Teacher Handout

Traditional and Western Observations and Evidence of Climate Change (Answer Key)

Traditional Observations	Western Science Observations
Inuit have a traditional juggling game. The weather is sort of like that now. The weather is being juggled, it is changing so quickly and drastically. (N. Attungala, Baker Lake, 2001) Right now the weather is unpredictable. In the older days, the Elders used to predict the weather and they were always right, but now, when they try to predict the weather, it is always something different. It’s very unpredictable right now (Z. Aqqiaruq, Igloolik, 2000).	Human influences have changed the atmospheric composition throughout the 21st century (IPCC) Numerous recent observations indicate that the Arctic is undergoing a significant change. (Recent environmental changes in the Arctic: a review* / Morison, J. Aagaard, K. Steele, M. Arctic, v. 53, no. 4, Dec. 2000, p. 359-371, ill. (some col.), maps) ASTIS record 47350.)
The weather is warmer now…the snow seems to go earlier in the late spring. (Archie Komak, 1998) It seems to be getting warmer. The ocean freezes over later than usual. (Frank Analok, 1999) It never gets as cold as it used to…it used to get real cold in the past but nowadays it is not the same (May Algona, 1999).	The Western Arctic is experiencing a pronounced warming. (International Arctic Science Committee, 1999: Serreze et al., Observational Evidence of Recent Change in the Northern High-Latitude Environment. Climatic Change 46 (1-2): 159-207.2000). Globally it is very likely that the 1990’s was the warmest decade and that 1998 was the warmest year in the instrumental record since 1861 (IPCC).
Sky is hazy, not as blue (Iqaluit and Igloolik Elders). Used to be clear here all summer. Now we are lucky if we get two good weeks of clear flying days in Inuvik (Inuvik pilot).	Pollution is plunging us into darkness. Scientists have said that pollution affects sunlight in different regions of the globe and blocks out the suns rays. (New Scientists vol. 176 issue 2372 –14 December 2002, page 6.) It is likely that there has been a 2% increase in cloud cover over mid-to high latitude land areas during the 20th century ( IPCC*).
Birds arrive earlier. (Iqaluit Elder, 2001). The birds were more plentiful and arrived earlier than usual (Kakolak., 1998) Nowadays, the ice goes earlier so waiting (to go boating) is not so bad anymore (Komak, 1998).	Spring events such as egg laying and migration are occurring 2.3 days earlier each decade. (Scientific American, January 02, 2003)
New species arriving. Eg. Robins, since late 1990’s. New species of insects familiar to people who come from treeline area. (Haniliak, 1998: Analok, 1999, Eyegetok, pers. comm., 1999). We see moose now, and never did ASTIS record 46719. before. We see them more and more each year (Nain, man age 43). Never saw salmon here before. (John Lucas Sr. Sachs Harbour, 1999)	A variety of species, from frogs to flowering plants, have demonstrated changed behaviour in response to increasing world temperatures over the last few decades. Scientists have determined that there have been significant overall species range shifts of 6.1 kilometres a decade, on average, toward the planet’s poles. (Scientific American, January 02, 2003) First records of sockeye and pink salmon from Banks Island and other records of Pacific salmon in Northwest Territories, Canada / Babaluk, J.A. Reist, J.D. Johnson, J.D. Johnson, L. (Arctic, v. 53, no. 2, June 2000, p. 161-164, 1 map)
Aniuvat (permanent snow patches) are melting in the hills(Iqaluit Elder).	Artifacts were found in areas where there used to be permanent patches of ice. Because of the melting artifacts were found. Faunal and archaeological remains as evidence of climate change in freezing caverns, Yukon Territory, Canada (Arctic, v. 54, no. 2, June 2001, p. 135-141, ill., 2 maps) ASTIS record 48057.
Changes in snow distribution, depth and colour (Clyde River Elder.)No longer enough snow to bury fox traps (Baker Lake Elder).	Satellite data show that there are very likely to have been decreases of about 10% in the extent of snow cover since the late 1960’s (IPCC).
A lot less multiyear (ice). The ice is getting thinner – landfast ice has gotten a lot thinner. (Roger Kuptana, Sachs Harbour, 1999) Auyittuq(glaciers) are changing – many are melting, though some advancing. More icebergs (general comments from many Elders). Long ago there was ice all summer. You would see the multiyear ice all summer. No more. –Frank Kudlak, Sachs Harbour, 1999.	A large ice shelf that has jutted into the Arctic Ocean from the northernmost part of Canada for at least 3,000 years has broken up, providing evidence that the region is warming. (Scientists, from Laval University and the University of Alaska, in Geophysical Research Letters.) Northern Hemisphere spring and summer sea-ice extent has decreased by about 10 to 15% since the 1950’s. It is likely that there has been about a 40% decline in Arctic sea-ice thickness during late summer to early autumn in recent decades and a slower decline in winter sea-ice thickness (IPCC).
Used to get almost no rain on Banks Island. Used to be snow in the fall. Now rain. This place used to be a dry place. (Andy Carpenter Sr., Sachs harbour, 1999) Snowed for two months straight. So much water [overflow] that we couldn’t use usual trail (Aklavik Inuvialuit 1997-98).	2003 had 3rd highest precipitation recorded since 1948 in Arctic Tundra region. 2002 had 10th highest precipitation recorded. (Climate trends and variations bulletin. Environment Canada, 2003) There has been a 2–4% increase in the frequency of heavy precipitation events in the northern hemisphere. ( IPCC*)
Today there is growth on the land. The land is changing, that is why on Victoria Island there is more growth. There was no vegetation around here. There was only gravel and pebbles long ago. Nowadays it seems to be continuing to get more vegetation. (Moses Koihok, 1998).	Northern scientists have shown that warmer weather leads to faster growth of willows and shrubs, which then shade important plants like reindeer lichen, an important food source for caribou. (International Tundra Experiment (ITEX), Chaplin et. Al. 1995).
It has been melting sooner than usual, and then freezing again, it’s been melting and freezing (Kugluktuk Anonymous, 1998) The snow was covered in ice. It had rained after a big snowfall. That is why some of the caribou had starved to death (Komak, 1998)	On average, between 1950 and 1993, night time daily minimum air temperatures over land increased about 0.2 degrees C per decade. This is about twice the rate of increase in daytime daily maximum air temperatures. This has lengthened the freeze-free season in many mid-and high latitude regions. (IPCC*) There is an increase in warm episodes (IPCC).

