Arctic Systems (JSEP pt.1)

July 2, 2022

Written by: Caroline Kim

This summer, one of the opportunities I am taking part in is the Joint Science Education Project. I’ve had the chance to learn from graduate students, students from other parts of the U.S. and Greenland, as well as from a National Geographic photographer (Jeff Kerby). In a 4 part series, I’ll be discussing the topics covered from the two weeks ranging from the different experiments at home to real issues in Greenland regarding the environment. Today, to kick-off this series, we’ll be discussing the interconnected web of climate, food, energy, and water in the arctic.

In regards to climate, some major aspects of the arctic include, albedo, the ability of a surface to absorb/reflect heat. This comes into play later when considering the implications of climate change. For example, surfaces with lower albedo (more absorbance of light) melt faster and absorb more energy. Other big ideas include the impact of climate on phenology (when biological things depend on climate). A rise in temperatures can cause the melting of a glacier that a polar bear may have relied on as a habitat, or a change in sea life in a given location due to global warming could result in a species lacking prey. A similar idea can be observed in what is known as trophic mismatch: interacting species change the timing of regularly repeated phases in their life cycles. A major concern in the arctic is the melting of permafrost in which significant quantities of CO2, methane, oxide, etc. can be released into the atmosphere. And as we all know- these greenhouse gasses are a top contributor to global warming and the impacts known as climate change.

Because Greenland is an island nation, the food system is something to take note of. This can include the various means of obtaining food, the culture, and the values. Some domestic Greenlandic food includes reindeer, muskox, seal, fish, veggies, and wild berries. While the climate has been becoming warmer, the dry nature of the environment actually causes a decrease in farming productivity. Since future parts in this series will dive deeper into the concerns of food/fishing in Greenland, it is important to take note of the fact that the Greenland ice sheet melts 7x faster than it was 30 years ago.

The isolated nature of Greenland also happens to influence the energy system; much of the Greenlandic/Arctic energy is implemented for heat, fishing, and obtaining fresh water. Some concerns include the fossil fuels used in the transportation of goods in/out of Greenland, so finding alternatives that allow the nation to be more independent may be beneficial. The arctic energy infrastructure is built so that most are diesel-dependent, which are efficient, reliable in the cold, and easily operable. Additionally, the polar days/nights improve solar efficiency. Hydropower appears to be the most common form of renewable energy in Greenland, though experimental wind turbines are also used. Some solutions presented in the discussion included electrification via heat pumps and desalination to save overproduced energy.

In this last category of water, we’ll start off with a few fundamental ideas: watersheds. Essentially, these watersheds are a landscape unit of water drainage that are both on and below the surface of the earth. They can include streams, lakes, rivers, and eventually oceans. It is expected that the arctic will experience increased precipitation, air and stream temperatures, permafrost thawing, and sediment as well as decreased ice cover, and a shift in the watershed network. Future parts will cover a more in depth review of these ideas, but it’s safe to say that understanding how these 4 subcategories affect one another is crucial to maintaining the Arctic/Greenlandic environment.

Sources:

Joint Science Education Project (Graduate students/educators):

Alyssa Pantaleo

Amelia Fitch

Shauna Bulger

Jonathan Loos