FROZEN-GROUND CARTOONS - ENGLISH - Schouldoheem
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FROZEN-
GROUND
CARTOONS
ENGLISH
AN INTERNATIONAL
COLLABORATION
BETWEEN ARTISTS
AND PERMAFROST SCIENTISTS
HETA NÄÄS NOÉMIE ROSS
So get out there and procrastinate.
Procrastinate with purpose and with pride.
-Jorge Cham, Piled Higher and Deeper (2009)
We are grateful to Warwick F. Vincent (Université Laval,
Canada) for reviewing the content of this booklet.
CONTENTS
Frozen-Ground Cartoons: the Origins.
This project would not have been possible without
the support from the following organizations: Inter-
national Permafrost Association (IPA), International
Arctic Science Committee (IASC), Arctic Development 1 FOREWORD
and Adaptation to Permafrost in Transition (ADAPT),
Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN), Cli- This project started in October 2015 with a crazy idea : prepare and submit
2 A COLLABORATION BETWEEN ARTISTS
mate and Cryosphere (CliC), Alfred Wegener Institute a funding application for an international, multidisciplinary and non-traditional
Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), AND PERMAFROST SCIENTISTS
IMPACT ! Fund, Bolin Centre for Climate Research
scientific outreach project… within the next 48 hours.
and Nunataryuk.
4 NOÉMIE ROSS’S CARTOONS Well, it worked out. A group of highly motivated young researchers from Cana-
da and Europe united to combine arts and science and produce a series of out-
15 HETA NÄÄS’S CARTOONS reach comic strips about permafrost (frozen ground). The aim of the project is to
present and explain scientific research conducted across the circumpolar Arctic,
placing emphasis on field work and the rapidly changing northern environment.
The target audience is kids, youth, parents and teachers, with the general goal of
THE FROZEN-GROUND CARTOONS SCIENCE TEAM making permafrost science more fun and accessible to the public.
Frédéric Bouchard (lead), Michel Paquette
and Audrey Veillette Department of Geography, Because guess what : permafrost represents an area of more than twenty
Université de Montréal & Centre d’études million km2 in the Northern Hemisphere, a huge area. As the climate warms,
nordiques (CEN), Université Laval, Canada permafrost thaws and becomes unstable for houses, roads and airports. This
Michael Fritz and Stefanie Weege Alfred rapid thawing of previously frozen ground also disrupts plant and animal habi-
Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for
tats, impacts water quality and the ecology of lakes, and releases carbon into
Polar and Marine Research (AWI), Germany
Julie Malenfant-Lepage Department of Civil
the atmosphere as greenhouse gases, making climate change even stronger.
Hence permafrost and its response to climate change concerns us all. The project
Nunataryuk project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020
and Water Engineering & CEN, Université Laval,
research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 773421.
Ca n a d a B e t h a ny D e s h p a n d e D e p a r t- received initial support from the International Permafrost Association (IPA)
This reprint has been funded by the ‘Service de Coordi-
nation de la Recherche et de l’Innovation pédagogiques
ment of Biology & CEN, Université Laval, Canada as a targeted ‘Action Group’, and since then several other sponsors have joined
et technologiques’ (SCRIPT) of the Ministry of National Alexander Nieuwendam Centro de Estudos the project.
Education, Children and Youth, Luxembourg. Geográficos/IGOT, Universidade de Lisboa,
Portugal Ashley Rudy Department of Here we are, now, two years after this first idea. What you are about to read is
Geography and Planning, Queen’s University, the result of an iterative process of exchanging ideas between artists and scien-
Canada Matthias Siewert Department tists. We first made an application call and received 49 applications from artists
of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Umeå
in 16 countries. Through a formal review process, we then selected two artists
University, Sweden Ylva Sjöberg Department
ISBN 978-2-9816972-0-2 of Physical Geography and the Bolin Center to work on this project: Noémie Ross from Canada, and Heta Nääs from Finland.
Dépôt légal - 2017 for Climate Research, Stockholm University, With input from scientists, Noémie and Heta created fantastic cartoons that ex-
Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec Sweden Jon Harbor Department of Earth, plain some of the changes happening to the environment in permafrost areas,
frozengroundcartoon.com
Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Purdue how they affect people and wildlife, and what scientists are doing to better un-
DOI http://doi.org/10.2312/GFZ.LIS.2017.001 University, USA (senior advisor) J. Otto Habeck derstand these changes to help people find innovative ways to adapt. We wish
Institute for Social and Cultural Anthropology, everyone plenty of fun reading this booklet and we would like to thank all those
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution- Universität Hamburg, Germany (senior advisor).
NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License who supported this project.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
AUGMENTED REALITY PROJECT
J u l i e S a n s o u l e t Ta k u v i k I n t e r n a t i o n a l
R e s e a r c h L a b o ra t o r y, U n i v e r s i t é L a v a l ,
Graphic design noémie ross THE FROZEN-GROUND CARTOONS SCIENCE TEAM
Canada and Centre national de la recherche
© 2017 noémie ross
scientifique, France.
Titillium font is used.
1
An international collaboration between artists and permafrost scientists Organic material –
Pieces of dead plants and
animals, which can be found
in the ground, including the
permafrost. Organic material is
Permafrost – rich in carbon. It decomposes
Ground that remains at very slowly or not at all in cold,
I am Noémie Ross from or below 0°C for at least wet or frozen conditions. This Ice wedge –
two years in a row. Usually is why a lot of organic mate-
Montréal, in Québec, that means that the ground Sediments – When the ground freezes
Canada. I love to transfer rial from previous vegetation it often cracks in a polygonal
is frozen and does not remains undecomposed and Rocks, gravel, sand,
pattern. Snowmelt water and
information through my thaw during summer. stored in frozen Arctic soils. and clay that have
rain can flow into the cracks
creative work. If I want Ground includes soil, been deposited by rivers,
and freeze, and in this way ice
to draw interesting rocks, sediment, organic glaciers or in lakes.
wedges are built up over long
material and ice. The ground, including
cartoons, I need to ask: permafrost, contains
time and can grow to several
what is permafrost ? meters thickness. The ice
massive amounts
wedges can create polygonal
Seasonal frost – of sediments.
patterns on the ground
Ground that is frozen covering vast areas of
only during winter. the Arctic tundra.
Snow insulates the
ground during the
winter, so with more Geomorphology –
snow the ground usually The science that
freezes less than deals with landforms
with less snow. and landscape
Active layer – Permafrost zones – development.
The upper layer of the Permafrost areas are divided
ground in permafrost into zones based on the amount
areas, which thaws Tundra –
of frozen ground in the area. In the A type of landscape
during the summer. continuous permafrost zone almost Thermistor –
The active layer is often with a cold climate, Arctic –
all of the ground ( 90-100 %) is frozen ground A device used
between 0.5 m and 2 m frozen ; in the discontinuous zone The area around the North Pole.
(permafrost), low Sometimes it is defined by the for measuring
thick, depending on 50-90 % of the ground is frozen ; temperature.
local climate and growing vegetation Arctic Circle : latitude 66 degrees
in the sporadic zone 10-50 % of (mostly grasses) and
ground properties. the ground is frozen ; and in the 34 minutes North, the southern
usually no trees. limit of continuous winter dark-
isolated zone less than 10 %
of the ground is frozen. ness. It may also be defined by
the area north of northern tree
line, or as the area where the
Talik or ‘thaw bulb’ – mean temperature in July is be-
Ground in permafrost Thermokarst – low10 °C. Whichever definition
areas that is not frozen. Erosion and settle- is used, the Arctic is a vast area.
Taliks usually occur ment that results
under lakes and streams from the thawing
in permafrost areas. ice-rich permafrost,
which decreases Landslide –
the stability of the Landslides can occur when
ground material. the ground loses its structural Erosion –
stability, for example when Over time, mountains and
ice-rich permafrost thaws. land are worn down and
The ground then starts to Thaw slump – sediments are transported I am Heta Nääs from
move, which can lead to Landslides where away by water, wind and Helsinki, Finland. I find
damage of buildings, ice-rich permafrost on ice. This process is called it interesting to draw
roads and airports in the slopes of a valley erosion. In permafrost envi- comics about something
permafrost areas. thaws out rapidly, ronments, erosion can occur
unfamiliar to me, as
leaving eroded areas when permafrost thaws, for
of exposed soil. example in thaw slumps permafrost science.
and landslides. Now that the scien-
tists have answered
my questions, I’m ready
to work on a story !
2 3
introduction by a star speaker
THE STAR SPEAKER Changing climate is a concern
scenario and drawings noémie ross
because permafrosst is directly
So, an easy Permafrosst iz a Nice ! ... but now you’re linked to ze temperature of ze air. Oh, okay, I thought
Students, listen please ! thermal state... Oh for real ? saying there is no
question to Like I thought, he You mean I was mistaken...
