VCE Geography MISAG in Greenland

Definition of Land Cover Change (LCC)

Alteration of the biophysical surface of the Earth due to natural processes or human activity.

Definition of Land Cover

The observed biophysical cover on the Earth's surface including water, and glaciers.

Last Glacial Maximum (LGM)

Occurred 22,000-18,000 years ago, when global temperatures were much colder. Around 30% of Earth's land was covered in glaciers and ice, mostly in Antarctica and North America.

Holocene Climatic Optimum (HCO)

Occurred 9000-5000 years ago, when average global temperatures were warmer than today. Glaciers and ice sheets retreated, most land became vegetated, with only small ice-covered areas remaining in the Arctic.

Global Distribution of MISAG

Ice sheets and glaciers cover approximately 10% of the Earth 's land surface. The Antarctic Ice Sheet (14 million km2) is the largest ice mass on Earth. Within the Arctic Circle, Greenland (1.7 million km2) has the second-largest ice sheet; other major ice coverage is found in parts of northern Canada and Arctic islands.

Glaciers are also found in high-altitude areas such as the Himalayas, and smaller ice caps exist in Iceland and Scandinavia. Australia = no glaciers.

Natural Cause of MISAG: The Albedo Effect

The albedo effect is how much sunlight a surface reflects; light-coloured surfaces, such as glaciers, reflect sunlight, keeping temperatures cooler. As ice melts and darker surfaces (e.g., rock) are exposed, more heat is absorbed, thereby accelerating the melting process. Since 2000, Greenland's surface albedo has decreased by 8%. As a result, Greenland has lost 270 gigatons of ice per year between 2002-2023.

Human Cause of MISAG: Cryoconite

A dark, dusty pollutant from industrial activity settles on glaciers, reducing albedo and increasing heat absorption. It absorbs 23% more solar radiation than clean ice and has contributed to a 1.5- 2 °C rise in Greenland's average temperature since 1980.

Interconnection between Natural and Human Causes

The greenhouse effect is a natural process where greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the Earth. This warming causes glaciers to melt, exposing darker surfaces like rock, which lowers the albedo — meaning less sunlight is reflected and more is absorbed. The effect is further intensified by cryoconite, dark dust particles that settle on ice and reduce albedo even more, accelerating melting as additional dark surfaces are revealed.

Social Impacts of MISAG

1. Melting ice reduces opportunities to hunt, disrupting the traditional way of life for the Inuit community Loss of ancestral hunting grounds affects cultural identity.

2. 76% of Greenlanders report disruptions to housing and income, contributing to increased anxiety among youth. Greenland has a high suicide rate of 40-60 deaths per year, of just 56,000 people.

Social: Issue & Challenge

I: Threatening the continuity of Inuit cultural practices such as hunting and fishing.

C: With Inuit making up 88% of the population, preserving cultural traditions is difficult when 76% are experiencing disrupted livelihoods, housing and income.

Economic Impacts of MISAG

1. Attracted warm-water fish like tuna and mackerel to, boosting local catches for southern towns like Narsaq. Record catches in 2016 contributed to a 4.6% boost in the economy.

2. Increased global demand in visiting Greenland before the ice disappears. in 2023, 40,000 tourists arrived by air and 76,000 by cruise ships, contributing 4.9% to GDP.

Economic: Issue & Challenge

Rapid tourism growth is causing cultural disruption and straining infrastructure.

C: In 2023, over 116,000 tourists visited Greenland - double its population of 56,000 - leading to noise pollution and overcrowding.

Environmental Impacts of MISAG

1. Melting ice sheets add large volumes of freshwater to the ocean surface, which is less dense than saltwater, creating a barrier that prevents nutrients from mixing upward. This affects local species like phytoplankton (10% decrease in population since the 19th century).

2. Between 1992-2018, Greenland lost 3.8 trillion tons of ice. As glaciers melt, water is added to the ocean, contributing to global sea level rise, which in turn increases the risk of flooding in coastal areas, both locally and globally.

Environmental: Issue & Challenge

I: Disrupting native ecosystems, causing a decline in biodiversity.

2. Between 1992 and 2018, Greenland lost 3.8 trillion tons of ice, adding freshwater to oceans that disrupt nutrient mixing, posing a significant threat to native cold-water species like the phytoplankton and polar cod.

Local Response: Fishing

Climate change has made warm-water fish like mackerel and tuna are more common in Greenland's waters, largely benefiting the fishing industry that accounts for 90% of Greenland's export economy and local fishers.

Local Response: S&W

S: Support economic growth, as record catches boosted Greenland's economy by 4.6%

S: Polar Seafood, Greenland's largest fishing company, reported catching 50,000 tons of mackerel.

S: Provides local employment for coastal communities.

W: Risk of overfishing may arise if regulations don't adapt; local dependence may allow companies to exploit fish stocks unsustainably.

National Response: Tourism

Increased tourist demand to visit Greenland before the ice disappears; the National Tourism Sector Plan (2021) was launched, aiming to grow sustainable tourism and diversify Greenland's economy, with a target for tourism to make up 40% of export value by 2035.

National Response: S&W

S: Tourism created 1800 jobs in 2024, and contributed 4.9% to Greenland's GDP

S: In 2023, 40,000 tourists arrived by air and 76,000 by cruise ship.

W: Tourism increases emissions from air travel and cruise ships.

W: The influx of visitors can cause noise pollution and cultural disruption for Greenland's population (57,000).

Global Response: Paris Climate Agreement 2015

Legally binding international treaty adopted by the UN Climate Change Conference. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to keep temperature rise below 1.5-2 °C, in order to reduce the risk and impacts of climate change, including MISAG.

Global Response: S&W

S: Scientists predict that by limiting global warming to 1.5C, could reduce Greenland ice sheet loss by 70% and glacier loss by 50%.

S: Over 195 countries have signed the agreement. High-income countries have agreed to financially support low-income nations.

W: Research suggests even 1.5 °C may be too high, 1 °C is more ideal.

W: The world is not on track to meet 1.5 °C. Climate Action Tracker estimates that even with full net-zero commitments, warming may reach 1.8 °C.

Geospatial Tech: NASA's ICESat-2

Satellite launched in 2018 that uses remote sensing to measure changes in Earth's surface elevation and capture precise 3D data on ice sheets and glaciers. This allows scientists to track ice loss over time.

ICESat-2: S&W

S: Provides precise elevation data (up to centimetre accuracy).

S: Data is freely accessible via NASA platforms, allowing gov and NGOs to view and analyse elevations of ice sheets, glaciers, etc.

W: Cannot stop/reduce melting; actions depend on how governments use the information.

Geospatial Tech: ESA's CryoSat-2

Satellite launched in 2010 that uses a radar altimeter to measure changes in the elevation and thickness of ice sheets. It tracks long-term trends in ice loss in Greenland due to global warming.

CryoSat-2: S&W

S: Radar altimetry can penetrate cloud cover and darkness, enabling all weather, day and night data collection.

W: Less effective over steep terrain, which can reduce measurement accuracy in mountainous glacier regions.

W: Cannot stop/reduce melting, actions depend on how govs use the information.