding of feedback systems help with the management of one or more cold environments that you have studied?

AO1 – Knowledge and understanding of the systems approach to cold environments. Knowledge and understanding of the management of cold environments.

AO2 – Applies knowledge and understanding to the context of the question in assessing the role of management in restoring equilibrium to cold environments.

Notes for answers
AO1

Systems in physical geography: systems concepts and their application to the development of glaciated landscapes – inputs, outputs, energy, stores/components, flows/transfers, positive/negative feedback, dynamic equilibrium. The concepts of landform and landscape and how related landforms combine to form characteristic landscapes.
Concept of environmental fragility. Human impacts on fragile cold environments over time and at a variety of scales. Recent and prospective impact of climate change. Management of cold environments at present and in alternative possible futures.
Case study of a contrasting glaciated landscape to illustrate and analyse how it presents challenges and opportunities for human occupation and development and evaluate human responses of resilience, mitigation and adaptation.

AO2

Expect to see some definitions and understanding of feedback in this context. Feedback refers to a change in the system which is then: either exacerbated to take the system further away from equilibrium; or is counteracted to return the system back to equilibrium.
Most are likely to consider the impact of climate change and its potential to cause positive feedback, further destabilising the cold environments’ fragile system and dynamic equilibrium.
A warming planet will lead to more ice melting in cold environments. This in turn will lead to a lower albedo effect in places with continental ice or upland glaciated landscapes. With less reflectivity in water compared to snow, more of the sun’s radiation will be absorbed thus exacerbating the warming.
Similarly more melting of permafrost in periglacial areas (such as northern Russia, Canada or the American state of Alaska), is known to cause the release of methane through the decay of previously frozen soils. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, up to twenty times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping in the sun’s heat. With more warming comes even more melting and the cycle is taken even further away from equilibrium.
Both of these are examples of positive feedback.
Some may note the counterbalancing impact of negative feedback. For instance, as ice covered areas recede, vegetation can recolonise. This increased photosynthesis will take carbon out of the atmosphere restoring the balance.
In terms of management, responses are likely to consider a range of scales. Global agreements on reducing carbon emission are likely to feature (Paris, Rio, Kyoto etc) as attempts to reduce positive feedback.
Similarly expect to see more localised measures eg use of artificial snow at ski resorts can increase albedo and therefore acts restore the balance, albeit on a small scale. Similarly, tree planting schemes in places such as Taiga of Siberia can act to reduce atmospheric carbon and again support the planned benefit of reducing global temperatures.

There should be some explicit assessment in the context of the question. Credit any other valid assessment.

Level 4 Description (16–20 marks)

Detailed evaluative conclusion that is rational and firmly based on knowledge and understanding which is applied to the context of the question (AO2).
Detailed, coherent and relevant analysis and evaluation in the application of knowledge and understanding throughout (AO2).
Full evidence of links between knowledge and understanding to the application of knowledge and understanding in different contexts (AO2).
Detailed, highly relevant and appropriate knowledge and understanding of place(s) and environments used throughout (AO1).
Full and accurate knowledge and understanding of key concepts and processes throughout (AO1).
Detailed awareness of scale and temporal change which is well integrated where appropriate (AO1).

Glaciers as Natural Systems (AQA A Level Geography)

Topic Questions