Concept of environmental fragility
Cold environments are environmentally fragile. This means they are highly sensitive to disturbance and recover very slowly — or not at all — once humans or climate change damage them.
Real World
A single vehicle driven across Alaskan tundra in the 1960s left tracks that are still visible today, because permafrost disruption and ultra-slow soil recovery mean the vegetation has not regenerated in over 60 years.
Exam Focus
When asked to 'assess' fragility, always address both sensitivity to disturbance and speed of recovery — missing either element loses marks.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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