We are really lucky to have a special start with : is the famous inter- danger with perma-
the star speaker frost melting ?
guest here to give you an introduction what is national permafrost at conferences !
to permafrost. permafrost ? scientist. Cool !
You are
No, no, no... mistaken...
...
The warming at ze
Yes, poles could allow
So Dr. Petit, they are yes... !? ...because we can not
No, no... !? the methane trapped say zat ze frossen-
just starting to study in ze ground to be
permafrost science. ground melts.
released in ze air.
Often people I like his charming accent Zaz is a
ssink zat and don’t want to common sas
frossenground miss a word ! mistake. s?
sou
is characterized
ws ? ws?
only by snow
s a
and ice. ?
But, as I said, uth
Because as I
so . what ?
It ..
frossenground said earlier,
is a ssermal it is not only
condition of ice and snow,
the ground. it can also be
sau
rock, sand,... Zat is why ce ?
it is more exact
to say zat
it ssaws.
We define permafrosst So it’s true : You need a little demonstration...
...but also every material Like a
as ground, or materials, zat can be zat is frossen. Zat can be... It ssaws !
zat remains frozen snow or ice... turkey!
for at least two
consecutive years. A snowball melts, right ?
In Siberia,
we can have
permafrosst
k
zat is almost
two kilo- roc ...
meters
deep. Tap !
Hold it for
me, please ! Tap !
Tap !
You have With climate warming, No, no, no... ...does not
He means
a question ? should we be worried But a turkey
turn into a it thaws !
about the permafrost zat comes
out of the puddle ! O-k-a-y !
melting ? Oh, I ... I... I Ha ! Now it’s clear !
freezer....
thought it
was a real ?
threat...
Zat’s
sand... it !
Yes, yes, yes...
... and any ozer kind of soil.
- TiTillium fonT is used -
4 5
climate is changing, my dear reindeer ! scenario and drawings noémie ross
CLIMATE IS CHANGING, MY DEAR REINDEER ! scenario & drawings noémie ross
The snow and ice cover melt The atmospheric layer that has to
and the darker land and ocean
Momo,wI don’t wan
warm in order to warm the surface
You don’t have surfaces absorb more energy... is thinner in the Arctic. That’s why Why isn’t
t ear thos
e!
t any choice ! and that makes it warmer. it is warming even faster where anyone doing
You must wear Did you wear them we live. anything about
your arm floaties. too when you it then?
were little ?
There was no need
to wear them when
I was young.
Then why You know what happened The global temperature is warmer People are trying to do something People from many countries are
to your uncle... and the soil that used to be frozen but it is not a simple phenomenon working together on a plan to slow CO2 is the main
should I be reason for warming.
wearing them ? Yeah, but why did tends to be less frozen... he drowned to stop. down climate warming.
that happen ? in soil that had become too weak... That originates
mostly from
Because climate industry.
is changing,
my dear reindeer ! It is very hard to slow
down and even when
a plan is set up it will
take many years before
we will see a positive
effect.
You know when I was young, I used But now the growing season People started to cultivate the soil... Well, for now,
to live more in the south in the is longer and warmer. Trees I propose that
tundra, we had a lot of food... have replaced our sedges.... Ok, what can I do ? you stop moving
Then everybody I want to do something ! this arm...
has to start making
an effort starting
now!
You’re
right !
There are bugs we didn’t use There are more precipitation... Is it only here
to see, there are forest fires... Mom, I’m serious, I want Oh, I’m as If you want to see
that climate is to do something useful serious as future generations...
changing ? for future generations ! you are.
No, it has had an ... if you want to
Bz
zz have kids yourself...
! impact all around
z
the globe...
I’m singing
in the rain...
Mom, I don’t want ... first of all, Let’s go !
to wear those ! You you have to ... to
know I can swim ! ensure... keep
safe !
Son, you know But it is true that
the ice is rare, the effects are
you will have greater and faster
Smack !
to swim a lot ! in the North.
The arctic ice cover is getting thinner
every year and is retreating sooner
so boats are now able to travel far
Why is that ? north. You’ll see more and more of Not cool !
those boats, son !
- TiTillium fonT is used -
6 7
theThe
reindeer and the mosquitoes
reindeer and the mosquitoes scenario and drawings noémie ross
THE REINDEER AND THE MOSQUITOES
Dad, are you serious ? You told me strange stories where But how could a little mosquito
Dad, I’m so happy So am I, son ! I mean you told me sad the soil becomes soft and sludgy, be a danger
school is finished stories about wolves the living earth, in which reindeers for reindeer ?
for the summer and I’ll show you a lot !
and reindeer are in danger of drowning.
to come work newborns...
with you !
