Arctic

Question 1

Why is climate change in the Arctic significant

Answer 1

amongst largest and most rapid globally

Question 2

up to what % of permafrost expected to thaw

Answer 2

40%

Question 3

What gas does permafrost release when thawing

Answer 3

Methane

Question 4

Rising temperatures of 3-4’c have been seen over the past 50yrs where

Answer 4

Alaska and West Canada

Question 5

What temperature rise has been seen in Alaska and West Canada in the past 50yrs

Answer 5

3-4’c

Question 6

What level have sea levels risen in the past 100yrs in the Arctic

Answer 6

10-20cm

Question 7

What amount are sea levels expected to rise by the end of this century

Answer 7

50cm

Question 8

Name X3 economic positives of the Arctic due to climate change

Answer 8

1. increased resource access as less sea ice to stop access
   e. g offshore oil / gas / minerals
2. expansion of marine shipping
   via northwest passage + northern sea route
3. enhanced marine fisheries
   herring and cod fishing more productive

Question 9

What other consequences of an expansion in marine fishing are there

Answer 9

expansion of tourism and trade

Question 10

What X2 routes will increase due to expansion of marine shipping in the Arctic

Answer 10

northwest passage and northern sea route

Question 11

Name X3 social negative impacts of climate change in the Arctic

Answer 11

1. Wildlife / Herd impacts
2. Human health concerns
3. Declining Food Security

Question 12

Why are impacts on wildlife and herd important in the Arctic

Answer 12

Caribou / Reindeer face migrational route changes as forage availability changes

= become less accessible to populations that rely on them

Question 13

What human health concerns in the Arctic

Answer 13

accidents due to ice thinning

destruction of sanitation infrastructure due to thawing permafrost

Question 14

Why will there be declining food security

Answer 14

decrease in quality seen e.g dried berries / diseased fish

traditional foods declining e.g seal / caribou

Question 15

What environmental concerns are there due to increase in global warming in the Arctic (X4)

Answer 15

1. Ocean salinity change
2. Species at risk
3. Declining snow cover
4. Melting glaciers

Question 16

What has happened to snow cover in the past 30yrs

Answer 16

declined 10% in the past 30 years

Question 17

What would happen to ocean salinity

Answer 17

reduced salinity and density in North atlantic ocean

Question 18

Why would there be reduced salinity in north atlantic ocean

Answer 18

increased river-run off adding more freshwater to ocean

Question 19

What would happen as a consequence of decreased ocean salinity and decreased density

Answer 19

Changes ocean and circulation patterns than affect regional climate

Question 20

Name X2 economic negatives

Answer 20

1. Disrupted transport on land

2. Decline in freshwater fisheries

Question 21

Why would there be disrupted transport on land

Answer 21

less ice roads and tundra frozen enough for operations

Question 22

What would be disrupted by transport on land and roads

Answer 22

routes and pipelines due to thawing permafrost

increases disruption of oil / gas extraction

Question 23

What decline in freshwater fisheries

Answer 23

Arctic-adapted fish e.g char and cisco