* IPCC is the International Panel on Climate Change. All information was taken from their Report for Working Group 1 entitled, a Summary for Policymakers.

Student Handout

Traditional and Western Observations and Evidence of Climate Change

Traditional Observations	Western Science Observations
Inuit have a traditional juggling game. The weather is sort of like that now. The weather is being juggled, it is changing so quickly and drastically. (N. Attungala, Baker Lake, 2001) Right now the weather is unpredictable. In the older days, the Elders used to predict the weather and they were always right, but now, when they try to predict the weather, it is always something different. It’s very unpredictable right now (Z. Aqqiaruq, Igloolik, 2000).	Northern scientists have shown that warmer weather leads to faster growth of willows and shrubs, which then shade important plants like reindeer lichen, an important food source for caribou. (International Tundra Experiment (ITEX), Chaplin et. Al. 1995).
The weather is warmer now…the snow seems to go earlier in the late spring. (Archie Komak, 1998) It seems to be getting warmer. The ocean freezes over later than usual. (Frank Analok, 1999) It never gets as cold as it used to…it used to get real cold in the past but nowadays it is not the same (May Algona, 1999).	A large ice shelf that has jutted into the Arctic Ocean from the northernmost part of Canada for at least 3,000 years has broken up, providing evidence that the region is warming. (Scientists, from Laval University and the University of Alaska, in Geophysical Research Letters.) Northern Hemisphere spring and summer sea-ice extent has decreased by about 10 to 15% since the 1950’s. It is likely that there has been about a 40% decline in Arctic sea-ice thickness during late summer to early autumn in recent decades and a slower decline in winter sea-ice thickness (IPCC).
Sky is hazy, not as blue (Iqaluit and Igloolik Elders). Used to be clear here all summer. Now we are lucky if we get two good weeks of clear flying days in Inuvik (Inuvik pilot).	Human influences have changed the atmospheric composition throughout the 21st century (IPCC)Numerous recent observations indicate that the Arctic is undergoing a significant change. (Recent environmental changes in the Arctic: a review* / Morison, J. Aagaard, K. Steele, M. Arctic, v. 53, no. 4, Dec. 2000, p. 359-371, ill. (some col.), maps) ASTIS record 47350.)
Birds arrive earlier. (Iqaluit Elder, 2001). The birds were more plentiful and arrived earlier than usual (Kakolak., 1998) Nowadays, the ice goes earlier so waiting (to go boating) is not so bad anymore (Komak, 1998).	Satellite data show that there are very likely to have been decreases of about 10% in the extent of snow cover since the late 1960’s (IPCC).
New species arriving. Eg. Robins, since late 1990’s. New species of insects familiar to people who come from treeline area. (Haniliak, 1998: Analok, 1999, Eyegetok, pers. comm., 1999). We see moose now, and never did ASTIS record 46719. before. We see them more and more each year (Nain, man age 43). Never saw salmon here before. (John Lucas Sr. Sachs Harbour, 1999)	The Western Arctic is experiencing a pronounced warming. (International Arctic Science Committee , 1999: Serreze et al., Observational Evidence of Recent Change in the Northern High-Latitude Environment. Climatic Change 46 (1-2): 159-207.2000). Globally it is very likely that the 1990’s was the warmest decade and that 1998 was the warmest year in the instrumental record since 1861 (IPCC).
