Notes on the cards TEACHERS’ NOTES Cards 1a/b/c/d – ‘The way to the north’/ Introduction Glaciers and fjords Norway has close economic, cultural and historical links with the Card 1a is a general introduction to Norway – ‘the way to the United Kingdom and is a highly relevant choice of European north’. Pupils should be made aware of Norway’s northerly country to study at Key Stage 3 (see table) and GCSE. It is one of location. Its southernmost point is at a higher latitude than the world’s most northerly countries, which has given it a Aberdeen and its most northerly point, at Nordkapp, is 1750 km challenging environment and many distinctive characteristics. further north, well within the Arctic Circle. This latitudinal extent has a great bearing on climate, vegetation and land use, and Relevance of Look at Norway! to the National Curriculum geography at therefore on the distribution of population. Key Stage 3 It is important to point out that, geologically, Norway is an ancient country. It contains rocks from the earliest geological periods and National curriculum Cards Case these have been folded, lifted up and eroded at various times. content 1 2 3 4 5 6 study Therefore the highest mountains in southern Norway rarely have Skills the sharp peaks which characterise the younger fold mountains of Use an extended geographical the Alps. Paradoxically, sharp peaks are more common in the vocabulary ••••••• north where the mountains are less high. Use a global atlas • •• Most of the rocks are of sedimentary origin but, during times of Use graphical techniques ••••••• mountain building, there have been some igneous intrusions and Use secondary evidence •••• some metamorphosis during which minerals, such as copper and titanium, have been formed. Place (List A) There is an affinity between the mountains of Norway and those Physical and human features ••••••• of north-west Scotland. They were formed at the same time and show the same trend. Similarities and differences of two regions • •• Card 1b concentrates on the effect of ice on the landforms of Degree of development •• Norway. During the Ice Age, all the mountain areas lying across the Interdependence •• path of the westerly winds, which now experience high rainfall, then experienced heavy snowfall. The resulting accumulation of THEMES snow and ice covered the whole of Norway and at its maximum Geomorphological processes • extent spread out across the North Sea to join the Scottish ice cap Weather and climate • •• and reached far enough south to deposit rocks of Norwegian origin Ecosystems •• on the coast of North Yorkshire. An ice cap and glaciers still remain Economic activities •• on some of the higher mountains of Norway and in recent years Environmental issues ••••••• glaciers have advanced slightly, in spite of global warming. The glaciers associated with the Ice Age were responsible for Norway’s most dramatic scenery in the fjords of the south-west, The main body of this pack consists of twelve cards, six of which which are the country’s major tourist attraction. The melting of the are in full colour and provide basic information in a lively and ice left behind large deposits of glacial moraine, notably in the informative way. The other six are photocopiable pupil activities, south-east of Norway, and these provide some of the flattest and designed to assist comprehension, to provide extension material most fertile land in the country. and give opportunities to learn and practise skills. The cards are supported by a case study of Sima hydro-electric power station, six Card 1c Activities 1, 2 and 3 are simple exercises in atlas skills large photographs and a poster-size map of Norway. which will enable pupils to appreciate Norway’s position in It will help pupils if Norway is placed in context as a modern, northern Europe and something of its relief. Activities 4 and 5 will industrialised country with strong links to the United Kingdom. give an understanding of population density and distribution. A comparison with the United Kingdom shows how sparsely Norway Historical context is populated, a product of its harsh environment. The choropleth map indicates the uneven distribution with a heavy bias of The area named Norway has been inhabited for thousands of population towards the south. Discussion will elicit reasons for this years, but the Kingdom of Norway first came into being about AD distribution as well as ideas for more accurate ways of showing it. 900. The Norwegian Vikings founded many settlements in Britain, France, Ireland, Iceland and Greenland, and reached North Card 1d Two of the activities on this card are practical. Activity 2 America 500 years before Columbus. encourages the pupils to think about the changes which take place After a period of internal feuding and the Black Death (which when a river valley is deepened and straightened by a glacier. wiped out almost two-thirds of Norway’s population), the country Activity 4 asks pupils to draw the longitudinal section of Sognefjord came under Danish rule in a union which lasted from 1380 until using data from Card 1b. It will not be possible for the pupils to 1814. Thereafter, Norway was united with Sweden until the draw this completely accurately, but it should bring out the association was peacefully dissolved in 1905, when Norway essential nature of a fjord. became fully independent. Since 1905, Norway has gradually developed from a mainly farming and fishing society into a modern Cards 2a/b/c/d – A variable climate/ industrial nation.
Cards CS a/b/c/d/e/f – Case study: Sima power station Author The case study begins with a close look at the Sima power station, Dick Nicholls, formerly Head of Geography, City School, Sheffield the second largest in Norway. It illustrates the features of many Dick Nicholls hereby asserts his moral right to be identified as the large schemes: Author of Look at Norway! • the collecting of water from several catchment areas • the storage of water in upland reservoirs to ensure continuity of Educational advisers supply in dry seasons or years P.R. Neely, Head of Geography, Acklam Grange School, • the sophisticated tunnel engineering involved Middlesbrough • the use made of mountainous relief to achieve a considerable Malcolm Black, Head of Geography, Kenton School, Newcastle- head of water in order to maximise the generation of electricity. upon-Tyne The case study brings out some environmental and social issues. The construction of a road reduces the isolation of mountain Photographic acknowledgements farmers, but it may also encourage visitors and increase the risk of The authors and publishers are grateful to the following for damage to fragile environments. Does the building of upland permission to reproduce copyright illustrations: reservoirs, or the regulation of water supply to a waterfall, have similar benefits and drawbacks? Hybris Film/Per N. Haukeland 1a Fig. A The issue of renewable and non-renewable resources is also Karmøy kommune/Reidar Munkejord 2a Fig. C raised. This is likely to be the subject of prolonged debate in Norges Rederiforbund 6b Fig. B Norway for a long time. Most of the best sites for hydro-electric Samfoto: power have already been developed. The availability of natural gas B. Areklett/S. Myhr 5a Fig. C offshore is a possible alternative source of electricity, especially as Jørn Areklett Omre CS Fig. G the gas fields are estimated to have a life of up to 100 years. The Hans Hvide Bang 6b Fig. A Norwegian authorities are looking to reduce the net imports of Trym Ivar Bergsmo 4b Fig. B electricity by encouraging better energy efficiency, promoting the Trygve Bølstad 6a Fig. B use of bio-energy, and improving and expanding the existing Espen Bratlie 4a Fig. B hydro-electricity system. Asle Hjellbrekke 1b Fig. A; 2b Fig. D There is at present a debate in Norway about the desirability of Jan Arve Dale 6b Fig. C; CS Fig. E building two gas-fired power stations at Kollsnes and Kårstø in Ragnar Frislid 6a Fig. A western Norway. Electricity from these plants would be intended Kim Hart 2a Fig. D for export. Advocates and opponents of the plants both claim to be Steinar Haugberg 2a Fig. B fighting for a global reduction of discharges of greenhouse gases. Pål Hermansen 3b Fig. C; 4a Fig. A; CS Fig. F In addition to student activities involving comprehension and data Bård Løken 1a Fig. B; 1b Fig. B; 3b Fig. B interpretation, suggestions are made for discussion, role play and J.B. Olsen/R. Sørensen 3a Fig. C; 4a Fig. C debate. Jon Arne Sæter 4b Fig. C Øystein Søbye 2b Fig. C; 3a Fig. B Stig Tronvold 1a Fig C; 6a Fig. C Norway on the Internet Statkraft CS Fig. D The following site contains information, in English, provided by the Statoil 5a Fig. B Norwegian Government: To-foto 4b Fig. A Fjellanger Widerøe 5b Fig. A http://odin.dep.no/html/english/norway.html It contains a wealth of data, including: • Introducing Norway for young people http://odin.dep.no/ud/publ/96/norway/ • Facts and figures about Norway http://odin.dep.no/ud/publ/minifakta/index.htm Relevance of Look at Norway! to Social Subjects: TEACHERS’ NOTES Understanding People and Place Introduction Cards Case Norway is Europe’s most northerly country with many distinctive ATTAINMENT TARGETS 1 2 3 4 5 6 study features which offer an excellent basis for teaching and learning Knowledge and understanding ••••••• opportunities in the Scottish geography curriculum. Norway also Planning ••••••• has close historical, economic and cultural links with Scotland. Collecting evidence ••• The main body of this pack consists of twelve cards, six of which are in full colour and provide basic information in a lively and Recording and presenting ••••••• informative way. The other six are photocopiable pupil activities, Interpreting and evaluating ••••••• Developing informed designed to assist knowledge and understanding; develop skills of ••••••• interpretation and evaluation and, most importantly, help to develop attitudes informed attitudes ab out the cu l t u r e an d wa y of life of other KEY FEATURES co u n t r i e s ; th e res p onsible de vel o p ment and exploitation of natural SS1 Aspects of the physical and built environment resources and the conservation and protection of the environment. The cards are supported by a case study of the Sima hydro-electric Weather forecasting ••• power station, six large photographs and a poster-size map of Climatic patterns •••• Norway. Weathering and landforms ••• Norway should be placed in context as a modern, industrialised Land formation • country with strong links to the UK. Settlements ••• The resource lends itself best to supporting the 5–14 curriculum in Scotland in the attainment outcome ‘Understanding People and SS2 Ways in which places have affected people and people have used and Place’ and, in particular, in stages P7–S2. This does not preclude affected places possible applications in other areas of the curriculum which might Extreme physical events •••• range from Standard grade topics such as ‘Trade and Aid’ to Resource usage ••••• aspects of the European Environmental Issues Short Course (e.g. Population •••••• Acid Rain). European Environmental Issues, of course, form an Boundaries and barriers ••• important part of the Intermediate level geography syllabus being Environmental issues ••••• proposed for the Higher Still curriculum framework. Landscapes ••• •
Historical context SS3 Locations, linkages and networks The area named Norway has been inhabited for thousands of Interdependence ••••••• years, but the Kingdom of Norway first came into being about AD Transport networks ••• 900. The Norwegian Vikings founded many settlements in Britain, Global transport • France, Ireland, Iceland and Greenland, and reached North America 500 years before Columbus. SS4 Making and using maps After a period of internal feuding and the Black Death (which Mental maps •• •• wiped out almost two-thirds of Norway’s population), the country Making maps • came under Danish rule from 1380 until 1814. Thereafter, Norway Map skills •• • was united with Sweden until the association was peacefully dissolved in 1905, when Norway became fully independent. Since Specialist maps ••• 1905, Norway has gradually developed from a mainly farming and Sketch maps •• • fishing society into a modern industrial nation. During World War 2, when Norway was occupied by Germany, the King and Government sought refuge in Britain. From here, the During the period of mountain-building the original sedimentary Free Norwegian Armed Forces were established and subsequently rocks were metamorphosed by the pressures brought about by played an active part in the Allied war effort. Norway’s large crustal movement. This, along with some intrusion of material of merchant navy made a vital contribution to the provision of Allied volcanic origin, led to the limited formation of some mineral supplies. deposits, for example copper and titanium. In the post-war years, Norway has been an active participant in Card 1b Since the early phase of mountain-building, the principal international cooperation, including in the areas of defence, trade influence on the landscape has been the work of ice. Over the past and protection of the environment, and has enjoyed particularly two million years there have been over 30 Ice Ages in Europe, with close ties with other West European countries and the USA. the last one ending about 10 000 years ago. The accumulation of snow and ice covered the whole of Norway, then spread over the Notes on the cards North Sea to merge with the Scottish ice-cap. At its maximum Cards 1a/b/c/d – ‘The way to the north’/Glaciers and fjords extent, the ice in Britain reached as far south as North Yorkshire. Evidence for this movement exists in the presence of glacial Card 1a The first task will be to draw attention to Norway’s location erratics in North Yorkshire and elsewhere. These are rocks in relation to Britain. Pupils should particularly note Norway’s deposited by the melting ice at the end of the Ice Age which have latitudinal extent, which has a great bearing on aspects such as been proved to be Norwegian in origin. climate, vegetation, land use and, ultimately, the distribution of the The glaciers associated