Cool !
Oh !
Oh !
There’s a lot of sedges over there Believe me, son, at the peak of the ...and ultimately starts to run
It’s getting warm. It’s time We might find some and reindeers really enjoy that season, in July, mosquitoes bother The herd becomes upset...
to round up the herd to bring reindeers over there. and gathers... in a circle, forming a reindeer mill.
kind of plant. and attack the reindeer.
the reindeers to a lake.
m!
mm
How do
you know
that, dad ?
You see those polygons. They are ... a bad angle, you might break the They go fast, and for such a length OH NO ! The herd is actually
!
Now that the herd separated by crevasses. If you skis of your sledge or snowmobile. of time, that they may themselves being attacked by mosquitoes ! Are you ready ?
c k
is rounded up, let’s cross the crevasses with... create a living earth.
a
To protect the soil and Yes !
a
go to that lake...
aa
the herd, we must move
cr
the herd up the hill.
It won’t
take long !
It’s not
too far ! There’s less chance
up there to create
a living earth.
You must Wasn’t there a closer
cross them lake ? Why did you
YaYaaaahahhh !
with a right choose this one ?
angle.
!
OKAY !
Suddenly, it seems a looooot longer !
That kind of elliptic-shaped lake is And even for us... Another good point : mosquitoes Now I agree :
tend to avoid living near that kind of Alright ! It’s
more shallow and has really clean In winter, we cut cubes in those quiet again. little mosquitoes
water for reindeers. lakes to get clean water to drink. lake because it has less swampy can be a big
banks, their natural habitat. Dad, I thought it problem !
would never finish...
I’m so tired !
Son, you’ve
learned a lot
in one day !
The only disadvantage is that Mosquitoes and reindeers can
there are no fish in there. really be a dangerous match !
- TiTillium fonT is used -
8 9
all-inclusive field vacation
All-inclusive field vacation
scenario and drawings noémie ross
...gate number 12, last call f
or fight... ... to meet and work with people ... to explore unique and amazing ... to spend time with friends and colleagues
landscapes and live outdoors.... from around the world...
from northern communities....
!
ers
che
tunngasugit. à la vô
tre !
prost !
tunngasugittik.
...it’s really important to get away from a You’ve been preparing your luggage for two
Hey Valery ! I bought my ticket one desk and see what is actually happening weeks and can’t wait to unpack ! Imagine how
Long time no see ! Hi Eva ! month ago and my on the ground... I feel, I’ve been packing mine for a whole year!
You’re going on suitcase has been
vacation ? packed for weeks !
I can’t wait I am the one
Yes !!!
to get there ! who can’t
I’m going
I opted for an wait to
south ! I’m
all-inclusive
package...
unpack !
so excited !
...to explore a new landscape... ... to take advantage of the long days... ... and honestly a more physical work
as the sun sets later... is welcome after an all-year routine !
You convinced me ! It’s your
... to spend time with my And you ? Are Ok ! kind of all-inclusive package ! Will you
friends and make new ones... you going on
vacation too ? send me
pictures of
your trip ?
Miss, I will !
please !
Yes, yes !
I’m going
north.
...to change my routine... You need
this !
I am planning on collecting a number of different I’m confused, isn’t that work?
samples of the frozen ground... That can’t be a vacation, can it? Dear North,
...also known here I come !
as permafrost...
Well it may sound
strange, but I really Captain speaking...
enjoy spending our destination’s
... and even samples of lake ice... time in the north. temperature is -25
... that we collect with degrees and sunny!
a chainsaw.
- TiTillium fonT is used -
—▶THE FONT TITILLIUM IS USED —
10 11
mission for a special team scenario and drawings noémie ross
Today, an imporTanT meeTing is Thank you Amy Very good. Let’s talk about the A landslide occurred three months ago in the village. Fortunately, despite the
for being here I am looking forward to hearing work to be done ! It is quite an scale of the landslide, nobody was injured. That landslide was the result of the
Taking place in a norThern commu-
niTy. The mayor and elders are this morning with about the qualifications and important issue for our village. melting of ground ice, which generated a lot of water in the soil.
the team you put expertise of your teammates !
meeTing a Team of researchers.
together for this As you
project. First, let me introduce
Amy to everyone ! Amy might
have
r heard...
yo
Ma
is an
INEER However the consequences That is why we need your knowledge and expertise : we need you to study
Amy
G Nice to meet you ! could have been more serious the area, to map the landscape and give us precise information on the best
ENas great experieunccteure since we were about to start
building houses on this land !
locations to build safe and sustainable infrastructure in the future.
ice-rich ground
she h ging infrastr
in mana . So we want signs of erosion
projects to take actions
e
Some years ago, sh rp ort’s
to better plan
was pa rt of th e ai the future.
road project.
