3.1.2.4 Cold Environment - Svalbard Case Study

Question 1

Where is Svalbard located?

Answer 1

• in Scandinavia - a Norwegian territory in the Arctic Ocean and the most Northerly permanently inhabited group of islands in the world
• E of Greenland

Question 2

What is Svalbard made up of?

Answer 2

made up of 5 major islands - largest is Spitzbergen

Question 3

What climate does Svalbard experience?

Answer 3

much of Svalbard experiences a polar climate

Question 4

What % of land in Svalbard is covered in glaciers?

Answer 4

60% of the land covered in glaciers

Question 5

How does the climate change in Svalbard throughout the year?

Answer 5

temp and precipitation gradually increases in Summer months and then decreases again

Question 6

What type of land does Svalbard have?

Answer 6

• rest of the land is tundra much of which is frozen
• no arable farming or trees due to cold temps

Question 7

When does the sun set and rise in Svalbard?

Answer 7

the sun sets on the 25th October and doesn’t rise again until 8th March

Question 8

What is the population of Svalbard and where do most of them live?

Answer 8

population of 2700 most living in main town of Longyearbyen

Question 9

Are there more polar bears and registered snowmobiles than people in Svalbard?

Answer 9

more polar bears and registered snowmobiles than people

Question 10

What are the main development opportunities in Svalbard?

Answer 10

• fishing
• mineral extraction (coal mining)
• tourism
• energy production

Question 11

What % of all the Atlantic cod that ends up in the supermarkets around the world is from the Barents sea?

Answer 11

at least 70%

Question 12

How many species are found in the Barents Sea?

Answer 12

apart from cod, there are an estimated 150 species of fish here e.g. herring

Question 13

What are Svalbard’s waters important for?

Answer 13

the waters are extremely important breeding and nursery grounds for fish stocks and need to be protected from pollution

Question 14

What is the Barents Sea?

Answer 14

the cold waters of the Barents Sea south of Svalbard are one of the richest fishing grounds in the world

Question 15

What are the advantages of mineral extraction in Svalbard?

Answer 15

• Svalbard has rich reserves of coal (but controversial issue)
• Vital to economy as it is the main economic activity
• more than 300 people are employed in the mines and as support staff

Question 16

How many people are employed in Svalbard in the mines and as support staff?

Answer 16

more than 300 people are employed in the mines and as support staff

Question 17

What are the disadvantages of mineral extraction in Svalbard?

Answer 17

• environmental groups are against it as burning coal is a major source of greenhouse gases
• In recent years the industry has faced a decline due to lower world coal prices and some jobs have been lost
• in 2014 new mine opened near Svea - to gain access to new mine, a road had to be constructed over a glacier
• in recent years the industry has faced a decline due to lower world coal prices and some jobs have been lost

Question 18

Why is Svalbard popular with tourists?

Answer 18

• because of the wildlife they have
• fantastic scenery including glaciated landscapes
• chance you may see Northern Lights

Question 19

Name the types of energy production in Svalbard:

Answer 19

• geothermal energy
• carbon capture and storage

Question 20

Carbon Capture and storage:

Answer 20

• capturing CO2 from burning coal and circulating this instead of water to generate electricity
• renewable energy
• reduces greenhouse gas effect and melting of snow, permafrost, glaciers etc.

Question 21

How does Svalbard use geothermal energy?

Answer 21

• Svalbard is located close to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a constructive plate margin
• here the crust is thin so hot rocks are close to the surface
• the heat used from the ground can be used to generate electricity

Question 22

How does Svalbard use geothermal energy?

Answer 22

• Svalbard is located close to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a constructive plate margin
• here the crust is thin so hot rocks are close to the surface
• the heat used from the ground can be used to generate electricity

Question 23

Solifluction:

Answer 23

gradual processes in which a mass moves down a slope related to freeze-thaw activity

Question 23

Solifluction:

Answer 23

gradual processes in which a mass moves down a slope related to freeze-thaw activity

Question 24

Thermokarst:

Answer 24

land-surface configuration that results from the melting of ground ice in a region underlain by permafrost

Question 25

Frost heave:

Answer 25

an upwards swelling of soil during freezing conditions caused by an increasing presence of ice as it grows towards the surface, upwards from the depth in the soil where freezing temps have penetrated in the soil

Question 26

Permafrost:

Answer 26

a frozen layer of sub-soil