with the Ice Age were responsible for the population. Norway’s southernmost tip is at a latitude just north of production of much of Norway’s distinctive scenery, most notably Aberdeen while its most northerly point at Nordkapp is 1750 km the fjords of the south-west which remain the country’s major further north and well beyond the Arctic Circle. tourist attraction. The fjords are over-deepened glacial valleys Geologically, the mountains of Norway and Scotland are similar which became drowned following the rise in sea level after the Ice in origin and were formed during the Caledonian period of Age. Elsewhere, the melting of the ice left deposits of glacial mountain-building 400–500 million years ago. The ancient nature of moraine which provide some of the flattest and most fertile land in the rock has resulted in mountains which are merely the eroded Norway, notably in the south-east. It should be noted that an ice stumps of the original mountain chain. As a result, rarely do the cap and glaciers still remain on some of the higher mountains. mountains in southern Norway exhibit the sharp jagged peaks which characterise the younger fold mountains elsewhere in Europe, such as those found in the Alps. Card 1c begins with a simple exercise in atlas skills which can be Cards 3a/b/c/d – The forest ecosystem/The tundra used as an extension to the key feature of ‘making and using ecosystem maps’ (SS4) and includes revision in calculating distance and direction. The next two exercises go some way to meeting the Card 3a Forests cover a larger area of productive land than any requirements of SS2 in examining the population density and other land use in Norway. Wood provides a valuable resource as distribution. This shows just how sparsely populated Norway is in the raw material for a pulp and paper industry which is a relation to Britain. A choropleth map clearly indicates the uneven successful exporter of high-class products. A section headed distribution with its heavy bias towards the south. Pupils should be ‘Valuable trees’ outlines how trees are used after they are felled. able to link this distribution to the nature of the environment and Cards 2 illustrated some of the key features of SS2, notably ‘ways may be asked to consider alternative methods of illustrating the in which places have affected people’. In Cards 3 the emphasis has relationship. changed to the complementary aspect of SS2, namely how ‘people have used and affected places’. Card 1d can help to meet some of the requirements of SS1, and in The study of Norwegian forestry can provide a good basis for particular the study of glaciation, either for the first time or as considering a whole range of important environmental issues. The reinforcement of earlier work. One exercise looks at a river valley first of these relates to resource management and the importance before and after glaciation with the requirement to add labels in the the Norwegians place on conservation. Uncontrolled clearance of correct place. The other requires the drawing of a longitudinal forests in the latter part of the 19th century led to fears for their section of Sognefjord using data from Card 1b. No great margin of long-term future. Since then, a combination of incentives and accuracy is required here, but the task will provide some practice legislation has led to an impressive recovery which has produced in the skill of graphicacy. It should also highlight the main features an annual tree growth that is nearly twice the rate of harvest. of a fjord, to compare with the sea lochs of western Scotland which In addition, Norwegians are a very outdoor people and activities were formed in the same way. such as walking, climbing, skiing (especially cross-country) and The same exercise can touch on some aspects of SS3 which look angling are very popular. Many Norwegians have second homes in at Locations, Linkages and Networks. Consideration of the role of the countryside. It is considered vital that the land is accessible for ferries, bridges and tunnels in Norway might lead to discussions recreation. These issues strike a rich vein for discussion which can about issues closer to home, such as the social and economic be compared and contrasted with similar concerns in Scotland, for impact of geographical remoteness and controversies such as the example problems faced by communities in which there is a large Skye Bridge tolls, for example. number of second homes; issues of access and land ownership; problems of balancing access with that of over-usage, as in the Cards 2a/b/c/d – A variable climate/Wetter west, drier east Cairngorms. These cards look at the climate of Norway and the factors which A further issue of concern in Norway is the effects of acid rain. bear upon it. The most important of these are the effects of latitude Norway has been at the forefront in Europe of enacting legislation and proximity to the sea. The main curricular link would be to SS1, to reduce air-borne pollution. ‘Aspects of the Physical Environment’, and some aspects of SS2, Card 3b To the north of the forest zone is the complex and fragile namely ‘ways in which places have affected people’. tundra ecosystem which has a surprisingly large range of flora and Reasons for the decline in temperature with increasing latitude, fauna. The tundra in Norway is also the home of the Sami people. and seasonal effects leading to differing lengths of day and night, Although most Sami are now fully integrated into mainstream should already have been covered in the science attainment Norwegian society, some have maintained elements of their outcome ‘Understanding Earth and Space’. However, it may be original identity and culture, such as herding reindeer. However, necessary to revisit these concepts before embarking on some of here too conservation is vital. To prevent overgrazing in a very the exercises relating to Cards 2. fragile environment, culling must be practised. It serves to control Card 2a Pupils should note that in Norway in January the fall in numbers and eliminates older and weaker animals. temperature is from west to east, with the result that in winter the Card 3c Two pie charts compare the land use of Norway with that temperatures in the eastern part of the country may be very low of Britain and include a number of associated questions including indeed. At the same time from north to south the sea remains ice- how trees are adapted to survive the severe winters. free all year to well beyond the Arctic Circle. Indeed, in some years the sea can be ice-free to as far north as Kirkenes near the Card 3d Two exercises should enable pupils to appreciate the Norwegian–Russian border. linkages between the climate, the vegetation, the fauna and of The consequences of these temperatures for the economy of living things to each other, so meeting some of the requirement of Norway are very important. For example, ice-free waters and ports key features SS3. allow fishing and shipping to take place in winter, including the One of the exercises looks at the old and new lifestyles of the export of Swedish iron ore from Narvik, which might otherwise Sami people. Pupils might be asked to consider the effects on the have been impossible at such high latitudes. tundra ecosystem of some of these changes. In addition, Pupils should consider the effects of ocean currents (compare discussion might include the implications of improved with western Scotland) and the differing natures of continental and communications (in their widest sense) and the danger to the maritime climates. The card also refers to the effects of increasing tundra ecosystem which might arise from increased tourism in the altitude on the average temperatures in an area. area. Card 2b contains a map which looks at rainfall and its relationship Cards 4a/b/c/d – The challenge of farming/ to the relief of Norway. Fishing – a proud tradition Card 2c Variations in the duration of nights and days are also Card 4a The total agricultural area of Norway is only 1 million included here and pupils are required to complete a graph for hectares, representing about 3% of the total land area. Widespread Tromsø. Group discussion on the implications of prolonged hours mountainous terrain, a short growing season, severe winters and of darkness might consider economic factors (e.g. lighting), social long distances to markets combine to produce conditions for factors (e.g. travel to school or leisure pursuits), and even issues farming that are less than ideal. For the last few decades, the such as the phenomenon first recognised in North America, number of farms has been declining steadily. However, the amount namely a form of depression known as ‘cabin fever’ brought about of land under cultivation has remained fairly stable. by long periods of confinement and inactivity as a result of the It should be pointed out that Norwegian agricultural policy is an harsh weather or lack of daylight. integral part of regional policy, which is aimed at maintaining Card 2d The completion of climate graphs for Bergen and Oslo employment and settlement in rural districts. This can only be done should allow comparison with west–east differences in Scotland for with a variety of support schemes, most of which require direct prevailing wind direction, relief and rain shadow effects. Note the financial subsidy. There is a strong tradition of family ownership of increase in rain in the summer months in Oslo which might farms in Norway and farms are passed on through the require reference to convectional or cyclonic rainfall. generations, with the eldest child having the legal right of inheritance. Pupils should note that most farmers also have other jobs and traditionally these have had a different seasonal focus. For Kårstø in western Norway. Electricity from these power stations is example, farming was carried on in the summer and fishing intended for export. Gas-fired power stations pollute more than and/or forestry in the winter. hydro-electric ones. Quite a few Norwegians are therefore opposed Card 4b considers the historical importance of fishing and current to gas-fired power stations. However, if electricity generated by gas fishing practices. In the fishing industry, there is also a long were exported to Norway’s Scandinavian neighbours, replacing that tradition of dual employment – farming in the summer and fishing produced by their own even more polluting coal-fired plants, the in the winter. In recent years however, there has been a gradual total pollution levels in these countries would still be reduced. shift to work on oil rigs as an alternative, with farmers spending Card 5b About 25–30% of Norway’s 4000 river systems have been alternate periods on the rig and the farm. Farm work is carried out exploited for the production of hydro-electricity, and almost all of by other members of the family in the farmer’s absence. the country’s electricity is supplied from this source. Norway has As in other areas, Norway has tackled the problem of fish 550 generating plants in operation, including some 200 conservation with considerable vigour. Stocks of fish declined underground installations, 250 dams over 15 metres in height and drastically in the 1960s and 1970s as the result of over-fishing more than 3500 kilometres of hydro-electric power tunnels. The brought about by a combination of factors such as improved card makes the link between the availability of plentiful energy and technology (echo-sounders), larger ships, bigger and better nets, the development of heavy industry. and fishing by other nations. Pupils should appreciate the difference between power stations In 1977, Norway succeeded in establishing an exclusive 200-mile which use a large volume of water but have a short head and those (320 km) economic zone off its coast. This, with strict limits with a large head of water but a small volume. The former are imposed on the catching of many species in the 1980s, allowed found mainly in the longer river systems of eastern Norway, stocks to recover to the extent that catches are now quite healthy. whereas the latter have been built to use the short, steep rivers of Continuing efforts are being made to ensure that catches are the west, sometimes combining the flow of several rivers – as the sustainable. Pupils may compare this with the situation in Britain. case study example of Sima shows. A link is made between the The lengthy coastline (over 21 000 km, including fjords) is location of large power stations and population density. particularly well suited to fish farming, and this has been one of Environmental aspects of hydro-electric power stations are Norway’s fastest-growing industries in recent years. Norway is further explored in the case study. now the world’s leading producer of farmed (Atlantic) salmon. There are strict regulations governing the industry to ensure that Card 5c A series of exercises involves the drawing of graphs production methods are environmentally friendly, to avoid disease showing production figures and answering related questions. and to secure stable markets. Pupils should already be familiar with various aspects of the Card 4c A series of exercises summarises the difficulties of geography of oil production, having presumably studied it in a farming in Norway. Ready comparison can be made with the Scottish context. crofting situation in the west Highlands and Islands (small-scale, Comparison here might be made with the UK, which started to part-time, subsidised, farming combined with forestry and fishing develop its oil and gas fields earlier than Norway. The UK’s etc.). production of crude oil is today somewhat lower than Norway’s. Its gas production is nearly double that of Norway, but Norway’s Card 4d The statistics underline the importance of cod; especially estimated gas reserves are larger. It is likely that the bulk of oil and in the vicinity of the Lofoten Islands and predominantly in the gas production will continue to be exported to other European winter months. Here attention could be drawn to the importance of countries. continental shelves, shallow water, plankton and sunlight. The final exercise looks at salmon farming and some of the related issues.