Aniuvat (permanent snow patches) are melting in the hills(Iqaluit Elder).	A variety of species, from frogs to flowering plants, have demonstrated changed behaviour in response to increasing world temperatures over the last few decades. Scientists have determined that there have been significant overall species range shifts of 6.1 kilometres a decade, on average, toward the planet’s poles. (Scientific American, January 02, 2003) First records of sockeye and pink salmon from Banks Island and other records of Pacific salmon in Northwest Territories, Canada / Babaluk, J.A. Reist, J.D. Johnson, J.D. Johnson, L. (Arctic, v. 53, no. 2, June 2000, p. 161-164, 1 map)
Changes in snow distribution, depth and colour (Clyde River Elder.)No longer enough snow to bury fox traps (Baker Lake Elder).	Spring events such as egg laying and migration are occurring 2.3 days earlier each decade. (Scientific American, January 02, 2003)
A lot less multiyear (ice). The ice is getting thinner – landfast ice has gotten a lot thinner. (Roger Kuptana, Sachs Harbour, 1999) Auyittuq(glaciers) are changing – many are melting, though some advancing. More icebergs (general comments from many Elders). Long ago there was ice all summer. You would see the multiyear ice all summer. No more. –Frank Kudlak, Sachs Harbour, 1999.	On average, between 1950 and 1993, night time daily minimum air temperatures over land increased about 0.2 degrees C per decade. This is about twice the rate of increase in daytime daily maximum air temperatures. This has lengthened the freeze-free season in many mid-and high latitude regions. (IPCC*) There is an increase in warm episodes (IPCC).
Used to get almost no rain on Banks Island. Used to be snow in the fall. Now rain. This place used to be a dry place. (Andy Carpenter Sr., Sachs harbour, 1999) Snowed for two months straight. So much water [overflow] that we couldn’t use usual trail (Aklavik Inuvialuit 1997-98).	Artifacts were found in areas where there used to be permanent patches of ice. Because of the melting artifacts were found. Faunal and archaeological remains as evidence of climate change in freezing caverns, Yukon Territory, Canada (Arctic, v. 54, no. 2, June 2001, p. 135-141, ill., 2 maps) ASTIS record 48057.
Today there is growth on the land. The land is changing, that is why on Victoria Island there is more growth. There was no vegetation around here. There was only gravel and pebbles long ago. Nowadays it seems to be continuing to get more vegetation. (Moses Koihok, 1998).	Pollution is plugging us into darkness. Scientists have said that pollution affects sunlight in different regions of the globe and blocks out the suns rays. (New Scientists vol. 176 issue 2372 –14 December 2002, page 6.) It is likely that there has been a 2% increase in cloud cover over mid-to high latitude land areas during the 20th century ( IPCC*).
It has been melting sooner than usual, and then freezing again, it’s been melting and freezing (Kugluktuk Anonymous, 1998) The snow was covered in ice. It had rained after a big snowfall. That is why some of the caribou had starved to death (Komak, 1998)	2003 had 3rd highest precipitation recorded since 1948 in Arctic Tundra region. 2002 had 10th highest precipitation recorded. (Climate trends and variations bulletin. Environment Canada, 2003) There has been a 2–4% increase in the frequency of heavy precipitation events in the northern hemisphere. ( IPCC*)

* IPCC is the International Panel on Climate Change. All information was taken from their Report for Working Group 1 titled, a Summary for Policymakers.