Weather Variability and Changing Sea Ice Use in Qeqertaq, West Greenland, 1987–2008

Abstract

This chapter reviews changes in local weather, sea ice, and ice use in the small Greenlandic hunting community of Qeqertaq (population 147) located in the northeast section of Disko Bay, Northwest Greenland. In the 1980s, the island was surrounded by shorefast ice during 6–8 months of the year. Traveling on ice by dogsleds used to be the only way to go hunting, fishing, and to connect with other nearby communities. The Qeqertamiut are highly dependent on sea ice to maintain their traditional subsistence knowledge and economy based on extensive use of the ice-dominated marine environment. In 1987–1988, the author stayed in Qeqertaq conducting meteorological observations and studying the impact of weather variability on sea ice extent, thickness, and quality. Since 1987, the average annual temperature in the Qeqertaq area has increased by more than 3°C, resulting in major impacts to the local sea ice regime. In 2008, the author revisited the community to document how the Qeqertamiut continue to use the sea ice today, under a much warmer climate and higher weather variability.