Cards 5a/b/c/d – Energy from oil and gas/Energy from water Norway is rich in energy resources. The Norwegian continental shelf contains large amounts of crude oil and gas. In addition, the many mountains and waterfalls provide an ample source of hydro- electricity. The pupil cards on this topic are supported by a case study on the Sima hydro-electric power station. Card 5a Oil and natural gas provide a large proportion of Norway’s wealth. The major part of it is exported – the result of a small population and hydro-electric power available for home consumption. Norway’s production of crude oil now exceeds 3 million barrels per day and is expected to increase in the years to come. More than 90% of the oil from Norway’s continental shelf is exported, making Norway the world’s second largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia. Moreover, Norway’s production of petroleum gas is increasing rapidly and will soon make Norway the fifth largest gas exporter in the world. The Troll gas field alone, with its massive platform rising 472 metres from the ocean floor off the coast of Bergen, will meet 25% of Europe’s gas needs by 2010. Additional gas fields are known to exist further north in the Norwegian Sea. The present and future importance of exports can be gauged in part by the network of pipelines shown on the map in Figure A, and there is the likelihood of a further gas pipeline which will supply France. Proven oil and gas reserves in the Norwegian sector amount to some 50–60% of Western Europe’s total reserves. Pupils should be warned, however, that estimates of reserves are unreliable and are usually underestimated. Current estimates never allow for the discovery of new fields or for the development of new extraction technology. Environmental considerations are an integral part of Norway’s petroleum policy, and fuels which will increase carbon dioxide levels are heavily taxed. Discussions are now going on in Norway about the building of two gas-fired power stations at Kollsnes and Card 5d One exercise asks pupils to use their knowledge of the Cards CS/d/e/f contain a series of questions based on the Sima different regions to analyse the pattern of electricity production and information and a variety of tasks including labelling diagrams and consumption on a particular day. It also asks them to forecast the interpreting graphs. Considerable emphasis is placed on production and consumption of energy in the summer: smaller comparing renewable and non-renewable energy issues. There are amounts of hydro-electricity would be produced, because less opportunities for group work to discuss the Government’s decision would be used, and water would be stored in reservoirs for times to permit the building of the gas-fired stations, using arguments of lower rainfall. for and against the various options available. This could be extended in the form of a role play exercise or a mock debate. Cards 6a/b/c/d – Industry and research/Trade and international relations Norway on the Internet Card 6a explores the nature of Norwegian industry, which has The following site contains information, in English, provided by the been determined largely by four main factors: its raw materials; its Norwegian Government: small population, which precludes large-scale labour-intensive http://odin.dep.no/html/english/norway.html industries; the availability of hydro-electricity; and its long association with the sea. It contains a wealth of data, including: The traditional manufacturing industries such as metal extraction • Introducing Norway for young people and processing, fish processing and the pulp and paper industry http://odin.dep.no/ud/publ/96/norway/ are still important to Norway. However, much of Norwegian • Facts and figures about Norway industry is now more diverse and advanced. High-technology http://odin.dep.no/ud/publ/minifakta/index.htm products represent an important part of the country’s economy. Facts and figures are provided on a number of topics. Those most Norway develops and exports advanced offshore technology and is relevant to Look at Norway! are: at the forefront of technological developments in areas within • Geography • Climate • Environment engineering and construction, energy generation, • Demographic data, Health • Consumption, Living conditions, telecommunications and data processing, the manufacture of car Wages • Foreign trade • Industries • Energy components, the aerospace industry, the construction of high- • Transport and communications, Tourism speed ships and the production of timber and building materials. Furthermore, environmental technology is one of Norway’s fastest- There are also links to other Internet sites with information about growing exports. Norway. Go to http//www.lookatnorway.org.uk Card 6b continues the theme of an export-led economy by looking © 2002 Royal Norwegian Embassy, London at Norway’s trade, its shipping interests and its interdependence with other countries. The importance of the rich countries’ contribution to foreign aid is highlighted. In this respect Norway is Copyright clearance is given to UK schools and their teachers to one of the world’s greatest contributors. make photocopies of all items in this pack for educational use in their establishment. Card 6c Pupils investigate the country’s occupation structure and then go on to compare it with another developed country (United Authors Kingdom) and a developing country (Nigeria). Teachers’ Notes written by Jim McCracken, Head of Geography, St Card 6d The completion of a map showing Norway’s trading Machar Academy, Aberdeen partners illustrates its close ties with the EU even though it has Cards written by Dick Nicholls, formerly Head of Geography, City chosen not to become a full member. The final questions look at School, Sheffield issues of development. Dick Nicholls hereby asserts his moral right to be identified as the Author of Look at Norway! Cards CS/a/b/c/d/e/f – Case study: S i m ap o w e rs t a t i o n Educational advisers As an extension to Cards 5, a case study of the Sima hydro-electric Sheree Smith, General Secretary, Scottish Association of power station provides additional information on how hydro- Geography Teachers electricity is produced. It also highlights some of the issues related Jim McCracken, Head of Geography, St Machar Academy, Aberdeen to renewable and non-renewable forms of energy. The in-depth Photographic acknowledgements nature of this information makes it particularly suitable for use as The authors and publishers are grateful to the following for the basis of a pupil investigation or enquiry (perhaps Levels D and permission to reproduce copyright illustrations: E) on topics including energy issues, land-use conflicts or general studies related to the conservation of the environment. Hybris Film/Per N. Haukeland 1a Fig. A The Sima power station, which went into production in 1980, is Karmøy kommune/Reidar Munkejord 2a Fig. C the second largest in Norway. Although the annual rainfall is over Norges Rederiforbund 6b Fig. B 2000 mm, much of this falls in winter as snow and cannot be used Samfoto: until spring or summer when it melts. Demand for electricity, of B. Areklett/S. Myhr 5a Fig. C course, is greatest in winter, when extra lighting and heating are Jørn Areklett Omre CS Fig. G required. To overcome these seasonal variations, a complex Hans Hvide Bang 6b Fig. A network of tunnels links several river basins, making more water Trym Ivar Bergsmo 4b Fig. B available in periods of peak demand. Trygve Bølstad 6a Fig. B Espen Bratlie 4a Fig. B Card CS/c allows pupils to compare renewable and non-renewable Asle Hjellbrekke 1b Fig. A; 2b Fig. D sources of energy. It explores Norway’s seasonal imports of Jan Arve Dale 6b Fig. C; CS Fig. E electricity from other Scandinavian countries, notably Denmark, Ragnar Frislid 6a Fig. A where it is produced in coal-burning stations. The Norwegian Kim Hart 2a Fig. D authorities are looking to reduce the net imports of electricity by Steinar Haugberg 2a Fig. B encouraging better energy eff i c i e n c y , promoting the use of bio- Pål Hermansen 3b Fig. C; 4a Fig. A; CS Fig. F en e r g y , and by improving and expanding the existing hydro- e l e c t r i c i t y Bård Løken 1a Fig. B; 1b Fig. B; 3b Fig. B system. J.B. Olsen/R. Sørensen 3a Fig. C; 4a Fig. C Discussions are being held about the building of two gas-fired Jon Arne Sæter 4b Fig. C stations at Kollsnes and Kårstø in western Norway. Electricity from Øystein Søbye 2b Fig. C; 3a Fig. B these power stations would be intended for export. Stig Tronvold 1a Fig C; 6a Fig. C Statkraft CS Fig. D Statoil 5a Fig. B To-foto 4b Fig. A Fjellanger Widerøe 5b Fig. A Glossary box Eroded Worn away very slowly. Fjord Long, narrow arm of the sea. Glaciated Shaped by the action of ice. Plateau An area of flat ground in the 1a1a ‘The way to the north’ mountains.
Norway means ‘the way to the north’.It is one of the most northerly countries in the world. North of mainland Norway are the islands known as Svalbard which are part of Norway.
