Lecture 4-06 slides H A&S 222a
I. Science Core: Solar radiation: some numbers the Greenhouse effect Themal energy: the equation of state of a gas relating pressure, volume, and temperature thermal energy as microscopic mechanical energy (plus…ability to radiate) the idea of an engine: something that converts one form of energy into another . Some Spherical Cow problems. Steady-state box models and residence time conservation-flux energy slaves
II. The 1st Nations: arrival from Asia Settlement history in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, Asian coast home rule in Greenland (1979), Canada ( European exploration of the Arctic goals: Northwest Passage, North Pole, fur, whales…eventually oil. Frobisher, Hudson, Franklin, Amundson. Vikings and the sagas Vinland and Aix le Meadow later day: Hans Egede Gretel Ehrlich: Rasmusson’s 5th Thule expedition This is an image from an airplne of cold Arctic winds blowing over ice, then open ocean water. The air erupts in turbulent cloud, feeling the warmth and moisture of the ocean water. This cools the ocean and warms the atmosphere. This kind of heat transport from sea to air is a prime source of circulation of both atmosphere and ocean (although the tropics provide a huge amount of heating of the atmosphere in addition). today’s weather in west Greenland
• Observed At:Ilulissat, GL • Elevation:102 ft / 31 m • 25 °F / -4 °C • Mostly CloudyHumidity:50% • Dew Point:9 °F / -13 °C • Wind:4 mph / 6 km/h from the NW • • Pressure:29.65 in / 1004 hPa • Windchill:20 °F / -6 °C Visibility:6.2 miles / • 10.0 kilometers UV:2 out of 16 • Clouds:Few 12000 ft / 3657 m Mostly Cloudy 18000 ft / 5486 m
• (Above Ground Level) John Shelden in 1639 told of his discovery of the North Pole, supposedly made of iron, sticking several hundred feet up and surrounded by a ring of ice. Perhaps he thought a planet with a magnetic field must have a magnet. Martin Frobisher, 1576 When William Shakespeare was in grade school, Martin Frobisher sought to reach Asia through an imagined northwest passage, Frobisher did manage to explore ‘Frobisher Bay’ on Baffin Island. Iqaluit is now the native name for the town there, which is the capital of the new Canadian Territory of Nunavut.
from J.P. Delgado, Across the Top of the World, British Museum Press, 1999, 228 pp Frobisher’s ship Gabriel; a 30-ton bark
The idea of ‘discovery’ by Europeans is a little hollow, with the native Inuit already happily settled in the region**. Frobisher soon ‘discovered’ them (He ‘perceived a number of small things fleeting in the sea farre off, whyche hee syupposed to be Porposes, or Ceales, or some kind of strange fishe; but comming nearer he discourvered them to be men, in small boates made of leather’. Frobisher hired a native to help him pilot through the ice, but then had a disturbing interaction with the natives, involving 5 of his crew who disappeared mysteriously. But Frobisher stayed there two seasons, apparently peacefully. But then, using a small bell as bait, he lured a native and his kayak on board, taking him captive as proof of his success, back in England. The native died soon after the voyage. This pattern of exploitation of the native population from the very first encounter is a sad statement, repeated many times in many expeditions. How can it be that Frobisher did not value the natives as humans, and admire their remarkable skills and strengths? Money is involved: he returned with a black piece of stone that a wishful assayer determined to be gold ore. Queen Elizabeth contributed 1000 pounds and a much larger ship, the 223 ton Ayde, to his next voyage. This voyage was a story of puffed up imperialism, lust for gold, brutal approach to the Inuit, and ultimate failure. In all he carried about 1500 tons of worthless black rocks to England
** The same might be said of many expeditions including that of Lewis and Clark Henry Hudson on the Discovery, 1610 The last voyage of Henry Hudson: a painting by John Collier, Tate Gallery, London, as imagined by the artist
“The bounds of America doth stretch many thousands mies; into the frozen partes whereof one Master Hudson an English Mariner did make the greatest discoverie of any Christia I knowe of, where he unfortunately died.” Captain John Smith, 1616
from J.P. Delgado, Across the Top of the World, British Museum Press, 1999, 228 pp Roald Amundson finally navigated the entire NW passage in 1903-1906 Fridjoft Nansen strived to be first to reach the North Pole, and failed but his drift in the vessel Fram, locked in the ice intentionally, was a scientific bonanza, and successfully verified the ocean circulation that carried the ship from the Russian coast near the Pole, then south to the Atlantic, just east of Greenland… through what is now called Fram Strait (1893-96). His book Farthest North tells the story. http://www.ocean98.org/nans.htm
Nansen’s observations laid the basis for understanding the way the upper ocean currents work, in response to winds, which is a key part of the oceanic general circulation. In 1922 he was awarded a Nobel Prize, not for science but for peace. He worked to resettle refugee prisoners after the 1st World War. NY Times x-2004 Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat) pop: 56,000 (2005) area: 2.1 million km2 divided north/south by Arctic circle, north: sled dogs to the north remain pure-bred no dogs to the south m home rule yet strong ties and defense agreements with Denmark (the Vikings again?). Much inter- marriage, native and Danish. (Knud Rasmusson was half Danish, half native). 50,000 speak Greenlandic Lament for the Dorsets" which starts "Animal bones and Major export industry: some mossy tent rings... all that remains of Dorset giants, shrimp fishery who drove the Vikings back to their longships Late evening in a quite fjord near Nuuk, capitol of Greenland (we were fishing for Arctic char) To the right is the Greenland flag and coat of arms
Nunuvut coat of arms and flag The Arctic circle, in black is at approximately 660 33’ North (66.50); this is the southernmost latitude of polar night (where the sun does not rise at all, one day of the year). As you go north from their, polar night fills more days, weeks, months. But, the moon and stars are bright, the snow is white and the aurora (northern lights) brilliant and amazing. You can almost read a book by them. Nunavut (Our Land)
29,000 inhabitants established as native territory in 1999. 2 million sq km 13th largest country in the world (the size of western Europe). capitol: Iqualuit on Baffin Island settlements founded around trading posts or missions also from mining (Rankin Inlet)
Languate: Inuktitut
Canadian pop. 32 million (2005); 900,000 aboriginal people Aborigingal languages (about 50 languages exist yet the Arctic natives widely speak Iniktitut, which is understandable in Alaska and Greenland as well.
Inikititut (purple) Cree (brown) Athatpaskan (dark green) Wakashan (pink) Ojibway (grey)
http://atlas.gc.ca Arctic communities have air travel that is fairly reliable and enables them to move about, following job and family movements Some good books
• People of the Deer Farley Mowatt • Among the Tundra People Harald U. Sverdrup (Chuckchi coast of Asia) • The Whale and the Supercomputer Charles Wohlforth (Alaska) • Arctic Dreams Barry Lopez (Alaska) • This Cold Heaven – 7 Seasons in Greenland Gretel Ehrlich • Greenland by the Polar Sea, Knud Rasmussen • Fifth Thule Expedition, “ “ • The Last Kings of Thule Jean Malaurie