Module VIII-Arctic Sea-Ice Systems & Cultural Connections

How are Arctic Sea-Ice, climate and culture connected?

Why would anyone chose to live in the harsh climate and stark landscape of the Arctic tundra? Many indigenous groups have lived in the Arctic for centuries, and still call it home.



Some present day occupants of the Arctic and the areas they inhabit are shown on the map above. (Map from K. Crane and J.L. Galasso, 1999 of National Snow and Ice Data Center)

The Inuit culture has been influenced by periods of 24 hour darkness, severe winter storms and temperatures, unpredictable food sources and very limited building materials. Because trees don’t grow in the Arctic tundra, the Inuit have adapted to their environment by using snow and animal skins for shelter.

This picture shows several Inuit constructing an igloo with blocks of snow. Traditionally, Inuit lived in igloos during the coldest months and tent like huts during the warmer months.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs, Photograph by Frank E. Kleinschmidt

For travel, the Inuit used sleds made of animal bones and skins pulled by dogs they bred themselves. Small boats called “kayaks” were used for hunting while larger boats called “umiaq” transported people, dogs, and supplies.

While Inuit life has changed significantly over the past century, many traditions still continue. The Inuit continue to fish and hunt the few animals that thrive on or under the ice (whales, walrus, caribou, seal, polar bears, muskoxen and birds)(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inuit#Modern_culture).

Because of the harsh conditions, there is low biodiversity in the Arctic which makes it an extremely fragile ecosystem. Ice is the primary habitat for many of the species, and melting may disrupt their feeding and breeding cycles. What then will happen once the ice disappears? Will the Inuit have to change what they hunt because new species from warmer, more southern oceans will eventually replace species unable to adapt to the changing conditions? Or will the Inuit simply have to move? Will the melting of Arctic ice affect people elsewhere? Dr. Serreze of the National Snow and Ice Data Center says yes! (see video below) He believes that the loss of sea ice will change weather patterns elsewhere… even if the loss is for only a few weeks over the summer!

If ice disappears for a few weeks, more and more heat will be absorbed by the ocean (rather than being reflected back into the atmosphere) which will make it harder for ice to recover the next fall. The Arctic will go through longer periods without ice (low albedo) which will affect the weather in the Northern Hemisphere because the cryosphere won’t be able to rid the atmosphere of excess heat. By warming the climate a little, the melt season becomes extended and the positive feedback loop accelerates. Dr. Serreze believes that once we begin to lose Arctic sea-ice, the Northern Hemisphere will feel a sudden shift in the pace of global warming.

Learning how Arctic sea-ice, climate and culture are connected is important. It appears that the melting of Arctic sea-ice will affect everyone. This module has presented many note worthy facts regarding how it may do so. The Arctic is a complicated system and it’s difficult to fathom the consequences associated with the disappearance of the sea ice.

Image taken from http://noaa.org

References used:

http://nsidc.org/arcticmet/patterns/feedback_loops.html

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/polar/inuit_culture.html