Figure A Oslo, the capital of Norway, has a population of Figure B High plateau in the Rondane mountains nearly 508 000 Space to breathe Norway covers an area of 387 000 km2, which is A mountainous land larger than the United Kingdom (241 800 km2). About two-thirds of Norway consists of mountains. However, it has a population of only 4.5 million, The land rises to nearly 2500 m, but many of the compared to the UK’s 58 million. This means that highest mountains do not have sharp peaks such as most of Norway is very sparsely populated. About those in the Alps. Much of the mountain area is 77% of the people live in towns and cities (Figure A). high plateau, known as ‘vidde’ (Figure B). The Norwegian mountains are made of very old, hard An independent, modern country rocks which were formed hundreds of millions of years ago. Since then, the mountains have been Norway became an independent country in 1905. eroded a great deal by water and ice. Like the United Kingdom, Norway has a royal family and is a parliamentary democracy. Its present king, Harald V, is second cousin to Queen Elizabeth II. The Four regions Royal Family is popular among the people. The country can be divided into four regions based Elections to Parliament, which is known as the on landscape (see Card 1c). Eastern Norway is an Storting, are held every four years. There is also a area of forest, valleys and farmland. Western well-developed system of local and regional Norway has deep fjords and glaciated valleys. They government. reach far into the high mountains where snow and ice lie all the year round. Middle Norway, to the Figure C The Lofoten Islands in northern Norway. There are north of Trondheim, is more gentle, mostly about 50 000 islands along the Norwegian coast lowlands. Northern Norway is an area of mountains, though less high than in western Norway. It is cut by many fjords, river valleys and waterways and has thousands of islands off the coast (Figure C). Glossary box Erode Wear away very slowly. Erosion The action of wearing away very slowly. Fjord Long, narrow arm of the sea. 1b1b GlaciersGlaciers andand fjordsfjords Glacier Large, thick sheet of ice. The Norwegian coastline has huge inlets known as fjords which were formed by glaciers thousands of years ago. Forming the glaciers During the Ice Age, from about 90 000 years BC to about 10 000 years BC, temperatures were much lower than they are today. Very heavy snow fell on the mountains, and moist winds blew over them. Most of the snow which fell in the winter did not melt in the summer. It built up to an enormous thickness. The sheer weight of the snow caused it to compress and form ice. At the height of the Ice Age, Norway was covered by an ice sheet perhaps 3–4 kilometres thick. The ice was not stable. It gradually moved towards lower areas and became thinner as it spread out. Much of the ice moved along river valleys, creating valley glaciers. Fi g u r e A A typical U-shaped valley. When flo o d e db ys e aw a t e r, the valley becomes a fjord Glaciated valleys and fjords Though the glaciers moved very slowly, they eroded melting glacier could not erode so deeply. The the floors and sides of the valleys very powerfully. shallowest point is called the lip or threshold. This was because the glaciers were tremendously heavy. Also, the rocks and boulders frozen into the Sognefjord glaciers gave them enormous power to erode, like a Sognefjord (Figure B) is the longest and deepest huge sheet of sandpaper. This erosion deepened fjord in the world. It has very steep sides rising to the valleys dramatically and changed the V-shape of about 1000 m above sea level. It is 1300 m deep the old river valleys into a U-shape (Figure A). The near the head of the fjord but only 20 m deep at its valleys also became straighter, because ice cannot mouth. twist and turn in the same way as water can. Unlike rivers, glaciers can erode below sea level. The challenge of communications So, when a glacier melts, the valley is flooded by the rising sea and forms a long, deep, narrow inlet. Fjords and mountains make transport by car and This is called a fjord. A fjord usually becomes train difficult. In the past, most transport in Norway shallower near the sea, possibly because the was by boat along the coast, and on lakes and rivers. Good transport is very important, so many road tunnels and bridges have now been built. Ferries are still in common use along the coast and link many islands to the mainland.
Fi g u r e B The Sognefjord, north of Bergen, is about 200 km long 1c ‘The way to the north’
1 Using an atlas to help you, on Figure 1: Figure 1 Norway: main features a name in the correct place: • Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger (the four major cities) • North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Arctic Ocean • Sognefjord, Lofoten Islands • River Glomma, Norway’s longest river 1 • 60°N, 66 ⁄2°N (Arctic Circle), 70°N, 10°E • Mt Galdhøpiggen (2469 m), the tallest peak in Norway b shade in brown or orange the land which is more
than 1000 metres above sea level.
2 Calculate the distance from: • Stavanger to Bergen
• Oslo to Trondheim.
3 What is the direction from Oslo to: • Bergen? • Trondheim?
4 The squares below represent the surface area of Norway and the United Kingdom. Norway’s population of about 4.5 million is shown by four dots. Figure 2 Norway: population distribution 38 mm 30 mm
•
•
Norway: population • UK distribution 2001 • Norway County Population per sq.km Østfold (Øs) 65 a Use the same scale to show a population of 58 Akershus (Ak) 103
million in the United Kingdom square. Oslo (O) 1191
Hedmark (He) 7 b Compare the densities of population in each Oppland (Op) 8 country. Buskerud (Bu) 17 Vestfold (Ve) 100 Telemark (Te) 12 5 The population of Norway is not evenly spread. Aust-Agder (A-A) 12 Vest-Agder (V-A) 23 a Using the table and the key to help you, shade Rogaland (Ro) 44 Figure 2 to show the population densities of each Hordaland (Ho) 28 county. Sogn og Fjordane (SoF) 6 Møre og Romsdal (MoR) 17 b What do you notice about the distribution of Sør-Trøndelag (S-T) 14
population? Explain the variations by referring to Nord-Trøndelag (N-T) 6 Nordland (No) 7 latitude and relief. Troms (Tr) 6
Finnmark (F) 2
1d Glaciers and fjords
1a Give two reasons for the huge thickness of snow and ice over Norway during the Ice Age. b Why did the snow turn into ice?
2 Add these labels to Figure 1 in the correct places:
A Winding V-shaped valley Narrow valley floor Steep valley sides B Rocks and boulders frozen into the ice
C Flat, wide valley floor Very steep valley sides Straight U-shaped valley
3a What are the main differences between the original river valley and the glaciated valley? b Explain how these changes happened.
4a What is a fjord? b On Figure 2, draw a long profile from the head of the fjord to the mouth. Use the information about Sognefjord on Card 1b.
5 Why do you think Norwegians: • use ferries a great deal? • are experts at building tunnels and bridges?
Figure 1 Effect of glacial action on a river valley
Figure 2 Long profile of Sognefjord Glossary box
1 Arctic Circle Line of latitude at 66 ⁄2°N. North Atlantic Drift A current of warm water, also called the Gulf Stream. It drifts from the Gulf of Mexico across the North Atlantic to the coast of 2a2a A variable climate northern Europe.
Three main factors shape the climate of Norway – its northerly position, long coast and mountain ranges. The climate varies across the country. Winter and the North Atlantic Drift Figure A Average January temperatures The nearer an area is to the North or South Pole, the colder it is likely to be. This is because the midday sun is lower in the sky and its rays are less powerful, especially in winter when there are fewer hours of daylight. The further north of the Arctic Circle, the longer daylight disappears during the winter. At Nordkapp (71°N), the most northerly point in mainland Norway, there is almost no daylight from 18 November to 24 January because the sun does not rise above the horizon. In Norway, winter temperatures fall more quickly from west to east (Figure A) than from south to north. Coastal areas are warmed by the sea. Sea water, unlike the land, cools slowly in the winter. The sea is made warmer by the North Atlantic Drift. It comes from the Gulf of Mexico and is moved across the Atlantic Ocean by westerly winds. This current then drifts northwards along the Norwegian coast. The westerly winds passing over it transfer Figure B Ships can the warmth to the land along the coast. The sea off use Tromsø the coast of Norway remains ice-free in winter harbour in winter (Figure B), even north of the Arctic Circle. Eastern Norway is cut off from the warmth along Summer the western coast by mountains. Temperatures are Summer temperatures are more uniform across kept lower by cold air from the Arctic regions. The the country. Though it is cool in the mountains, it is mountains themselves are also cold, because generally warm elsewhere (Figure C), even in the temperatures fall by 1°C for every 150 metres above far north. The days are longer the further north you sea level. go, and north of the Arctic Circle there are 24 hours of daylight in midsummer. This area is known as ‘the land of the midnight sun’ and attracts many tourists (Figure D).
Figure C Holiday-makers in southern Norway enjoying the Figure D The midnight sun at Harstad, at bright summer sunshine about 69°N Glossary box Convection rain Rain which falls when land is heated, warming the air above. As the air rises, it cools and releases water droplets. Rain shadow Areas which are on the 2b2b Wettter west, drier east sheltered side of mountains and therefore receive little rain. Rainfall varies considerably across Norway – the west receives Relief rain Rain which falls when far more rain than the drier eastern areas (Figure A). moist air is forced to rise over mountains.
Figure A Figure B Annual rainfall Relief rainfall
Rainfall Figure D All rainfall is caused by moist In winter, air rising. In Norway, the warm, moist westerly Norway has winds are forced to rise over the mountains which plenty of snow separate western and eastern areas (Figure B). This to attract skiers produces relief rainfall. Eastern Norway is much drier – it is in the rain shadow (Figure C). On hot days in summer, the land in eastern Norway may be heated enough for the air above it to rise and produce convection rain. This rain often falls locally as heavy showers, sometimes with thunder and lightning. Climate and weather Although western Norway has a wet climate, it does enjoy some fine weather. Weather is the day-by-day conditions which may change rapidly. Climate is the average weather recorded over a period of at least 30 years. For example, the climate of Bergen on the west coast is wet, with a lot of rain every month and with the heaviest rainfall in autumn. However, the weather in Bergen can be bright and sunny for many days, especially in the spring.
Be1 On Card 2a, study Figure B and the text. Explain why: a you would expect to find the lowest temperatures in the north of Norway b some of the lowest temperatures are found in the central area between Oslo and Bergen Figure C Flatter land in the county of Akershus in eastern c Bergen is warmer than Oslo in January. Norway 2c A variable climate
2 Shade Figure 1. Choose colours which suggest warmth, such as pink and red. Use red for the higher temperatures.
3 Look at your map. a What are the warmest and the coolest areas of Norway in July? Give reasons for this. b If the temperature in Bergen is 15°C, what would you expect the temperature to be in the mountains at the same latitude at a height of 1500 metres?
4 Complete Figure 2 to show the length of day at Tromsø on the first day of each month. Shade the Figure1 Average July hours of daylight. temperatures 5 How can the presence of snow affect the light conditions in winter?
6 In groups, discuss the difficulties that people might face during the winter in Tromsø. How could they overcome these 1 On Figure 1, add these labels in difficulties? Do you think the the correct places: long summer days would make • North Sea up for the dark winters? • Bergen, Oslo • Air rising and cooling • Air descending and warming • Area where relief rain falls • Rain shadow area.
