Meteorological Observations in 2001 at the Arctic Station,Qeqertarsuaq (69°15′N), Central West Greenland/Measuring calving in Icefall Lake,SE Greenland,using a "Diver" pressure transducer with a built-in datalogger

Danish Journal of Geography 96: 103–109, 1996.

Much of the current interest in processes of restructuring evolves around issues of changing occupational and social structures. While there is broad agreement that economic restructuring has produced a new occupational structure in the Western World, there is a great deal of controversy characterizing the changing structure. This is to be expected since we leave behind us a well-known social structure and are entering another which is still in the process of being shaped.

It is suggested in this article that if one is to comprehend the complexity involved when discussing these issues a fruitful starting point would be different welfare state regimes. Furthermore, it is suggested that different types of welfare states produce different occupational structures and to varying degrees, and for various reasons, do they lead to social polarisation. Thus, differences within welfare slate regimes can explain why we are experiencing divergent trajectories in employment and social stratification.     

Meteorological Observations in 1995 at the Arctic Station,Qeqertarsuaq (Godhavn), Central West Greenland/Concentrational Agriculture: Types,Functions, and Derivation/Den Danske Nationalkomité for Geografi

In October 1990 an automatic meteorological station was established at the Arctic Station (69°15'N, 53°31'W), Qeqertarsuaq (Godhavn), Central West Greenland, The station register parameters each 20 min, and the parameters have been described in an earlier paper in this journal by Nielsen et al. (1995). The present paper summarises main points of the climate during 1995.

Concentrational agriculture, defined as types of agriculture based on local concentration of plant nutrients, encompasses two main types: shifting cultivation and infield-outfield systems. They may ecologically be characterised by their mode of concentration: either by a vertical or a horisontal transfer (‘pumping’) of nutrients, respectively. The use of the general term ‘concentrational agriculture’ for the two forms is advocated by demonstrating that functional substitution of one by the other is possible, and by showing that the one type theoretically can be derived from the other. Historically, infield-outfield systems are supposed to be developed from some form of shifting cultivation.

Kort beretning om virksomheden i 1995

Justering af medlemskredsen. I forbindelse med valg af repræsentanter fandt en justering af repræsentationsområder sled (Århus Universilet har ikke længere fagområdet ‘kulturgeografi’). Videnskabernes Selskab har i samme forbindelse bifaldet, at fire observatører, repræsenterende undervisningstrinene i geografi deltager i møderne.     

Snow,runoff, and mass balance modeling for the entire Mittivakkat Glacier (1998–2006), Ammassalik Island,SE Greenland

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 108(1):121–136, 2008

SnowModel, a physically-based snow evolution modeling system that includes four submodels—MicroMet, EnBal, SnowPack, and SnowTran-3D—was used to simulate eight full-year (1998/99 through 2005/06) evolutions of snow accumulation, blowing snow sublimation, evaporation, snow and ice surface melt, runoff, and mass changes on the entire Mittivakkat Glacier (31 km²) in southeast Greenland. Meteorological observations from two meteorological stations inside the glacier catchment were used as model input, and glaciological mass balance observations were used for model calibration (1998/99 through 2001/02) and validation (2002/03 through 2005/06) of winter snow simulations. As confirmed by observations, the spatially modeled end-of-winter snow water equivalent (SWE) accumulation increased with elevation up to 700–800 m a.s.l. in response to elevation, topography, and dominating wind direction, and maximum snow deposition occurred on the lee side of the ridge east and south of the glacier. Simulated end-of-summer cumulative runoff decreased with elevation and minimum runoff occurred on the shadowed side of the ridge east and south of the glacier. The modeled test period averaged annual mass balance was 65 mm w. eq. y^?1 or ～8% more than the observed. For the simulation period, the glacier net mass balance varies from -199 to -1,834 mm w.eq. y^?1, averaging -900 (±470) mm w.eq.y^?1. The glacier averaged annual modeled precipitation ranged from 1,299 to 1,613 mm w.eq. y^?1, evaporation and sublimation from 206 to 289 mm w.eq., and runoff from 1,531 to 2,869 mm w.eq. y^?1. The model simulated Mittivakkat Glacier net loss of900 mm w.eq. y^?1 contributes approximately 42% to the average simulated runoff of 2,140 mm w.eq. y^?1, indicating a mean specific runoff of 67.8 l s^?1 km^?2.     

Meteorological Observations 2002 at the Arctic Station,Qeqertarsuaq (69°15'N), Central West Greenland

An automatic meteorological station has been operating at the Arctic Station (69°15'N, 53°31'W) in West Greenland since 1990. This paper summarises meteorological parameters during 2002, including snow cover, ground temperatures and active layer development, and air temperatures at the Station during the last 12 years are compared to large scale trends during the last century.

