Question

what are the ways in which life of people in tundra are dependent on climate of the region? Describe in the context of the following aspects:

Answer 1

Earth’s tundra regions are harsh and remote, so fewer humans have settled there than in other environments. However, humans have a long history in the tundra. For example, the first people who went to North America from Asia more than 20,000 years ago traveled through vast tundra settings on both continents. Since then human activity in tundra ecosystems has increased, mainly through the procurement of food and building materials. Humans have changed the landscape through the construction of residences and other structures, as well as through the development of ski resorts, mines, and roads. Hunting, oil drilling, and other activities have polluted the environment and have threatened wildlife in tundra ecosystems. Environmental scientists are concerned that the continued expansion of these activities—along with the release of air pollutants, some of which deplete the ozone layer, and greenhouse gases, which hasten climate change—has begun to affect the very integrity and sustainability of Arctic and alpine tundra ecosystems. For example, the increased occurrence of tundra fires would decrease the coverage of lichens, which could, in turn, potentially reduce caribou habitats and subsistence resources for other Arctic species.