Greenland Case Study

Question 1

Surrounding oceans

Answer 1

Arctic and Atlantic

Question 2

Latitudes

Answer 2

60-83 degrees north of equator

Question 3

Neighbouring countries

Answer 3

Canada, Norway, Denmark, Iceland

Question 4

Geologically part of

Answer 4

North American continent

Question 5

Capital city

Answer 5

Nuuk

Question 6

Population

Answer 6

Approx 66, 000

Question 7

Country with sovereignty

Answer 7

Denmark

Question 8

Ice sheet % coverage

Answer 8

80%

Question 9

Ice sheet coverage area

Answer 9

1.7 million sq. km

Question 10

Amount of ice in cubic km

Answer 10

2.9 million cubic meters

Question 11

% of Earth’s freshwater in ice sheet

Answer 11

11%

Question 12

Age of ice sheet

Answer 12

Approximately 18 million years

Question 13

Ice sheet thickness

Answer 13

Average 1.6km, highest point is 3km

Question 14

Temperature range

Answer 14

Minus 50 deg. C in winter and top of 15 deg.C in summer

Question 15

Main industries

Answer 15

Fishing, agriculture, growing tourism industry

Question 16

Excalating trend of melting

Answer 16

For the last 35 years

Question 17

Current rate of ice loss

Answer 17

267 billion tonnes/year

Question 18

Recent temperature increase

Answer 18

Up to 3deg. C

Question 19

Processes accelerating melting

Answer 19

Surface melting (dark ice), moulins, sea ice shelves melt due to warmer water

Question 20

Positive economic impacts

Answer 20

Access to minerals & oil, new shipping routes, tourism growth, boost in fishing and ag industry

Question 21

Negative economic impacts

Answer 21

Damage to infrastructure due to thawing permafrost & extreme weather events, high adaption costs,

Question 22

Positive social impacts

Answer 22

New job opportunities, improving living standards, tourism leading to social connections, local, fresh produce available

Question 23

Negative social impacts

Answer 23

Traditional ways of life challenged, housing pressure due to foreign workers, injuries & death due to melting ice, rapid culture change, high suicide rates, new health issues e.g. heart disease

Question 24

Positive enviro impacts

Answer 24

New land exposed for farming, melt water is nutrient rich, boosting wildlife & fish population, scientific research opportunities

Question 25

Negative enviro impacts

Answer 25

Sea level rise, mining leading to pollution, bushfire & drought, changes in habitats and impacted ecosystem

Question 26

Issues from melting

Answer 26

Relate to negative impacts & include threats to indigenous lifestyles, infrastructure damage, high adaption costs for new industries, sea level rise, habitat loss

Question 27

Challenges

Answer 27

Limited local capacity of Greenland government, slow policy responses, lack of funding and coordination, balancing development and conservation