A compilation of 93 sedimentation rate determinations based on ²¹⁰Pb dating has been carried out for the North Sea-Baltic Sea transition area from a database containing 165 determinations carried out by Danish institutions. In the depositional parts of the area sedimentation rates generally range 25–6403 g m^?2 y^?1. An extreme rate of 13351 g m^?2 y^?1 is observed on a station in the Skagerrak. Sedimentation rates significantly increase with depth indicating that the Skagerrak and northern parts of the Kattegat as well as the deep basins in the Baltic Sea act as depocentres for fine-grained sediments. Apparently, sedimentation rates have increased in recent years.     

Is climate change causing the increasing narwhal (Monodon monoceros) catches in Smith Sound, Greenland?

This paper evaluates recent changes in narwhal ( Monodon monoceros ) catches in Siorapaluk, the northernmost community in Greenland, in consideration of the effects of changing climate and uncertainty of stock delineation. The catch statistics show a significant increase in narwhal catches by hunters in Siorapaluk after 2002, which does not appear to be a result of increased effort. Hunters attribute the increase to changed sea-ice conditions providing access by boat to Smith Sound as early as June and July. This indicates that climate change is likely to have a considerable impact on narwhal hunting in northern Greenland. Traditional ecological knowledge and scientific surveys suggest that narwhal in Smith Sound constitute an independent stock. The absence of scientific recommendations for this stock has been seen as an opportunity to increase quotas in West Greenland. Scientific management recommendations are urgently needed to allow the authorities to assign sustainable quotas for this stock. The development of collaborative management agreements and locally based monitoring are recommended to ensure local acceptance of regulations, and to allow rapid responses to climate change.     

A multidisciplinary study of Holocene sediment records from Hjort Sø on Store Koldewey, Northeast Greenland

Two sediment cores of 70 and 252 cm length were recovered from Hjort Sø, a small lake on Store Koldewey, Northeast Greenland, and studied with a multidisciplinary approach in order to reconstruct the local environmental history and to test the relevance of proxies for paleoenvironmental information. The basal sediments from the longer core are dominated by clastic matter, which was likely deposited during deglaciation of the lake basin. These clastic sediments are overlain by gyttja, which is also present throughout the shorter core. AMS radiocarbon dating was conducted on plant macrofossils of 11 samples from the gyttja in both cores. A reliable chronology was established for both cores, which dated the onset of organic accumulation at 9,500 cal. year BP. The Holocene temperature development, with an early to mid Holocene thermal maximum, is best reflected in the grain-size composition. Nutrient availability was apparently low during the early Holocene and led to low productivity in the lake and its vicinity. From ca. 7,000 cal. year BP, productivity in the lake increased significantly, probably induced by external nutrient input from goose excrements. From this time, micro- and macro-fossil remains reflect relatively well the climate history of East Greenland, with a cooling during the middle Holocene, the medieval warming, and the Little Ice Age. The amount of organic matter in the sequence seems to be more affected by lake ice cover or by nutrient supply from the catchment than by temperature changes. The record from Hjort Sø thus reveals the difficulties in interpreting sedimentary records from high arctic regions.     

Palaeoecology of Holocene peat deposits from Nordvestø, north-west Greenland

Two extensive peat deposits on Nordvestø, between Greenland and Canada, were examined for macroscopic remains of plants and animals. One of the peat deposits accumulated during the period from c. 7,100 to 5,100 cal. years BP. This peat is guanogenic and completely dominated by the coprophilous bryophyte Aplodon wormskioldii, and also contains frequent remains of feathers. The peat formed close to a large former sea bird colony, probably a puffin (Fratercula arctica) colony. Puffins are now rare in the region, but the population may have been larger during the mid Holocene, when the sea was ice-free for a longer period than at present. The other peat deposit is dated to c. 9,300–7,400 cal. years BP, it is minerogenic and the macrofossils reflect deposition in a shallow, richly vegetated pond. This peat formed during warmer summers than at present.     

Meteorological Observations in 2000 at the Arctic Station,Qeqertarsuaq (69°15'N), Central West Greenland

An automatic meteorological station has been operating at the Arctic Station (69°15'N, 53°31'W) in West Greenland since 1990. This paper summarizes meteorological parameters during 2000 including snow and sea ice cover, ground temperatures and active layer development, and presents comments on the local permafrost thickness.     

