challenges

• What is a significant challenge to development in Svalbard?

  Extreme cold temperatures
• What do the winter temperatures frequently fall below?

  -20 °C
• What is a consequence of short daylight hours in winter for Svalbard residents?

  Day to day life becomes challenging
• What must residents do to go outside in Svalbard's extreme cold?

  Wrap up in many warm and windproof layers
• How do extreme temperatures affect construction work in Svalbard?

  Movement becomes difficult for labour-intensive jobs like construction work
• Why is growing food almost impossible in Svalbard?


  Due to extreme temperatures
• What must be done with food in Svalbard due to growing challenges?

  Majority must be imported
• What limits international travel to Svalbard?


  Remote location and climate
• Where is international travel to Svalbard limited to?

  Longyearbyen
• How can one travel to Svalbard?

  By plane or boat from either Norway or Russia
• What makes travel difficult in winter to Svalbard by boat?

  Sea ice
• What is the extent of road connectivity in Svalbard?

  Only 50km of road in Longyearbyen
• How do residents travel to other communities in Svalbard?

  By boats in summer or snowmobiles in winter
• What is notable about the number of snowmobiles in Svalbard?

  There are more snowmobiles than people
• What geographical features limit accessibility in Svalbard?

  Mountains, glaciers, snow, and fjords
• What challenges does construction face in Svalbard's cold environment?

  Provision of infrastructure and utilities
• What is the ground in Svalbard primarily made of?

  Permafrost
• How has the warming climate affected permafrost in Svalbard?

  Caused it to thaw
• What is a consequence of thawing permafrost for homes in Svalbard?

  Many homes are sinking into waterlogged ground
• What issue arises from fungi in Svalbard's construction?

  Decomposing the wood
• What happens to houses due to lack of solid foundations in Svalbard?

  Houses sag into the ground
• What percentage of Longyearbyen's population has evacuated due to avalanches?

  10%
• What makes providing utilities in Svalbard challenging?


  Extreme climate conditions
• How are pipes for water and sewage managed in Svalbard?


  Raised above the ground
• Why is water heated before entering homes in Svalbard?

  To prevent freezing
• How does the remote location affect local residents?

  Limits the transport of goods and makes it difficult for residents who need to leave for healthcare.