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Year 9

Climate change in polar regions

I can describe the impacts of climate change on the polar regions.

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New
New
Year 9

Climate change in polar regions

I can describe the impacts of climate change on the polar regions.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Climate change is affecting polar regions which are experiencing warming at a faster rate than other places.
  2. The Arctic ice cap is shrinking at a rate of 13% per decade
  3. Permafrost is melting and habitats are shrinkingfor species that rely on cold environments.
  4. There are signs of change in Antarctica due to climate change.

Keywords

  • Permafrost - ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years, typically found in polar regions

  • Arctic ice pack - sea ice cover of the Arctic Ocean; it has a regular seasonal cycle of spring and summer melt and accumulation in autumn and winter

  • Habitat Loss - the decline of natural environments that support wildlife, often due to climate change

  • Ice sheet - a continental glacier; a mass of ice that is greater than 50 000 km²

Common misconception

Melting sea ice does not impact ocean currents.

Melting ice alters the balance of freshwater and saltwater in the ocean, which can disrupt major ocean currents like the Gulf Stream.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: Climate change in polar regions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

The British Antarctic Survey has some great information for further reading on impacts of climate change in Antarctica.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is climate change?
A sudden weather event
Change in seasons
Correct answer: Long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns
A cold snap
Q2.
Where is the Arctic tundra mainly found?
Correct answer: Northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia
The Sahara Desert
Central Africa
Southern Australia
Q3.
Why do many animals in the Arctic have thick fur or fat?
To help them run faster
Correct answer: To keep them warm
To scare predators
To look bigger
Q4.
What is the climate like in the Arctic?
Hot and rainy
Warm and wet
Correct answer: Cold and dry
Humid and stormy
Q5.
Which continent is home to most of the world’s ice?
Asia
Correct answer: Antarctica
Europe
Africa
Q6.
Where are most glaciers found?
The Equator
Deserts
Rainforests
Correct answer: High mountains and polar regions

4 Questions

Q1.
What is happening to Arctic sea ice due to climate change?
It is increasing
Correct answer: It is melting
It stays the same
It is turning into rock
Q2.
How does the melting of sea ice impact ocean currents?
It has no effect on ocean currents.
It causes ocean currents to slow down.
Correct answer: It can disrupt ocean currents and weather patterns.
It makes ocean currents flow in the opposite direction.
Q3.
What happens when permafrost melts?
More ice forms
Volcanoes erupt
Correct answer: Greenhouse gases are released
Oceans freeze
Q4.
How do warmer oceans affect Arctic animals?
Make them grow faster
Help them migrate
Correct answer: Disrupt their food chain
Make hunting easier