Inuit landscape use and responses to climate change in the Wollaston Forland—Clavering Ø region,Northeast Greenland

Geografisk Tidsskrift—Danish Journal of Geography 110(2):155–174, 2010

The Thule culture of the Wollaston-Clavering Ø area is analysed and their settlement pattern as recorded within the area is presented and analysed in relation to the following high arctic seasons: winter, spring and summer. From the analysis it is seen that a defined and stable seasonal mobility between coast, fjords and inland existed and that the “Sirius Water Polynya” off Wollaston Forland and Sabine Ø, holds the key to understanding the human economy and settlement patterns in the research area, as well as in the region.

The cooling of the Little Ice Age, interpreted from the analysed data, does not affect the Inuit exploitation of the research area or their material culture in general. The main Inuit response to the cooling is migration, a response that can only be analysed when Northeast Greenland is studied regionally and interregionally. As migration is defined as an important part of prehistoric ‘Inuit being’, the Inuit made no additional strategies or inventions during the LIA. Inuit migration is, in this way, demonstrated to be a substantial contributor to the Inuit's cultural resilience and to their long-term existence in the Arctic.     

Holocene talus accumulation rates,—and their influence on rock glacier growth. A case study from Igpik,Disko—West Greenland

Frich, Povl and Brandt, Erik: Holocene talus accumulation rates,—and their influence on rock glacier growth. A case study from Igpik, Disko—West Greenland. Geografisk Tidsskrift 85: 32–44 Copenhagen, October 1985.

The Igpik area is located ten km east of Godhavn on the south-coast of the island Disko. Geologically the area is dominated by Tertiary basalt formations.

A general geomorphological classification of this area, which covers approximately three square kms, has been made. Based on radiocarbon ages of former marine levels in the Disko Bugt area, the beginning of talus accumulation has been determined for two talus cones situated on raised beaches. They have ages of 5800 and 7900 ¹⁴C y. B.P. Using theodolite readings, the volumes of three different talus cones have been determined and two average talus accumulation rates have been calculated for the cones located on raised beaches. These values are transformed into an average Holocene rockwall retreat rate of 0.0005 and 0.0015 m/year, respectively. The total volume of two lobate rock glaciers is calculated to be 2.2 mill, cu.m and as they are located inside 9000 years old local moraines, the average Holocene mass-transfer through the third talus cone has been estimated to 1.4 10⁶ tons×m/sq.km/y. Finally the results are discussed, with reference to other areas, and as a possible threshhold for the initiation of rock glaciers.     

Meteorological observations 1998 at the arctic station,Qeqertarsuaq (69°15'N), Central West Greenland/Active layer monitoring in two Greenlandic permafrost areas: Zackenberg and Disko Island

An automatic meteorological station has been operating at the Arctic Station (69°15'N, 53°31'W) in West Greenland since 1990. This paper summarises meteorological parameters during 1998, including snow cover, ground temperatures and active layer development, and presents comments on the local permafrost thickness.

Abstract

Active layer monitoring in Greenland was started in 1996 and 1997, and forms part of the Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring (CALM) Network of the International Permafrost Association (IPA). The results of the first years of this monitoring of thaw progression and maximum active layer thickness in two Greenlandic permafrost areas are presented. Two sites are in the continuous permafrost zone at Zackenberg in NE Greenland (74 °N), and one at Disko Island in W Greenland (69 °N), at the border between discontinuous and continuous permafrost.

The data collected at Zackenberg demonstrate interannual variation in the timing of thaw progression in the monitoring grid holding a seasonal snowpatch, while there is less variation in the horizontal grid without a snowpatch. The maximum active layer thickness for the two Zackenberg grids is more or less consistent for the first three years with averages from 58 to 66 cm in mid and late August. At Disko the active layer reached 71 cm in mid August 1998. Spatially the distribution of the maximum, annual active layer thickness within the grids is concordant.     

Preliminary Studies of Soils in North-East Greenland between 74° and 75° Northern Latitude

Jakobsen, Bjarne Holm: Preliminary Studies of Soils in North- East Greenland between 74° and 75° Northern Latitude. Geografisk Tidsskrift 92:111–115. Copenhagen 1992.

The geography of soils has been studied in north-east Greenland between latitudes 74° and 75° N. The study ranges from the outer coast to the interior of the ice-free land area. Well-drained soils show a characteristic sequence determined by the east-west climatic gradient. Fossil soil characteristics and secondary formed features supply information on the palaeoclimate.     