Date Length of day at Tromsø (70°N) Number of hours from sunrise to sunset 1 Jan — 1 Feb 5 1 Mar 9.5 1 Apr 14 1 May 19 1 June 24 1 July 24 Figure 2 Tromsø 1 Aug 21 has midnight sun from 19 May to 22 1 Sep 15.5 July and almost no 1 Oct 11 daylight from 1 Nov 6.5 25 November to 17 January 1 Dec — 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 1 1 12 13 14 1 5 16 1 7 18 19 20 21 2 2 23 2 4 Time (24-hour clock) 2d Wetter west, drier east Figure 1 Rainfall in southern Norway
2a Using the information in the tables, draw rainfall • a relatively high proportion of rain in Oslo falls in and temperature graphs for Bergen and Oslo on the summer months.nefits of a wet climate Figures 2 and 3. Draw a line graph for temperature The wet climate of western Norway does have some and a bar graph for rainfall. benefits. It means heavy snow is likely to fall over b Explain why: the mountains in winter, which attracts winter • Bergen has a higher rainfall than Oslo sports enthusiasts (Figure D).
300 250 275 225 200 20 20 175 15 15 150 10 10 125 5 5 100 0 100 0 75 –5 75 –5 50 50 25 25
J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D Figure 2 Bergen: climate (months) Figure 3 Oslo: climate (months)
Bergen: climate Month JFMAMJJASOND
Temperature (°C) 2 2 3 6 11 14 15 14 12 9 5 3 Annual rainfall: 2250 mm Rainfall (mm) 190 152 170 114 106 132 148 190 283 271 259 235
Oslo: climate Month JFMAMJJASOND
Temperature (°C) –4 –4 0 5 11 15 16 15 11 6 1 –3 Annual rainfall: 763 mm Rainfall (mm) 49 36 47 41 53 65 81 89 90 84 73 55 Glossary box
–1 Arctic Circle Line of latitude at 662°N. Coniferous trees Trees which produce cones. Deciduous trees Trees which drop 3a3a TThehe forestforest ecosystemecosystem their leaves once a year. Ecosystem A community of plants and Norway has large forests which are an important part of the animals in their environment. economy. Also, people often use them for recreation. Growing season The number of days Figure A Norway: in a year when the average Forest areas natural vegetation temperature is above 6°C. Productive forests cover about 7 million hectares in Tree line The highest altitude at which Norway (Figure A). Of this, more than 80% is trees will grow. coniferous – almost all of it pine and spruce (Figure B). The rest is deciduous, much of it birch. In the south and east of Norway the tree line is at about 1000 metres above sea level. To the north and west the tree line gradually becomes lower, as summers become cooler and the growing season becomes shorter. North of the Arctic Circle the tree line is below 200 metres.
Valuable trees The trees grown in Norway Coniferous trees are softwoods. Each year • Needles instead of leaves reduce loss of moisture about 10 million cubic • Springy branches allow snow to metres are cut down. Nearly slide off half goes to sawmills and is • Trees grow close together and keep out the sunlight Figure B Coniferous trees are used for purposes such as •Thick bark gives protection adapted to long, cold winters. In building houses. The rest is made into pulp and against cold winds some parts of Norway, paper (Figure C), 80% of which is exported. • There is little undergrowth temperatures are below freezing • Low temperatures prevent the for up to six months and decay of pine needles summers are short and cool Government protection In the late 19th century, large areas of forest were are encouraged by different measures, such as tax cleared for farmland or cut for fuel. There were incentives, to replace the trees they cut down. About fears for the future of the forests. Since then, every 60 million seedlings are planted each year. There is effort has been made to ensure that forestry can be also some natural regrowth of trees. sustained. The owners are mainly farmers. They Most of the land in Norway is accessible to people for recreation (Figure B). This is especially important near towns and cities.
Danger from pollution In recent years Norwegian forests, particularly in the south, have been damaged by air pollution carried by the wind from other European countries. When fossil fuels such as coal and oil are burned in power stations and cars, tiny particles of sulphur and nitrogen are released. They fall as dust or as acid rain.
Figure C Paper production is a major industry in Norway. Forestry products account for about 6% of total export revenues Glossary box Domesticated Tamed to live with people. Permafrost Ground that is frozen all year round. Rodent Animal, e.g. rat or squirrel, 3b3b The tundra ecosystem with strong front teeth for gnawing. Tundra means ‘tree-less plain’. It is an area in the far north where the average temperature is below freezing for at least six months of the year and where it does not rise above 10°C in any season (Figure A). Some of the ground is permafrost.
The vegetation also provides food for an i m a l s such as the Arctic hare, stoat and several types of rodent. The best-known of these is the lemming whose numbers increase steadily for three or four years and then fall sharply. Then, every 11–12 years there is a huge increase in the lemming population. This increase brings many birds of prey to the area, even the snowy owl from polar regions, because lemmings are easy to catch. Birds such as the grouse feed on the buds of bushes like the creeping willow. They are hunted by the Arctic fox (Figure B) and birds of prey, which eat their eggs and chicks. They may also be shot by hunters.
Figure A Rainfall and temperature in Vardø (70°N) Vegetation Reindeer herding Plants on the tundra have to adapt to a short life Herding tame reindeer (Figure C) is a right reserved cycle. The soils are thin, so the plants have shallow for Sami people in the traditional Sami herding roots. Only low-growing plants can survive – they areas in Northern and Middle Norway. Sami people avoid the freezing winds. Mosses and lichens are also live in the north of Sweden, Finland and the most common plants and there are some dwarf Russia. There is evidence of Sami settlements in bushes (Figure B). Surprisingly, over 100 species of these areas for several thousand years. The flowering plants are found. Each of them flowers reindeer graze on the coastal pastures in the spring and seeds very quickly in the short summer. and summer and return to the lichen pastures inland in the autumn and winter. This can mean Animals travelling distances of up to 500 km in total. Hundreds of years ago, large herds of wild reindeer grazed the tundra mosses and were hunted by wolves and wolverines, both of which are now almost extinct. Most of the reindeer are now domesticated.
Figure B Tundra landscape with an Arctic fox Figure C Herding reindeer in Kautokeino 0 Norway
3c The forest ecosystem 75 25 Land use (per cent)
Cultivated area
Arable Improved pasture Forest Other 50
Norway 3 1 2 22 75 0 United United Kingdom 73 27 46 10 17 Kingdom
1 Look at the figures in the table. 25 a Use the figures to complete Figure 1. Colour the 75 pie graphs and complete the key. Arable (ploughed) b What do you think would be included in ‘Other’? Improved pasture Forest c What are the main differences in land use Other between the two countries? Suggest reasons for 50 them. Figure 1 Land use in Norway and the United Kingdom 2 Study Figure B on Card 3a. Say what features of the trees help them survive severe winters. 4 How does the government of Norway encourage: • conservation of forests? 3 Read the section headed ‘Valuable trees’ on Card • recreational use of land? 3a. In your own words, explain how the trees are used after they have been felled. 5 Study Figure 2. Make a table with two columns headed ‘Causes’ and ‘Effects’. List causes and effects of the death of trees in the correct columns.
Figure 2 Causes and effects of the death of trees 3d The tundra ecosystem
1 Study Figure A on Card 3b. a Estimate the number of days when the temperature is above 6°C and plants will grow. b Estimate the number of days when the temperature is below freezing. c A centimetre of snow is the same as about a millimetre of rain. Estimate the amount of snow which falls in the six months when temperatures are below freezing.
2 Complete two simple food chains in these spaces, using Card 3b and Figure 1 Figure 1 Tundra plants and to help you. animals
Plant (primary producer)
Herbivore (plant eater)
Carnivore (meat eater)
When I was young, the reindeer provided us with Life is very different for young Sami people. Less than everything. We ate the meat which was cooked on an 10% of the Sami population in Norway is involved in open fire. We lived in tents which were made from reindeer herding. We live in houses like other reindeer skins. Every spring and summer we took our Norwegian people. Reindeer meat is becoming less reindeer down to the rich pastures on the coast and in important as a staple food. We are more likely to eat the autumn and winter came back inland. When there pizza or sausages. The old sledges have been replaced was snow, reindeer pulled our sledges. Reindeer by snow scooters. We are also developing craft herding is still important in the preservation of our industries. We have a workshop in which designer culture. jewellery is made. It is sold all over the world.
Figure 2 Two generations of Sami people 3 Use this table to compare the old and new Sami lifestyle. Old lifestyle New lifestyle
Place to live
Food
Transport
Earning a living Glossary box Growing season The number of days in a year when the average temperature is above 6°C. Self-sufficient Not having to buy goods or services from anywhere 4a4a Thehe challengechallenge of farming else. Subsidies Money given by the Farming is difficult in Norway, because three-quarters of the government to top up incomes or country is mountains and large areas are under forest. Only 3% reduce prices. of the land can be farmed (Figure A).
well in the cool, wet conditions. The cool climate also reduces the risk of animal diseases. Norway is self-sufficient in milk and milk products. Grain crops, especially barley, are grown on the more fertile lowlands in the south-east. Even here, yields are only 60% of those in the main grain- growing areas of Europe. Most of the grain grown in Norway is fed to animals. About 50% of Norway’s food is imported, much of it fruit and vegetables.
Farmer-Foresters About 70% of farmers do forestry work as well as farming. The average farm is fairly small, with 14.7 hectares of farmland and 50 hectares of forest. Most farmers own their own farms. Some people farm part-time and work in local industries or the public Figure A Except in the south-east, Trøndelag and Jæren, farming can only be carried out on small, scattered plots of sector. land, but machinery is widely used
A short growing season Government help Farming employs about 3.4% of Norway’s workforce. The growing season in Norway is short. Even on the The government pays subsidies to farmers to make mild west coast near Bergen it is only 190 days. up for the difficult farming conditions, keep Further north the growing season falls to less than cultivation at present levels and maintain 100 days. The weather can also be unreliable during settlements in remote areas. Farmers also benefit harvest (Figure B). from the building of good roads (Figure C) in rural areas. Food production Most Norwegian farmers raise animals such as cattle and sheep. These feed on grass, which grows
Figure B Threshing machine at work to convert hay into wheat Figure C Nord-Trøndelag: a good road helps farmers fit for human consumption. get their produce to market Glossary box Conservation Protecting and preserving the environment. Spawning ground Where fish go to spawn (lay their eggs). Sustainable Which can be kept going 4b4b Fishing – a proud tradition for a very long time. Norway has a long coastline, many natural harbours and some of the richest fishing grounds in the world. Taken together, its fishing, fish farming and fish processing industries are the largest in Europe. About 90% of the fish is exported.
