On the Northern Environment..
1. - in general, what comprises the Canadian North in terms of geographical and physiographic characteristics, political boundaries and population distribution?
2. - identify at least two important ecological functions of the boreal forest or taiga ecosystem and the tundra ecosystem?
3. is the 'treeline' a climatic or a latitudinal zone? Why is it important to differentiate the treeline this way?
4. describe the active, permafrost, and talik layers in permafrost soil profiles.- how do northern physiographic features limit or constrain human activity AND challenge human settlements and ultimately sustainability in contemporary times?
5. - how do some of these same features offer opportunities for human activity?
6. - why is the study of the boreal or woodland and barren caribou herds across Canada so important to determining and monitoring the overall sustainability of the North (consider social, cultural, environmental and economic implications)?
7. - along with climate change, what are the two major factors that may limit the survival of the Caribou in Canada?
8. - why are the Woodland Caribou herds in northern Alberta in crisis; what about the herds along their southern range in Ontario's far north Boreal forest?
9. - where are the following located in Canada: the tar sands; the ring of fire mining region; and Arctic off-shore oil and gas extraction?
10. - what are the three "High Prioroity Areas" for Northern development as described in "Building a Resilient and Prosperous North" from the Conference Board of Canada, 2015.
On the Climate Change in the North..
1. Regarding the process of climate change brought on by increased Greenhouse Gasemissions (GHG) and the resulting warming of the planet, what are the sources of shortwave and longwave (infrared) radiation?
2. Although there may be many chemical factors in the atmosphere that we have huge uncertainties about regarding their role in the climate change process (ie. the newly discovered human-made chemical, perfluorotributylamine (PFTBA), that is 7,100 times more effective at causing climate change than one molecule of carbon dioxide over a 100 year timeframe (Slaughter, 2013)), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) are generally recognized as the three major GHG's. Why are both CO2 and CH4 particularly worrisome to climate researchers?
3. How is the melting of permafrost regions and the Arctic ice sheets contributing to increased climate change?