responses to melting ice sheets and glaciers

Question 1

Name of local response to ice melting

Answer 1

Iluissat hydropower

Question 2

Location of the Iluissat hydropower plant

Answer 2

-Iluissat, Greenland
-west coast
-4,500 residents
-45km NE of Iluissat

Question 3

The organisation responsible for implantation of the Iluissat Hydropower plant

Answer 3

Tucon-tunnelling
Istak-contractort which selected Asea Brown Boveru (ABB) (to provide the technology)
Nukissiorfit- energy provider

Question 4

Date of implemtation of the Iluissat hydropower plant

Answer 4

-construction=2010-2013
-Sep 6th 2013 project completed

Question 5

Aims of the Iluissat hydropower powerplant

Answer 5

-Reduce emissions
-reduce costs
-reduce reliance on fossil fuels

Question 6

The main feature and how does it work, Iluissat hydropower plant

Answer 6

the plant utilises glacial meltwater from two glacial lakes, water is diverted through diversion tunnels to an underground powerhouse where hydropower technology is used to convert the meltwater into energy. Cost - $180 million AUD

Question 7

Weaknesses of the Iluissat hydropower plant

Answer 7

-Remote locations  difficult to receive parts (need helicopter/boat) -Accessible only by boat or aeroplane during summer and dog sled in winter
-Can’t run a hydropower plant when it’s frozen.
-UNESCO World Heritage Site  prescription = important.
–30oC = cold.
-Construction = complex.
-Built on ice (could melt).
-If a fault were to occur during harsh winter storms, access would not be possible for days or weeks

Question 8

Strengths of the Iluissat hydropower plant

Answer 8

-no emissions
-low cost ones built
-unsing current resources of glacial meltwater to generate low-cost hydropower
-reduces country’s fuel imports
-reduces country’s greenhouse Gas emissions

Question 9

Future Opportunities of the Iluissat hydropower plan

Answer 9

Expand renewable energy to other locations in Greenland (currently 70% of Greenland’s energy is renewable)

Question 10

future threats of the Iluissat hydropower plan

Answer 10

-susceptible to climate variation
-significant melting could compromise the site and significant freezing could limit water available for hydropower

Question 11

Name of the national response to melting ice

Answer 11

Increasing Agricultural production and the variety of food production in Greenland

Question 12

Location of increased Ag production

Answer 12

South of Greenland, where farming occurs

Question 13

The organisation that implemented increased ag production

Answer 13

-Greenland Government
-Greenland Agricultural Advisory service
-Aarhus University (Danish)

Question 14

Date of the implentaion of the increased in ag production

Answer 14

-early 2000s onwards

Question 15

Reasons for the implementation of the increased in ag production

Answer 15

-global warming is melting ice; temperatures are rising, and more fertile land is being created for agriculture warmer summers and the extention of growing seans has opened new opportunities for agriculture.
-importoing=expensive
-more land for agriculture

Question 16

Aims if increasing ag production

Answer 16

-to be 50% self-reliant in food
-allowing Greenland to reduce costly Danish food imports

Question 17

The main feature of increasing ag production and how it works

Answer 17

Set up an experimental farm and arboretum ro conduct research into potential agricultural enterprises. Promotes the expansion and diversification of agriculture
-increase size of national sheep (currently 50,000)
-introduce dairy cattle
-expand the growing of vegetables outside and in greenhouses (tomartos, lettuce, broccoli and strawberries
-tree plantations (research into which Artic and alpine species would be best suited)
-research into which grasses are best suited to provide hay for the winter season

Question 18

Strengths of increasing ag production

Answer 18

-a greater varity of food will be available for the local people
-more local food means cheaper food for Greenland’s people and less reliance on food from Denmark
-Reduction in greenhouse gas emisions form the need ti transport less food by sea and plane from Denmark
-have greater economic independence from Denmark

Question 19

Weaknesses of increasing ag production

Answer 19

Summer droughts are becoming more frequent and this means irrigation systems may need to be developed for vegetables
-more droughts mean that pasture growth is not enough to produce sufficient has to fee the sheep over the winter – in 2014 reproted that many flocks contained sheep 2-4 pounds lighter than normal
-rain is often at the end of the season, hindering the haymaking process
-increased winter rainfall (rather than snow). This often freezes and kills plants
-Transport of produce is difficult because of the lack of roads and reduces sea ice

Question 20

Name of the Global response to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets

Answer 20

-Paris Agreement

Question 21

Location of the Paris Agreement

Answer 21

-created in Paris
-includes 195 countries across the world

Question 22

The organisation responsible for implementation

Answer 22

-world leaders at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21)
-195 countries

Question 23

Date of implementation of the Paris Agreement

Answer 23

-created 12th December 2015
-implemented 4th November 2016

Question 24

Reasons for the implementation of the Paris agreement

Answer 24

-increase ambitious climate action carried out by countries
-reduce their emissions
-work together to adapt to the impacts of climate change
-transition away from fossil fuels to renewable fuels

Question 25

Aims of the implantation of the Paris agreement

Answer 25

-reduce global greenhouse gas emissions
-collective progress
-provide financing to developing countries to migrate climate change

Question 26

The main feature of the Paris Agreement

Answer 26

-durable framework guilding the global effort for decades in a shift towards a net-zero future
-Five-year cycle, countries submit their national climate action plan
-communicate actions they will take to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
-build resilience to adapt to the impacts of rising temperatures
-transition away from fossil fuels to renewable fuels

Question 27

Strengths of the Paris agreement

Answer 27

-pathway for developed nations to assist developing nations in their climate migration and adaption efforts
-encourages countries to set carbon neutral goals

Question 28

Weaknesses of the Paris agreement

Answer 28

-wont protect all countries and locations from the negative climate change
-experts argue that not enough is still being done to prevent temperature rise

Question 29

future opportunities of the Paris agreement

Answer 29

-expanding varieties of crops and breeds of livestock
-Developing new tolerant varieties of crops for Greenland’s harsh environment

Question 30

future threats of the Paris agreement

Answer 30

-climate change, furthering melting and warming
-potential for more extreme weather, droughts and fires already occur and could become more frequent
-unpredictable climatic conditions