Figure A Norway’s fishing fleet ranges from small inshore Figure B Cod hung out on racks to dry in the pure, boats to large trawlers cold air Cod fishing Fish farming Today most of the 20 242 (2000) registered Norway’s long coastline, with its many fjords and Norwegian fisherman have fishing as their sole sheltered inlets, is well suited for fish farming. Fish occupation. From January to April, fishermen sail farming has grown in importance in recent years. the shallow waters off the Lofoten Islands (Figure Most of the fish are Atlantic salmon. There are now A). During these months the area is an important about 600 salmon farms along the coast (Figure C). spawning ground for cod. Other fish are also caught, In 1995, the farms employed 12 000 people and including haddock, herring and capelin (a type of produced about 320 000 tonnes of fish. In recent small salmon). years, the fish farming industry has made great In the past, much of the fish was dried (Figure B). improvements in the fields of environmental The dried fish, known as stockfish, is still sold to protection and fish health. countries in southern Europe, such as Italy, and to Brazil.
The need for conservation In the 1960s, fleets of large, ocean-going boats were built and more fish were caught. As a result, stocks of fish fell. The numbers of Norwegian fishermen were also reduced. Fish stocks had to be protected and restored. In 1977 Norway set up a 200-mile economic zone along its shores. Within this zone, fish catches have been strictly regulated and limited. This conservation policy has had very good results. Stocks have now been restored. Fishing continues to be controlled so that stocks can be maintained or increased in the future. This is known as a sustainable use of resources. Figure C Salmon farming is one of the youngest and most successful industries in Norway 4c The challenge of farming Figure 1 A Norwegian farm in Hordaland, near Bergen 1 Using Figure A on Card 4a, complete and label Figure 1 to show: • steep slopes • trees • small fields • buildings.
2 Using the photographs and information on Card 4a, explain why farming is difficult in Norway.
3 Complete Figure 2 to show the use of farmland and source of farmer’s income. Use of farmland, 2001 (per cent) % Grass 62 4a Why do you think more Cereals 31 Crops for grass is grown than any other animals 2.6 crop in Norway? Potatoes 1.5 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Other 2 b Where are most cereal crops grown? Explain why. Income of farmers, 2001 (per cent) Milk 32.4 Meat 32.1 5 Complete Figure 3 by Cereals 21 adding: Vegetables 13.8 Other (e.g.eggs) 7.7 • one physical input 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 • two human inputs Main expenses for farmers are wages, animal feed, Figure 2 Farming facts and figures • two processes fertilisers, machinery and building maintenance • two outputs.
6 Many farmers are also Inputs Processes on farm Outputs foresters. How do you think Physical they fit two jobs into their year’s work? Sunlight
7 The Norwegian government Making hay Milk pays farmers subsidies so that they can have an income similar to the rest of the Human population. a Why do you think the Labour government does this? b In groups, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the scheme. Figure 3 Farming system Figure 1 Norway – landings of cod 4d Fishing – a proud tradition 1 Using Table A and the key, draw flow lines on Figure 1 to show the quantities of cod landed in each of the seven counties.
2 Use the figures in Table B to complete Figure 2.
B Landings of cod, 2000 (thousand tonnes) Month Cod landings January 9.7 February 25.4 March 48 April 44.4 May 21.9 June 12.7 A Counties in which most cod was landed, 2000 (thousand tonnes) July 7.8 August 5.5 Finnmark (F) 61.329 September 7 Troms (Tr) 28.683 October 7.6 Nordland (No) 54.163 November 12.6 Nord-Trøndelag (N-T) 1.394 December 16.9 Sør-Trøndelag (S-T) 615 Møre og Romsdal (MoR) 42.261 Figure 2 Monthly cod landings in Norway, 2000 Sogn og Fjordane (SoF) 4.544 80 In all other counties a total of 2.3 thousand tonnes was landed. 70
60 6 Salmon farming is an expanding industry in 50 western Norway. In groups, read Figure 3 and try to decide whether there should be further 40 development.
30
20 Norway is a large producer of farmed Atlantic salmon, most of which is 10 exported, earning money for Norway. 0 JFMAMJJASOND
Salmon is a very healthy food for people and 3a What does Figure 2 tell us about the pattern of helps to prevent heart disease. cod landings? b Many farmers near the coast farm and fish. How do you think they are able to do that? Farmed salmon may escape during storms. If any of them are ill, they may bring illnesses 4 What is stockfish and how is it produced? to the wild salmon stock.
5a Why did stocks of fish fall so much in the 1960s and 1970s? Salmon farming employs thousands of b How have the Norwegians increased fish stocks people and brings much-needed jobs to since the 1980s? the people along the coast. c The aim of the Norwegians is ‘sustainable catches’. What does this mean? Figure 3 Opinions on salmon farming Glossary box Production platform Large off-shore structure used to pump the oil or gas to the surface. Refinery Place where oil is processed 5a5a Energy from oil and gas into various products. Tanker Large ship for carrying liquids Like the United Kingdom, Norway is a large producer of oil and such as oil. natural gas.
Figure B Offshore oil and gas production platform. It is now possible to produce oil from ships instead of platforms and take oil from greater depths
countries. Today, Norway is the world’s third largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia. Norwegian companies also work in oil and gas production in other countries, for example in east Asia. Norway has two refineries (Figure C). In the refineries, crude oil is processed into products such as petrol, paraffin, heating oil, plastic materials and petro-chemicals.
Figure A Norway’s oil and Employment gas industry The oil and gas industry employs about 22 000 (figures for 2000) people. A major new industry They operate the drilling rigs and production platforms Oil production began in 1971 from the Ekofisk field, (Figure B), transport the oil, to the south-west of Norway, in the North Sea. Many take supplies offshore and more oil and gas fields have been brought into work in the refineries or in production since then, first off the coast of western offices onshore. Norway and in the 1990s also further north in the Norwegian Sea (Figure A). Environmental risks Heidrun oil refinery Oil is transported to shore by pipeline or tanker. The tanker may export the oil directly to another The oil and gas industry country. Gas is always carried by pipeline. One creates some by-products pipeline runs across the North Sea to Teesside in which affect the environment. Great care is taken to north-east England, and another to St Fergus in avoid oil spills, which can harm fish and birds. Scotland. Other gas pipelines run to the Continent. Equipment is always at hand to limit any damage. With a population of just 4.5 million, Norway Much effort is also made to limit emissions of air- needs only small amounts of oil and gas. About 90% polluting chemicals from production platforms. is exported, mostly to other western European Glossary box Hydro-electricity Electricity generated when falling water strikes a turbine wheel with great force. The turbine wheel spins rapidly, and this drives a generator which produces electricity. 5b5b EnerEnerggyy fromfrom waterwater Renewable energy Energy produced Norway is rich in energy resources: not only oil and gas, but from sources that will not run out, such as water, wind or sunlight. also rivers and waterfalls suitable for producing electricity. About 25–30% of Norway’s 4000 river systems have been used for this. Over 99% of the country’s electricity is generated by water power. The importance of hydro-electricity Norway is the largest producer of hydro-electricity in Europe. This source of energy has influenced the country’s development and structure. Nearly a third of Norway’s hydro-electricty is used to process metals, chemicals and wood. Such industrial processes need huge amounts of energy (Figure A). The Norwegian hydro-electricity industry is also involved in many projects worldwide, including South America, Africa and Asia.
Power stations There are two types of power station in Norway. On the longer and wider rivers of Region 1, dams are built across the river. A lot of water falls a short way. They are ‘short-head’ power stations. Several dams may be built at intervals along one river. These dams are often in or near densely populated lowland areas. In the mountain areas of Regions 2–5, rivers are Figure B Large hydro- shorter but fall steeply and feed ‘high-head’ power electricity stations and population density in the stations (Figure A). The power station may be built five energy regions inside the mountain. The water from two or more river basins is often combined to operate one large power station. Large stations are usually found in sparsely populated areas (Figure B). There are about Coping with wet and dry years 850 power stations, but 60% of all the electricity The production of electricity in Norway varies from comes from the largest 70–80 stations. year to year, depending on the amount of rain and snow that falls. It is difficult to store electricity, so in wet years the surplus is exported and in dry years the shortfall is imported. Norway trades in electricity with the other Scandinavian countries through a network of power lines.
Environmental risks Unlike oil, hydro-electricity is a clean and renewable form of energy. However, the building of power stations, power lines, reservoirs and roads can alter the flow of rivers and affect the wildlife in mountain areas. In some cases, fish ladders are built at the side of dams to help fish to move upstream to breed.
Figure A Industry in Høyanger uses a great deal of hydro- electricity to process metal ores for the home and export markets Figure 1 Crude oil and natural gas 5c Energy from oil and gas production in Norway, 1990 - 2000 160
140
Crude oil Natural gas 120 Year (million tonnes) (billion m3) 1990 82 25 100 1991 94 25 1992 107 25 80 40 1993 114 24 1994 129 26 60 30 1995 138 27 1996 155 37 40 20 1997 157 46.7 1998 150 48 20 10 1999 149 51 0 0 2000 158 48 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
1 Using the figures in the table draw on Figure 1: Oil and natural gas are found in ______, • a bar graph to show the production of crude oil ______rocks where they are trapped in an • a line graph to show the production of natural gas. ______. The gas is above the oil because it is 2 Describe the difference in the patterns shown by the two graphs. ______. The gas helps the oil to be extracted because the ______of the gas 3 Study Figure A on Card 5a. ______the oil to the surface. a Name three countries to which crude oil or natural gas is taken by pipeline. b The diagram shows three wells drilled from one platform. Well A produces oil. What do wells B and C b How many refineries are there in Norway, and produce? where are they? c How is the oil transported? c Try to find out how a refinery operates and what it produces. d How is the gas transported? 4 Study Figure 2. a Copy and complete the following: Figure 2 Oil and gas production in the North Sea 5d Energy from water 1a What is meant by hydro-electricity? 2 The hydro-electric power stations in Region 1 b How has hydro-electricity affected industry in have a different sort of location from those in Norway? Regions 2–5. Draw a table like the one below and complete it to show the main differences, using c Explain what makes hydro-electricity a information on Card 5b. renewable resource.