Li+,Na+,K+/Cl-,SO2-4-H2O五元体系25 ℃相图及其应用

Li⁺,Na⁺,K⁺/Cl-,SO2-₄-H₂O五元体系相图对于硫酸钠亚型富锂卤水分离提取锂盐、锂辉石加工利用和锂盐产品的开发利用工艺制定都有指导作用。20世纪50年代曾有人研究过这一体系25 ℃时的相图,限于当时的科研水平,液相组成确定不准确,对平衡固相的判断,后来诸多研究结果证明也有错误。50多年来再没有人研究这一五元体系相图。利用我们提出的Li⁺,Na⁺,K⁺/Cl^-,SO^2-₄-H₂O六元体系热力学模型,对该五元体系的平衡溶液组成和正确的平衡固相进行理论预测,给出了该体系的完整相图。结合硫酸锂混盐分离、加工实例阐述了该五元体系相图的应用。     

Faunal Remains from the Wollaston Forland—Clavering Ø Region,Northeast Greenland—Thule Culture Subsistence in a High Arctic Polynya and Ice-edge Habitat

Geografisk Tidsskrift—Danish Journal of Geography 110(2):175–200, 2010

The GeoArk project conducted interdisciplinary studies between 2003 and 2008 to investigate the Thule culture (c. 1400 AD until c. 1850 AD) in the Wollaston Forland- Clavering Ø region (74°N). Faunal remains of recent excavations and re-analyses of previous excavations of Thule culture seasonal features, winter houses and middens are presented, with an emphasis on the two winter sites of Fladstrand and Dødemandsbugten. The faunal assemblages showed ringed seal (Phoca hispida) to be the key game species, although, with important contingents of narwhal (Monodon monocerosj and caribou (Rangifer tarandus) Thule subsistence was highly dependent on having a well developed procurement system and the sea- and landscape was used differentially during the annual cycle. Hvalros Ø, located at the recurring Sirius Water Polynya, was used as a seasonal aggregation site especially for hunting walrus (Odobenus rosmarusj) throughout the entire Thule culture era. Being a predictable source of meat and blubber, the walrus was of fundamental importance to the Thule Inuit in order to cope with a harsh high arctic environment. The site locations of the study area revealed a continued similar usage of the sea- and landscape for centuries and the analyses documented only minor temporal changes in subsistence patterns.     

Mass Balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet: Can Modern Observation Methods Reduce the Uncertainty?

The future contribution to sea level change from the large ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica is composed of two terms: (i) a background trend determined by the past climate and dynamic history of the ice sheets on a range of time scales (decadal, millennial or even longer); and (ii) a rise/fall related to future climate change, whether due to anthropogenic effects or natural climate variability. The accelerating development of remote sensing techniques for monitoring ice sheet behaviour, and the use of high-resolution general circulation models to estimate temperature and precipitation changes are likely to result in improved estimates of the sensitivity of ice sheet mass balance to climate change and thereby to narrow down the uncertainty of contribution (ii). Contribution (i) is much more difficult to assess, because the mass balance displays large temporal variability on year-to-year and even on decadal time scales that masks the long-term trend. So, although modern remote sensing techniques enable accurate measurement of ice sheet surface elevation change, the mass changes derived from such measurements, even if performed over a period of several years, might just reflect a statistical fluctuation around the long-term background trend, which we must know in order to assess the future ice sheet contribution to sea level change on century and longer time scales. The measured volume changes must therefore be evaluated on the background of short- and long-term accumulation rates (e.g. determined from ice cores and high-resolution ice radar) and dynamic model studies of ice sheet evolution on century, millennial and longer time scales. The problems are illustrated by using the Greenland ice sheet as an example.     

