Download Greenland

Weather, Climate, and Society in
Climate Trends in Nuuk, Greenland
10
50
45
Precipitation (in)
Greenland
40
35
6
30
25
4
20
15
2
10
Temperature (˚F)
8
5
Erik the Red rediscovers
Greenland and
names it as such
to make it more
attractive to the
Icelandic
people.
Source: newworldencyclopedia.com
1600
For unknown
reasons, all
Norse
settlements in
Greenland
vanish. Only
Inuit
settlements
remain.
Climate and Climate Change
•  The average annual temperature in Greenland
ranges from 16˚F to 45˚F.
•  Greenland is the world’s largest island, consisting
of 80% ice. It contains 10% of the world’s total
supply of fresh water.
•  Arctic temperatures are rising twice as fast as
elsewhere in the world. Average temperatures in
this area have risen 2.7˚F over the past 30
years and may soon rise by up to another 14˚F.
•  The ice sheet is melting due to such rapid warming
and due to moulins. In 2008, glaciers around
Greenland lost an area more than two times the
size of Manhattan Island.
•  If Greenland was to entirely melt, worldwide sea
levels would rise by approximately 40 feet.
•  What happens in Greenland during the next ten
years will answer key questions about how much
the rest of the earth will warm during the next 100
years.
References
Bennett, Paul. "Global Warming: Greenland When It's Hot." National Geographic Adventure. National Geographic, 2007. Web. 5 Dec. 2009.
"CIA - The World Factbook -- Greenland." Welcome to the CIA Web Site Central Intelligence Agency. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <https://www.cia.gov/library/
publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gl.html>.
"CBC News - North - Climate change threatens Greenland's hunting lifestyle." CBC.ca - Canadian News Sports Entertainment Kids Docs Radio TV. Web. 05
Dec. 2009. <http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2007/04/17/greenland-hunt.html>.
Decker, David, Russel Benson, and Nathan Amador. "Floating ice area loss is 10 times the area of Manhattan Is. (2000-2008)." Byrd Polar Research Center
at The Ohio State University. 16 Oct. 2008. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <http://bprc.osu.edu/MODIS/?cat=1>.
Etter, Lauren. "Feeling the Heat: For Icy Greenland, Global Warming Has a Bright Side; As Temperatures Inch Up, Melting Glaciers Bring New Life to a
Frozen Land; But Could Polar Bears Vanish? " Wall Street Journal 18 Jul 2006, Eastern edition: Wall Street Journal, ProQuest. Web. 5 Dec. 2009.
Jerichow, Rie. "Greenland wants to stay outside a climate agreement - COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009." Home - COP15
United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009. 9 Nov. 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?newsid=2541>.
Owen, James. "Global Warming Good for Greenland?" National Geographic. 17 Oct. 2007. Web. 5 Dec. 2009.
"Timeline: Greenland." BBC News. British Broadcasting Company, 10 June 2009. Web. 5 Dec. 2009. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/>
Von Bülow, Michael. "Greenland threatens to join G-77 in Copenhagen - COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009." Home COP15 United Nations Climate Change Conference Copenhagen 2009. 27 Aug. 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2009. <http://en.cop15.dk/news/view+news?
newsid=1979>.
1721
A new Danish
settlement is
established near
present-day
Nuuk, marking
the beginning of
Greenland’s
colonial era.
1940
Greenland is at
the center of a
“weather war”
during WWII,
with both powers
fighting for access
to Greenland as a
weather station.
1941
The United
States assume
protective
custody of
Greenland and
establish
several military
bases.
1953
Danish
authorities expel
Inuit hunters
from their
ancestral lands
in northern
Greenland.
1979
Greenland
attains home
rule, although
Denmark
retains much
of its control.
1982
The people of
Greenland vote to
leave the
European Union.
Their withdrawal
is completed in
1985.
Culture
•  Greenland has 55,000 total inhabitants, 20% of which were
born elsewhere and 14,000 of which live in Nuuk,
Greenland’s largest city.
•  88% Inuit, 12% European (mostly Danish)
•  Fishing and hunting are the most common livelihoods
among Greenlandic people, especially the Inuit.
Positive Effects of Recent Climate Change
•  Economic improvement: there are more possibilities for
development in Greenland.
•  The longer grass-growing season allows more crops to
thrive, including potatoes and broccoli, leading to lesser
dependence on expensive imported crops.
•  Melting ice caps reveal diamond, gold, and oil, bringing
prospectors and potential riches to the nation.
•  The comfort of warmer weather is enjoyed by the people of
Greenland, improving their quality of life.
•  New life forms and an increase of biodiversity have
Threats to the Native Culture
•  Several aspects of Inuit culture are seriously threatened,
largely because the sea ice used for hunting is rapidly
melting.
•  The hunting season has been cut in half, providing only
enough game for 500 Inuits to survive by hunting.
•  Hunting is an essential aspect of Greenland Inuit culture.
Even the home rule government recognizes its importance—
they call hunting the “heart and soul of Greenlandic
culture.”
•  The Greenlandic people rely on sled dogs for transportation
during the hunting
1999
The Danish High
Court rules that
the Inuit were
illegally exiled in
1953, but denies
them the right to
return to their
native lands.
2008
Greenlanders
vote in
referendum for
more autonomy
and greater
control over
energy
resources.
December
October
November
September
July
August
May
June
April
Today
Greenland
represents a
mixture of Inuit
traditions and
more modern
Danish
customs. The
leftist Inuit
Ataqatugiit
Party rules.
Source: antarcticsun.usap.gov
First humans
arrive, and die out
shortly thereafter.
982
March
January
Timeline of Greenland’s History
2500 BC
0
February
Source: bergoiata.org
Madelaine Bergier, Claire Grady, Jaclyn Johnson
0
Current Politics and Climate Change
• Contrary to its name, Greenland does not have plans to “go green.”
• They have plans to develop their aluminum, petroleum, and mining
industries, which will increase CO2 emissions. Greenland is not
completely emancipated from Danish rule and is currently seeking
exemption from the United Nation’s COP emission reduction
requirements.
• The Inuit Ataqatigiit party feels that Denmark will not adequately
represent Greenland at the upcoming UN conference on climate
change in Copenhagen (December 17-18, 2009) and is currently
threatening to join the UN’s G-77 for developing countries at the
conference. The G-77 currently includes impoverished countries
such as Samoa, Suriname and Sudan.
• Greenland’s plans for the future of its country currently contradict
the International agenda regarding climate change.
Source: eesi.org
Source: static.open.salon.com