Region 1 Regions 2–5
Landscape
Rivers
Population
Site of power station
Type of power station
3 Study Figure B on Card 5b. a Describe the distribution of power stations shown on the map. b Suggest reasons for the distribution pattern.
4 Study Figure 1. a Which region is producing the most electricity? How many megawatts are being produced? b Which region is using most electricity? How many megawatts are being used? c Suggest why Region 1 uses more electricity than it produces. d A small proportion of the electricity produced in Region 4 is used for general purposes. (This includes heating and lighting for homes, shops and offices and energy for general industry.) Suggest reasons for this. e Why do you think a fairly high proportion of the electricity produced in Region 2 is used by energy- intensive industry? f If a similar map were drawn for 1600 hours on 14 July 1993, how do you think it would differ? Give reasons for your answer.
Figure 1 Production, transmission and use of electricity in four of the energy regions at 1600 hours on 14 December 1993 Glossary box Bauxite The rock from which we get aluminium. Bauxite is found mainly in tropical countries. Smelting Taking out metal from the 6a6a Industry and research rock by heating it in a furnace. Much of Norway’s industry is based on its natural resources. Figure A (left) Metal-processing industry in Many of these resources are processed – metals are extracted Sogn on the west coast from their ores; softwood trees are made into pulp and paper; oil Figure B Computer-operated false limb developed at the department of engineering is refined. Norway also has many high-technology industries. cybernetics at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.
Photo: NTNU SA, Cathrine Dillner Hagen. Traditional industry aerospace industry and underwater cables. Aluminium is used to make car parts for export. Hydro-electricity has played a very important role in The shipbuilding industry now produces oil the development of Norway’s traditional industries platforms, supply ships for the oil industry and (Figure A). The large smelting plants producing high-speed ferries. The fastest-growing areas are aluminium from bauxite use huge amounts of computers and telecommunications. energy. Hydro-electricity is also important in the processing of other metals, wood and chemicals. Research and development Modern industry Newer, advanced industries are supported by research and development (Figure B), in both the The experience and skills built up in traditional public and the private sector. Much of Norway’s industries are now being used in modern high-technology research takes place in Trondheim engineering. Norway produces advanced power (Figure C). Trondheim is home to the Norwegian stations, telecommunications centres, parts for the Institute of Technology, the independent research centre SINTEF and the Marintek Research Institute. Recent projects include attempts to send oil and gas through the same pipeline and the development of electronic sea charts. That project is a fact today, but it is still being worked on for the transportation in deep water.
Small and large companies Norwegian industry is dominated by small companies. About 94% of companies employ fewer than 20 people. Many are based in small communities in rural areas, providing jobs for people who might otherwise have moved to towns. Most large companies are found in the oil, gas Figure C Trondheim, the ancient capital of Norway, is now the and engineering industries. centre for high-technology research in Norway Glossary box European Union (EU) Group of European countries linked by trade and political agreements. Other countries that trade with the EU have to pay import and export taxes. 6b6b TrTradeade andand Invisible earnings Income which does not involve selling goods, e.g. earnings from tourism or bank internationalinternational relationsrelations services. Norway relies heavily on foreign trade. The home market is small, so Norway exports about half of the goods and services it produces. Exports are also needed to earn money for imports Norway’s main exports, by value, 2000 (%) (Figure A). Few countries are more dependent on foreign trade. Oil and gas 47 Manufactured goods 17 International trading Machinery 8 Fish 7 About 80% of Norway’s exports are Chemical products 7 sold to countries in the European Norway’s main imports, by value, 2000 Union (EU), mainly to the UK, (%) Germany and Sweden. Norway is Machinery 25 not a member of the EU – the Manufactured goods 18 people voted against joining in Chemicals 10 Vehicles 8 1972 and again in 1994. However, Norway has made trade agreements with the EU so that Figure A Oslo, the Norwegian Norwegian exports are not subject capital, has a busy container to trade restrictions, except for port some fishery and agriculture products.
Shipping For many years, Norway has had one of the largest merchant fleets in the world (Figure A). Its ships mainly carry goods for other nations. For example, Norwegian ships carry oil from the Middle East to the USA and Japan. Iron ore from West Africa and coal Figure B Specialist ship carrying liquid Figure C Cruise ship Royal Viking from the USA are carried to the petroleum gas (LPG) Sun UK. Nine out of ten of its ships never enter a Norwegian port. In order to compete with other countries’ fleets, Norway specialises in shipping which needs high Relations with other countries levels of skill and knowledge. For example, it uses Norway works closely with many countries, ships specially designed to carry chemicals or especially in Western Europe, and with the USA. liquid gas (Figure B). The UK is one of Norway’s closest partners. Recently, relations with Russia have also grown stronger. Tourism Norway has long been committed to helping More and more tourists come to Norway. Attracted developing countries. About 1% of Norway’s by the spectacular scenery, they contribute to earnings is given to them as aid. The money is often Norway’s employment and earnings. They spend spent on United Nations projects, such as building money in hotels, restaurants and shops. This type factories or schools. Part of the money is used for of income is called invisible earnings. emergency relief, such as food and medicine. Norway is also often involved in keeping the peace and solving conflicts abroad. 6c Industry and research
1a Using Figure A on Card 6a, label Figure 1 to show: • deep-water fjord for shipping • heavy industry on flat land • very steep, rocky slopes • housing. b Suggest why this location was chosen as an industrial base. c Would you like to live and work in the town in Figure A? In groups, discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the town and surrounding area.
2 A country’s industries can be divided into: • primary: those which exploit the earth’s resources, for example Figure 1 Industry in Sogn mining and farming • secondary: those involved in processing materials to make a product, for b In the other spaces choose two primary jobs example shipbuilding which you would find in Norway and add secondary • tertiary (or service): those which provide a and tertiary jobs which might follow. service, for example in shops, offices or transport, c There is a fourth sector of work: quaternary. This or professions such as medicine. is tertiary work of an advanced nature, such as a In Sogn (Figure A on Card 6a), metal is smelted research. Describe one example which is found in from ore. Mining the ore is the primary work. Add Norway. to Figure 2 an example of secondary and tertiary work which people do in the metal-processing industry.
Figure 2 Types (or sectors) of industry
Primary mining bauxite
3 The table below shows the industrial structure of Norway, Secondary United Kingdom and Nigeria together with their GDP (gross domestic product – a measure of wealth). Tertiary a In what ways is the structure of Norway’s industry: • similar to that of the United Industrial structure and GDP, 2000 Kingdom? • different from Nigeria’s? Primary Secondary Tertiary GDP per person (US$) b Compare the structure of industry Norway 5.5% 20% 74.3% 42 801 with GDP. What do you notice? United Kingdom 1.7% 30% 73.4% 22 800 Suggest reasons for the differences. Nigeria 40% 40% 420% 950 6d Trade and international relations
Main trading partners, 2000 Imports (%) Exports (%) Sweden 14.7 United Kingdom 20.7 Germany 11.9 The Netherlands 11.4 United Kingdom 8.1 Germany 10.3 Denmark 6.4 Sweden 8.4
1a On Figure 1: • shade and name the countries shown in the table. • draw arrows to show trade between Norway and the shaded countries. Using a scale of 1 mm to 1%, draw arrows which are proportional to the amount of trade. For example, the arrow to Norway from Sweden should be 16 mm wide, and the arrow to Sweden from Norway should be 9 mm wide. b Calculate the total percentage of imports and the total percentage of exports traded between Norway and the countries shown in the table.
2 Study the tables of imports and Figure 1 Norway’s main trading partners exports on Card 6b. a Choose a suitable way to draw graphs to show b From what you have learned about Norway, try to Norway’s imports and exports. (The percentages do explain why oil and gas, manufactured goods, not add up to 100, so the remainder must be machinery, fish and chemical products are labelled ‘Other’.) important exports.
3 Study these figures for 2000.
GDP per Birth rate Death rate Urban popn. Adult literacy Popn. % Expenditure on: person (US$) (per 1000) (per 1000) (%) (%) per doctor Military Health Education Norway 42 801 13.2 9.8 77.3 100 275 4.1 16.7 13.7 United Kingdom 22 800 11.5 10.3 89 99 1716 2.5 7.1 4.9 Nigeria 920 39.2 13.9 43 57 5 882 10 1.0 4.7
a How do the figures suggest that Norway is an quality of life in each country. Use the information in economically developed country and Nigeria an the table, the information contained in the six pairs economically developing country? of cards, and your own ideas about the two b In what ways are the figures for Norway and the countries. United Kingdom similar? In groups, discuss the Norway datafile Geographical features
Area 386 958 km2, including the Svalbard and Jan Mayen territories
Borders With Sweden, Finland and Russia, a total of 2542 km
Coastline Along the North Sea, Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea, a total of 25,148km, including fjords, plus approximately 50 000 islands Source: Norwegian central Statistic Bureau, 2002
Distance north– Nordkapp to Lindesnes, south by air 1752 km
Highest Galdhøpiggen, 2469 m mountain
Longest river River Glomma, 600 km
Largest lake Lake Mjøsa, 362 km2
Longest fjord Sognefjord, 204 km long, 1308 metres deep at its deepest point
Largest glacier Jostedal glacier, 487 km2
Midnight sun Visible in the summer, north of the Arctic Circle. At Nordkapp, visible from 14 May to 29 July
Historical milestones
800–1050 The Viking age
1380–1814 Union with Denmark
1814 Constitution adopted
1814–1905 Union with Sweden
1905 End of Union. Haakon VII, married to Maud (daughter of King Edward VII of Britain), crowned king
1940–45 World War 2. German occupation Norway datafile
National features
System of Constitutional monarchy. The Parliament, the Storting, is elected every government four years and consists of 165 representatives from 19 counties. Religion Most Norwegians belong to the state Evangelical–Lutheran Church. Language Norway has two official forms of the written language: bokmål (Standard Norwegian) and nynorsk (New Norwegian). Like English, Norwegian uses the Latin alphabet but has three extra letters: æ (pronounced like the a in bad), ø (pronounced like the i in bird) and å (pronounced like the a in ball). The minority Sami people have their own language, Sami. National Day 17 May, when Norwegians celebrate the signing of the Constitution in 1814 National sport Skiing. Ski sports were invented in Norway. Words like ski and slalom originated in Norway. Norway has twice staged the Olympic Winter Games: in Oslo in 1952 and in Lillehammer in 1994. National animal Elk Famous Leiv Eriksson, the Viking who reached America around the year 1000; explorers Fridtjof Nansen (polar explorer); Roald Amundsen (polar explorer); Thor Heyerdahl (sea explorer)
Economic features
Currency The Norwegian monetary unit is the krone (crown). One krone consists of 100 øre, equal to about 9 pence.
