British Antarctic Survey - New map of Greenland reveals fast-changing environment

A new map of Greenland and the European Arctic highlights the importance of monitoring environmental change in this fast-changing region. Cartographers at British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have produced the most detailed and up-to-date published map of Greenland. This map is the first of its kind to cover the entire region on one sheet.

The map stretches from the Canadian Arctic in the west, to the Russian Arctic in the east. Mapping this region is extremely challenging. Maintaining accurate map records allows researchers to track and investigate the fast-changing Arctic environment.

Glacier and ice-sheet retreat is causing coastlines in the region to evolve, creating new bays and fjords which feature. One of the most significant areas of improvement is over Greenland.

Historically, due to its remote location and low population density, data collection and the creation of maps in Greenland has been more difficult than in other areas. To overcome this, BAS cartographers extracted the coastline from an existing dataset and updated it using over forty satellite images at 30-m resolution. The updated coastline and interior includes new features such as islands in the Qimusseriarsuaq (Melville Bay) region, revealed by the retreat of the Greenland ice sheet. It also exposes the extension of the Ilulissat Icefjord at the front of Jakobshavn Isbræ, a glacier well-known for its dramatic recent retreat.

GIS and Mapping Specialist at BAS, Laura Gerrish says:

“This has been an exciting two-year project. For a cartographer, re-drawing the maps of this fast-changing landscape is a dream job. It has been fascinating collating and creating the data for these dynamic and environmentally sensitive regions. Mapping Greenland was a big challenge, especially because the landscape is changing so quickly.”

The reverse of the map provides a wealth of information on the region, its people and the environmental changes facing the Arctic. This information panel was produced by the NERC Arctic Office with inputs from organisations including the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), WWF and the Met Office.

Head of the NERC Arctic Office, Henry Burgess, says:

“We know that people are fascinated by the beauty and fragility of the Arctic. But also that they want to better understand the environmental changes that are happening there and what they mean. By working with some of the best researchers and experts here and overseas we have created a straightforward and attractive information resource that will enable people to get behind the headlines. Whether you are visiting the Arctic or just want to know more, we think this will be a fantastic companion.”

The Greenland and the European Arctic map is available for purchase as either a flat wall map or a folded map at several outlets including Stanfords map store in London (www.stanfords.co.uk) and the Scott Polar Research Institute (https://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/shop).

ENDS

Issued by the British Antarctic Survey Press Office:

Layla Batchellier, Communications Officer tel: +44 (0) 1223 221506, e: laytch@bas.ac.uk

Athena Dinar, Senior Science Communications Manager tel: +44 (0) 1223 221441, e: amdi@bas.ac.uk

Mobile: +44 (0) 7909 008516

Images of the map are available on request from the Press Office (press@bas.ac.uk).

Notes to Editors

Contributors to the Arctic information panel include the UK Polar Network, Changing Arctic Ocean Programme, Met Office, the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO), WWF and the Scott Polar Research Institute, as well as researchers from National Oceanography Centre, British Antarctic Survey, and several UK Higher Education Institutes.

Median sea ice extent records from the National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC) were used to create the new sea ice extent dataset for the past decade (2009-2019). A small inset map on the main panel compares the new data to the 30-year long-term baseline, to show how the sea ice extent is changing.

The cover photo of Hamnøya, Lofoten, Norway was taken by photographer Hannah Gerrish.

The map is printed by Dennis Maps, professional map printers. The map is in memory of Sarah Auffret (1984-2019), the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators (AECO)’s environment agent.

British Antarctic Survey (BAS), an institute of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), delivers and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the Polar Regions. Its skilled science and support staff based in Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through its extensive logistic capability and know-how BAS facilitates access for the British and international science community to the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and international collaborations, combined with an excellent infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the UK in Antarctic affairs. For more information visit www.bas.ac.uk

The NERC Arctic Office is funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and hosted at the British Antarctic Survey. It is tasked with supporting UK research in the high North, providing advice to policy-makers, and developing international scientific co-operation across all aspects of Arctic research. For more information visit www.arctic.ac.uk

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