Arctic Canada Faye Shneider, Ned Nakles, Dave Wollin

Connor, Steve. "Baffin Island reveals dramatic scale of Arctic climate change." Independent. 20 Oct 2009. Independent, Web. 7 Dec 2009. <http://

www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/baffin-island- reveals-dramatic-scale-of-arctic-climate-change-1805623.html>.

Government of Nunavut. Discussion Paper for Ikummatit. , 2007. Web. 7 Dec 2009.

"Iqaluit, N.W.T., Canada." World Climate. 07 Dec 2009. World Climate, Web. 7 Dec 2009. <http://www.worldclimate.com/cgi- bin/data.pl?ref=N63W068+1102+71909W>.

McFadden, Joe. "Researchers find new causes of Arctic summer warming." University of Minnesota (2009): n. pag. Web. 7 Dec 2009. <http://www1.umn.edu/news/news- releases/2005/UR_RELEASE_MIG_2560.html>.

"Northwest Passage - Arctic Sea Ice." Geology.com. Geology.com, Web. 7 Dec 2009. <http://geology.com/articles/northwest- passage.shtml>.

"Norway's Reluctant Hero." NOVA (2006): n. pag. Web. 7 Dec 2009. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/arctic/huntford.html>.

Variability in Palaeoeskimo Occupation on South-Western Victoria Island, Arctic Canada: Causes and Consequences Author(s): James M. Savelle and Arthur S. Dyke Source: World Archaeology, Vol. 33, No. 3, Ancient Ecodisasters (Feb., 2002), pp. 508-522 Published by: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/827882

Ward, Catherine, and Julian Dowdeswell. "On the Meteorological Instruments and Observations Made during the 19th Century Exploration of the Canadian Northwest Passage." BioOne Online Journal (2006): 454-464. Web. 7 Dec 2009. <http://www.bioone.org/doi/

abs/10.1657/1523- 0430(2006)38[454:OTMIAO]2.0.CO;2>.

• Fabled Northwest Passage cuts through the Baffin and Victoria Islands area • Explorers tried for centuries to find a passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific – consistently thwarted by the ice • Due to the climate of the region, the Northwest Passage was one of the world’s last frontiers • In 2007, scientists noticed a considerable drop off in the amount of ice in the region, effectively opening the Northwest Passage • In 2008, both the Northwest and Northeast passages were clear, opening the North Pole to ships for the first time in recorded history • Canadian science teams are currently searching for signs of the explorers who were lost • According to noted polar historian Roland Huntford, “The Northwest Passage ushered in the last chapter of terrestrial discovery. It was, in fact, the last step before the leap into space. [Norwegian Explorer] Amundsen…was helping to close the chapter of terrestrial exploration and open the space era…”

• Iqaluit serves as an important hub in the Arctic • Center of commerce, exploration, and communications for the region • Relies on aircraft during winter to remain in contact with the world • Industry historically based around fur and mining • Tremendous oil reserves in the waters surrounding Baffin & Victoria Islands – climate change makes them more accessible • By 2100, virtually all of the polar ice could melt, leaving the region wide open for commerce • The melting of the polar ice opens the region to greater economic exploitation and population growth • Iqaluit has an extremely young, rapidly growing population – the city is an important one, and will be a fixture in the Arctic for some time

Belcher's “Wind Vane” constructed while on board HMS Assistance, 1852–1854. The instrument was built in order to “determine the effect of the direct force of the wind on a thermometer exposed to its full influence, a compared with its opposite, sheltered

Meteorological records from HMS Assistance, December of 1850.

• Region is site of the initial meetings between Europeans and Inuit people • Currently questions over sovereignty in the region

- United States wants the area to be considered international territory - Canada claims the territory under stewardship – wants to control passage through the region - Claims sovereignty based on presence of military bases and Canadian citizens living in the region - Building additional warships to station in the area - Concentration of natural resources in the territory makes it highly desirable

Image of minimum sea ice - 1979

Image of minimum sea ice - 2003

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year

°C -26.0

-26.4

-22.7

-14.1 -3.7 3.4 7.7 6.8 2.2 -4.7 -12.

4 -21.

2 -9.1

°F -14.7

-15.4 -8.8 6.6 25.3 38.1 45.9 44.2 36.0 23.5 9.7 -6.1 15.6

24 Hour Average Temperature – Iqaluit, Canada • Baffin Island & Victoria Island have typically Arctic climates • Short, cool summers & long, cold winters • Average 16 inches of precipitation annually • Typically light 24 hours a day during the summer • Typically dark 24 hours a day during the winter • Due to trends in the Earth’s orbit, the region should be cooling

-Ice cores show the contrary; the region is getting warmer • Northern Lights visible throughout the region • Home to weather phenomena such as the Midnight Sun and Arctic sun

-Caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis relative to the sun

• Founded as Frobisher’s Bay in 1576 by Sir Martin Frobisher – renamed Iqaluit in 1987 • Iqaluit is one of the fastest growing regions of Canada

- Population approximately 6,000 • Population of the settlement is historically Inuit • The Canadian government has turned the small Inuit town into an important outpost, a hub of transportation, communication, and culture • Served as important military outpost for the American Strategic Air Command during the Cold War • Will be hosting the G7 Conference in 2010 • Iqaluit, and the larger region of Nunavut, is totally dependent on fossil fuels

Northern Lights

Average minimum sea ice decline – 7% per decade since 1978

1.  TYPICAL NORTHWEST PASSAGE ROUTE (Black)

2.  2. ROALD AMUNDSEN: First Navigation by Ship (White)

3.  3. ST. ROCH: First West-East Crossing (Green)

4.  4. ST. ROCH: Northern Deep-Water Route (Yellow)

5.  5. FRANKLIN EXPEDITION: Attempt (Dark Red)

6.  6. SIR WILLIAM EDWARD PARRY: Attempt (Purple)

7.  7. ROBERT McCLURE: Proved route existed (Orange)