Greenland

Question 2

Was Greenland ever green?

Answer 2

more than 2.5 million years ago Greenland was quite green.

Question 3

Greenlands location?

Answer 3

-it is the world’s largest island.
-between 60 – 83 degrees latitude north of the equator.
-neighbouring countries: Canada, Denmark + Norway.
-Denmark has sovereignty over the island.
-part of north American continent

Question 4

area of ice sheet

Answer 4

1.7 million square km.

Question 5

how many metres above sea level?

Answer 5

3000 metres above sea level at its peak

Question 6

ice sheet holds how much of the world’s freshwater

Answer 6

11%

Question 7

how many tons of ice lost between 1992 - 2018

Answer 7

3.8 trillions tons

Question 8

How much has the temperature increased since the 1950s

Answer 8

1.5 degrees C

Question 9

Where do the farmer farm

Answer 9

On the land where ice has melted

Question 10

Positive Economic impacts

Answer 10

-Increased agriculture opportunities.
-Mining generates income.
-More land for ecotourism
-Glacial sand deposits offer opportunities
-With increaded media attention, tourism in Greenland has increased significantly – in 2017 267,000 visitors

Question 11

Negative Economic impacts

Answer 11

-Moving from hunting to fishing is very expensive.
-Damage to coastal areas.
-Communities having to relocate after decades of erosion.
-Flash flooding caused by melting glaciers has swept away costly infrastructure.

Question 12

Positive socio-cultural impacts

Answer 12

-Increase fish quantities.
-Local least concerned about the warming farmers excited because more land + growing season extended by 3 weeks.
-Archaeological relics being recovered
-increased tourism
-The creation of new industries through melting glaciers is leading to new job opportunities, leading to a better standard of living
-Expansion of agriculture leads to new varieties of fresh, healthy local produce being available to residents

Question 13

Negative socio-cultural impacts

Answer 13

-Ways of life changed.
-Decreased opportunities to hunt.
- Reduction in freshwater.
-Rising sea level = inundation of coastal cities
-Animals at risk of extinction
-No ice impacting access
-New health problems due to industrialisation
- Health issues  depression
-traditional ways of life changed
-influx of foreign workers due

Question 14

Positive environmental impacts

Answer 14

-Mineral resources exposed (zinc, uranium, gold + and copper).
-Fish species are migrating North.
-Available farmland increased.
-Growing season extended.
-Deliver nutrients into lakes + rivers.
-Easier access to oil, gas and minerals to exploit.
-Hydro energy creation
-melting is adding nutrient rich

Question 15

Negative environmental impacts

Answer 15

-The cycle changed (sea ice forming 2 months later melting one month earlier).
-1oC increase melts the ice.
-Bushfire occurring.
-2012-2015 30% loss.
-Losing more ice than it gains.
-Longer melting seasons.
-Unpredictable / fluctuations.
-Increased intensity of storm surges.
-More flooding.
-Damage to coastal areas / endangering coastal cities.
-Draughts are a big issue (2015/2016)
-Melting of white ice  replaced with darker veg  decrease in albedo
-Sea levels potentially rise up to 6m
-Mining leading to significant environmental pollution
-Increased fire risk due to warmer temperatures and increase vegetation (fuel) due to longer growing season
-Changes in habitat and hunting conditions for some animals
-Polar bears and artic fox’s access to marine prey is limited