Na+,K+,Rb+,Cs+//SO2-4-H2O体系固液相平衡热力学模拟

锂云母、铯榴石等矿物的硫酸盐焙烧浸出,是从中提取锂铷铯钾等碱金属元素的重要步骤,所得硫酸盐浸出液可近似看作Li⁺,Na⁺,K⁺,Rb⁺,Cs+ // SO₄2--H₂O六元水盐体系;其在浓缩过程呈现复杂的成盐特征,增加了各碱金属元素分离提取的难度,研究其相关水盐体系相图和相平衡性质对理解浸出液中碱金属的分离具有重要的理论指导意义。本文采用Pitzer-Simonson-Clegg超额Gibbs自由能方程和具有内在热力学一致性的CALPHAD方法,构建了Na⁺,K⁺,Rb⁺,Cs⁺//SO₄2--H₂O五元体系的多温固液相平衡热力学模型。借助该模型:1)实现了对Na₂SO₄₊Rb₂SO₄₊H₂O、Na₂SO₄₊Cs₂SO₄₊H₂O和K₂SO₄₊Cs₂SO₄₊H₂O三元体系的多温溶解度等温线的准确描述,并进一步构建了这些体系在240.15~380.15 K温度范围内的多温相图;2)实现了对K₂SO₄+Rb₂SO₄₊H₂O和Rb₂SO₄₊Cs₂SO₄₊H₂O体系中存在的固溶体相—水溶液平衡关系的准确描述,确认了(K,Rb)₂SO₄连续固溶体、以及(Rb,Cs)₂SO₄(α)和(Rb,Cs)₂SO₄(β)间断固溶体存在的合理性;3)预测了上述五元体系中所包含的全部4个四元子体系(Na₂SO₄₊ K₂SO₄₊ Rb₂SO₄+H₂O、Na₂SO₄ + K₂SO₄₊Cs₂SO₄₊ H₂O、Na₂SO₄₊ Rb₂SO₄₊Cs₂SO₄ + H₂O和K₂SO₄₊Rb₂SO₄₊Cs₂SO₄₊ H₂O)的相图,明确了四元相图中固溶体的类型及形成区域。然而,模型预测结果与现有四元体系实验数据间存在普遍的不一致性,尤其是固溶体形成区域,但模型预测结果从非实验角度给出了重要参考,对现有实验提出了挑战,未来对这些体系开展更为精细的实验研究非常必要。     

The Rapid Retreat of Jakobshavns Isbræ, West Greenland: Field Observations of 2005 and Structural Analysis of its Evolution

Jakobshavns Isbræ in West Greenland (terminus at ≈69° 10′ N/50° W), a major outlet glacier of the Greenland Ice Sheet and a continuously fast-moving ice stream, has long been the fastest moving and one of the most productive glaciers on Earth. It had been moving continuously at speeds of over 20 m/day with a stable front position throughout most of the latter half of the twentieth century, except for relatively small seasonal changes. In 2002, the ice stream apparently suddenly entered a phase of rapid retreat. The ice front started to break up, the floating tongue disintegrated, and the production of icebergs increased. In July 2005, we conducted an extensive aerial survey of Jakobshavns Isbræ to measure and document the present state of retreat compared to our previous field observations since 1996. We use an approach that combines structural analysis of deformation features with continuum mechanics to assess the kinematics and dynamics of glaciers, based on aerial imagery, satellite data and GPS measurements. Results from interpretation of ERS-SAR and ASTER data from 1995 to 2005 in combination with aerial imagery from 1996 to 2005 shed light on the question of changes versus stability and their causes in the Jakobshavns Isbræ dynamical system. The recently observed retreat of Jakobshavns Isbræ is attributed to climatic warming, rather than to an inherent change in the glaciodynamic system. Close to the retreating front, deformation structures are characteristic of extension and disintegration. Deformation provinces that do not border the retreating front have had the same deformation characteristics throughout the past decade (1996–2005).     

Li,K/Cl,SO_4-H_2O体系相平衡的热力学

介绍了根据自己研究测定的Ｌｉ，Ｋ／Ｃｌ，ＳＯ４－Ｈ２Ｏ体系２５℃的渗透系数等热力学性质获得的Ｐｉｔｚｅｒ混合参数，并用自由能最小化方法计算了２５℃ Ｌｉ，Ｋ／Ｃｌ．ＳＯ４－Ｈ２Ｏ体系的相图。结合测定得到的该体系５０℃、７５℃的相图和复盐ＬｉＫＳＯ４转变温度的研究，整个体系相平衡和热力学的研究结果可用于盐湖卤水中锂盐的分离提取。     

Isolation and characteristics of one marine psychrotrophic cellulase-generating bacterium Ar/w/b/75°/10/5 from Chuckchi Sea,Arctic

Microorganisms living in polar zones play an important part as the potential source of organic activity materials with low temperature characteristics in the bio-technological applications. A psychrotrophic bacterium (strain Ar/w/b/75°/10/5) , producing cellulose at low temperatures during late-exponential and early-stationary phases of cell growth, was isolated from sea ice-covered surface water in Chuckchi Sea, Arctic. This bacterium, with rod cells, was Gram-negative, slightly halophilic. Colony growing on agar plate was in black. Optimum growth temperature was 15℃. No cell growth was observed at 351 or above. Optimum salt concentration for cell growth was between 2 and 3 % of sodium chloride in media. Maximal cellulase activity was detected at a temperature of 35℃ and pH8. Cellulase was irreversibly inactivated when incubated at 55℃ within 30 min. Enzyme can be kept stable at the temperature no higher than 25℃. Of special interest was that this bacterium produced various extracellular enzymes i