She always has dirty
boots but clear ideas !
She will lead
r
our project. Let me introduce my team- steep slope
PROG
mates... they are the best !
ange
field r
Hello !
Axe Ben is a
Sorry ! I met ce.
l is experien
He’s q
uic k on c
oding
R AME a Sounds
great ! Welcome
an old friend ...
Oh !
Here comes our He has a
lot of gr
e a t f ie ld
rs w h o have obse
rved
and m R Alex ! with e ld e
itions.
He is so odelli fourth member ! He can talk n dscape cond
we nee fast finding d ng. ch a n g in g la
d .. . h a t a cious
any det
ective t
e could
pla
or statis
tic So he can gather pre rmafrost.
v show y the geek in informati on ab ou t pe
!
For the landscape
stability aspect of
the project...
o l o g i s t It seems like you I feel like I’m giving
orph
ou r
Taty is have a great team ! a mission to a team of
geomo know what kyins dreoafdgyrtoo drill a hole
e’s
und sh permafrost superheroes...
Haven’t you said Cool ! We could
es t alwa there would be
She lik g on... She’s content
.
four members ?
be called the...
walkin il to analyze its
in the so
If there’s ground ice,
she’s the one Ben met a
to find it !!! friend outside...
You can start
the explanations.
- TiTillium fonT is used -
12 13
permafrost field work: a lot to do ! scenario and drawings noémie ross walking on a giant scenario and drawings heta nääs
But we need a
We have a problem ! What !? complete team ! I agree ...so close to the be- Hum... okay... anyone
Fred has ginning of the season, knows someone? ...with
There is so much to do on the field ! to be everyone is booked scientific interests...
Fred broke his replaced, on a project ! ...good resistance...
thumb again ! Plus, there’s no way we need an
other bad field season as last year ! but...
Yeah, everybody
He cannot be I’m thinking
part of the team ! of is already
engaged.
Me too.
two arms...!?
Maybe, my cousin Mateo... Find the You know, Mateo,
Rafael, I’m surprised you call words to the work on the
He plans to study medecine. me. I mean, I know nothing field is like...
Does a lot of outdoors activities. about permafrost and stuff... convince
him ! nursing a patient. Open ?
Hein ?
Call
him !
Go !
Go !
Go ! How could I
be of any
help ? Yeah... It’s like the ground
is getting fever, we need
to take its temperature.
Okay, the difference is you need Secondly, you know how weak That depth measurement Until we really have A huge portrait of
to drill a hole in the ground to in- feels a person with fever... is repeated many times. a good portrait of 100 m x 100 m !
stall thermometers to log data of so does the ground ! the situation.
temperatures at different depths. The top layer thaws and
re-freezes every year,
it’s the active-layer.
data
logger
active-layer
Good job!
thermometers
We want to know the 10 m
depth of that active-layer.
Then comes a rewarding but So many problems can occur ...his telephone...
delicate step : collecting samples. during the process... a sample
Those are sent to labos for fur- may melt, break, get stucked... ...Anyways...Some imagery
ther analysis. Last year, a guy almost tests are also You know, like
Why do you say lost his th... conducted to get a radiography
it’s delicate ? a 2D image of or a scan...
the soil transect.
Chut !
No !
Finally, data about the ground Fascinating !
only would be useless. We also
collect data of the surroundings, You know what ?
as soil humidity, air temperature,
snow depth... to get Temperature,
a complete topo. imagery, samples,
patient’s context,...
Finally, I have
That makes the pleasure
sense to me ! to meet the
patient !
I’m in !
YES !
- TiTillium fonT is used -
14 15
the bumpy road scenario and drawings heta nääs
16 1718 19
20 21
22 23
24 25
PERMAFROST
continuous
discontinuous
sporadic
isolated
NORTH
POLE
Frozen-
Ground !
c a r t o o n s
An international collaboration
between artists and permafrost
scientists resulting in 22 pages
of cartoons about permafrost,
climate change, research
in the North and reindeer !
AUGMENTED
REALITY
scan the QR code
FROZENGROUNDCARTOON.COM
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