GDP,2001 US$ 203 985 million GDP per head, 2001 US$ 42 801 Largest export by value, Crude oil and gas basic metals machinery and equipment 2001 (%) 43% 6% 8% Main export destinations, United Kingdom The Netherlands Germany Sweden 2000 20% 11.4% 10.3% 8.4% Largest import by value, Machinery and Chemicals and Basic metals Textiles (%) equipment 24% mineral products 7% 6% 3% Main import sources, Sweden Germany USA United Kingdom Denmark % (2000) 14.7% 11.9% 8.2% 9% 6.4%
Social features
Population, 2001 4.504.000 Population by age 0-14: 20% 15-64: 65% 65+ : 15% Largest cities Oslo (capital) Bergen Trondheim 508.726.000 230948 150166 Urban population 77.3% Birth rate per 1000 13.2 Death rate per 1000 9.8 Life expectancy Male 76.0 years, female 81.4 years Infant mortality (deaths per 1000 live births) 3.9 Population per doctor 275 Adult literacy 100% Case Study cs a No r w ay and global war m i n g
The world is getting warmer and is warming most rapidly in high latitudes in the northern hemisphere. This could have significant effects in Norway.
The graph shows how the The average rising world temperature 1860–2000 ave r age world temperat u r e 1.0 has risen since rec o r ds were first kept in 1860. The overa l l 0.5 rise seems small, but the top ten hottest years have all oc c u r r ed since 1980, and the 0.0 1990s was the hottest decade ever . -0.5 The increase of certain gases in the a t m o s p h e re , -1.0 particularly carbon d i o x i d e , 1860 1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 methane, CFCs and nitrou s oxide, cause the rising temperat u r es. The y ha v e an albedo of about 20% and absorb ar e called ‘greenhouse gases’ as they allow much more heat from the sun. Consequently heat from the sun to reach the earth, but Ar ctic areas are warming up more quickly. It pr event heat radiated from the earth from is estimated that since 1960 there has been passing into the atmosphere. a 20% decrease in snow cover and a 40% thinning of the Arctic ice cap. Melting the Arctic ice The Arctic is warming up faster than other Polar bears are suffering parts of the earth. This is the result of The polar bear is becoming an endangered changes in the albedo of its surface. Albedo species. It spends most of its life on sea ice, refers to the proportion of heat which is where its main source of food is seals – the refl ected back into the atmosphere. For light ringed seal and the large bearded seal. A surfaces such as snow, the albedo is about major reduction in the extent of the ice 80%. Warming has caused ice and snow to would threaten the survival of the polar melt over large areas, exposing darke r b e a r, which would lose its habitat and, surfaces, such as water and rock. The s e possibly, its main food supply.
Polar bears roam the ice in search of food Case Study cs b The effects of warming on land
Warming will have a profound impact on the nature and distribution of vegetation, and changes in precipitation will cause problems.
c e n t u r y. These changes have been caused by less severe winters, and the earlier and more complete snowmelt in spring and early summer. This brings good and bad news. n Slow-growing wood is of higher quality. Norwegian woodland in n Higher temperatures bring the danger winter of insect damage and forest fires. n Some plants and small animals cannot The tundra adapt quickly enough to the changes in summer Permafrost and could die out. Permafrost is ground that is permanently frozen. It underlies virtually all the land in Rain and snow the Arctic, such as Svalbard and much of the Warm air holds more moisture than cold air, higher land south of the Arctic Circle. Higher so global warming will incre a s e temperatures will melt much of the ice in p recipitation. The ave rage annual the ground and cause a number of precipitation is expected to increase by 10% problems. in western Norway. It will also be more n Drainage is more difficult because more likely to rain than snow, at least on lower water lies on or near the surface. land. It should become easier to keep roads open unless floods occur. n There is a danger of slumping and mudflows. When it does snow, however, it may be heavy. On 29th April 1999, the snow reached n Exposed ground releases carbon an all-time high of 2.4 metres in Tromsø, dioxide and methane to the causing great concern about ro o f s atmosphere. collapsing due to heavy loads of snow, and n Buildings with foundations in the the danger of avalanches destroying homes permafrost become unstable, for and killing people. The uncertainty about example in Svalbard, where coal is snowfall worries the tourist industry mined. because skiing conditions may be difficult in n Roads may buckle and need costly some years. replacement. Cross- country skiing Coniferous forest through the trees About a quarter of the surface area of Norway is forested, mainly by conifers such as pine and spruce. Research indicates that trees are growing faster and have spread upslope by 100-165 metres in the last Case Study
cs c Troubles ahead? The main effects of global warming in Norway may well be felt through the influence on air pressure and ocean currents. Sea levels Sea levels are rising as higher temperatures not only melt the ice near the poles, but also cause sea water to expand. The rise is not spectacular. About a metre is A low-lying forecast for this century. Norwegians do not and heavy and sinks beneath the warm town on the express concern as their coastline is, for the North Atlantic Drift to flow at depth. coast of most part, steeply sloping. Norway As a result of global warming, large areas However, there are dangers. Some birds, of ice have failed to form off the east coast of such as the Arctic tern, nest on open Greenland in five of the last seven winters. beaches and would be affected by a slight The cold water is less dense and the rise in sea level. s o u t h w a rd flow is diminished. If this It could be more serious for low-lying continues, the flow of warm water will be coastal areas, such as alluvial fans near the weakened and Norway will become much mouths of fjords and the flat lowlands in cooler. If this happened there is little doubt Jae r en, south of Stavanger. The onset of that most of the population of northern global warming has tended to cause more Norway would choose to move away from ex t r eme weather events. Winter storms with the area. st r ong winds accompanying high tides could Ocean currents in the North Atlantic wr eak havoc on coastal communities, which Ice formedG of R E E N L A NGREENLAND D SEA tend to be densely populated. Homes, quays , fresh water. CSea U R R E N T N is cold, salty boats, ferry landings, coastal roads and even and dense some farmland could be under threat. N O RWEGIAN SEA Along the coast there is a great deal of G R E E N L A N D economic activity related to oil and gas, Cold water sinks to fishing and fish farming. Fish farms are deep ocean particularly vulnerable to storm surges I C E L A N D because the storms are likely to damage Cold water sinks installations and allow salmon and trout to es c a p e .
Could it become colder? Warm water from the tropics Norway is kept at least 5ºC warmer than it 0 500 1000km would otherwise be by the North Atlantic ATLANTIC OCEAN Drift, a current originating in the tropics. To balance the warm water flowing into the cold current Arctic, cold currents flow south along the coast of Greenland. This current is very salty warm current because its fresh water has been removed to form ice. The cold, salty water is dense extent of Arctic ice – Feb 1995 Case Study cs d No r w ay and global war m i n g
1 3 a Study the graph showing the increase in a What does this food chain A simple Arctic global temperature. What is the show? food chain n deviation from average in 1860? Polar bear b The polar cod can only live in n deviation from average in 2000? ̆ water below 1ºC. What might be Seal n total rise in temperature between the the effect on the food chain if ̆ two dates? Polar cod the water became warmer? ̆ b How do temperatures compare with the c Describe the way in which the Plankton average maximum extent of ice in 1966 differed n between 1860 and 1940? from 1996. n between 1940 and 1980? n after 1980? d Use the map and the food chain to explain why the survival of the polar c Explain what is meant by the bear is threatened. ‘greenhouse effect’. The maximum extent of Arctic ice in 1966 and 1996 2 a Draw a table as indicated below. N OVAYA ZEMLYA b Enter the names of the four greenhouse S VA L B A R D
gases. B A R E N T S S E A c From the following list show the source(s) of each gas: n power stations, chemical fertilizer, aerosols, car exhausts, waste tips, N O RW E G I A N S E A forest fires, rice fields. 1966 1996
Greenhouse gas Source of gas Case Study cs e The effects of warming on land
1 b How do your graphs confirm your answers to Question 2? a Explain the term ‘permafrost’.
b Describe the problems which may occur when permafrost melts. Which do 4 you think is the most serious problem? a What is meant by ‘saturated air’? Give reasons for your choice. b What happens if saturated air is cooled? c What do you think will be the effect on rivers? c How many grams of water are held by a kilogram of saturated air at: 0ºC, 5ºC, 20ºC, 25ºC?
2 d How many grams of water vapour The diagram below shows how the tree line would condense to water droplets if the reacts to rising temperatures. In what ways temperature fell from: 5ºC to 0ºC, 25ºC are the areas of coniferous trees extending? to 20ºC?
The effect of rising temperature on the tree line e How does your answer to Question 4d help to explain why global warming New tree line Old tree line may lead to increased precipitation in western Norway?
Tundra Coniferous forest Relationship between temperature and N S rainfall
40 3 S A T U R A T E D
This table below shows the area of each Level of saturation 30 biome north of the Arctic Circle in 1000km2 at present and in the foreseeable future. (A
biome is a major ecosystem.) 20
a Draw divided bar graphs to show the
area of each biome at present and as 10 estimated for the future. U N S A T U R A T E D 0 -10 0 10 20 30 Biome Present Future Temperature (ºC) Ice-covered land 1750 1500 Tundra 4250 1750 Forest/tundra 2000 2250 Coniferous forest 0 1750 Other 250 1000 Case Study
cs f Troubles ahead? 1 a On the outline drawing, shade and label: the steep valley sides, the fjord and the land which might be affected by a rise in sea level. b Under what conditions is the area of lowland likely to be at risk? c What precautions might be taken to A possible future for the North Atlantic minimize this risk?
G R E E N L A N D C U R R E N T 2 a On the map, label in the appropriate place: G R E E N L A N D
n reduced sea ice near Greenland Because the water is less n North Atlantic Drift checked by Arctic salty and dense, it does not sink and water so less water leaves the Arctic. I C E L A N D n Norwegian coast becomes colder b Explain why the North Atlantic Drift may become weaker. c What would be the effects on the life and work of the people of western Norway?
ATLANTIC OCEAN
Activity Positive effects Negative effects
Farming
Forestry
Fish farming
Tourism
Transport
Energy
3 4 Complete the table below to show possible Why do you think insurance companies positive and negative effects of warming a re taking great interest in global on the activities named. Use as many warming? s o u rces of information as you can to research your answers.