How Will This Affect Us?

The warming of the Arctic has had serious affects in the region. However, the issues do not end in the Arctic. This region is an extremely complex and vital part of the many world ecosystems. If this habitat is destructed, it will have adverse affects on many regions of the world. First and foremost, ocean levels and currents will be greatly affected. As the ice melts and converts to water, ocean levels around the world will rise. Coastal cities and islands around the world will be jeopardized. Major cities such as London and Los Angeles are expected to be affected. (The Guardian). Additionally, as water absorbs more heat than ice, the ocean will most likely be warmed overall. The warmer ocean temperature will have dramatic affects on marine animals and habitats. (such as the coral reefs).

The white color of the polar ice caps is a great "coolant" of the earth, reflecting much of the sun's rays. The water, on the other hand will absorb this heat. This will work to both warm the earth and contribute to further ice melt. (NASA). In extreme cases,the rising water levels could inundate entire coastal areas, such as the states of Louisiana and Texas. Also, increasing temperatures as part of this cycle could affect crop cycles all over the world. As an example, Kansas' temperature will increase 4 degrees in the winter without cold air masses from the Arctic. These warmer days would decrease the soil's moisture as well as disrupting wheat production, which is reliant on cold winters. (NRDC)

In addition Arctic ice holds huge deposits of stored greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane. As this ice thaws, tons of these gases will be released and trapped in our atmosphere. Additionally, as this process warms the ocean, it could also release frozen natural gas trapped in the ocean's floor. (NASA)

Changes in the arctic will also interrupt "the great conveyer belt", or the process through which ocean currents circulate heat throughout the world. The belt is moved by ocean density differences and wind. The Arctic is one of the major reasons for the ocean density differences. It relies on cooler waters in certain areas of the world to sink where warmer waters rise. If the Arctic is warmed, there will no longer be a difference in densities to power the "conveyer belt". Thus, the ocean currents will circulate less effectively, cooling certain areas dramatically. (Environmental Defense)

The melting Arctic is a major cause of concern for all of us. It must be adressed soon or serious consequences will be faced. "'The big melt has begun," Jennifer Morgan, director of the WWF's global climate change campaign, said in a statement. "Life on Earth will change beyond recognition with the loss of the ice sheet at the north pole and higher sea levels threatening major global cities such as London.'" (The Guardian)

What Exactly Is Happening?

It is quite easy to say that "the Arctic is melting", but what does that exactly mean? What is melting and by how much? The major issue of the melting Arctic is the reduction of ice cover. (The enormous repercussions of these reduction will be explored in a later blog). The ice is not only losing surface area, but also thickness. Thus, many ice blocks are cracking and splitting. An example of this is The Ward Hunt Ice Shelf. The shelf, which is over 3000 years old began to split at the beginning of the century, and is now completely split and breaking off into many pieces. This endangers animals and people that habitated this shelf. (NRDC)

Also, Arctic summers have become consistently warmer throughout the past twenty years, with "summer sea ice reaching record lows". (NASA) Additionally, the number of "melt days" has increased each year as the number of warm days also increases.

As previously stated, the amount of ice cover has decreased so rapidly that it is estimated by 2070, there may be no ice covering the region at all. However, some sources estimate this could come as soon as 2040. (The Guardian, National Geographic)

Additionally, glaciers all over the world are being affected in similar ways to the Arctic. The world has lost about 123 glaciers in the past 100 years. (National Geographic)

The decrease in size, thickness and area of the Arctic ice is a major cause for concern.

The Arctic Foreshadows Our Fate

Global Warming has affected the Arctic more dramatically and rapidly than any other observed region of earth. This highly sensitive area has been warming quickly and the changes are evident. Scientists now believe that the Arctic can be studied to document Global Warming's affect on the rest of the world. The rate of warming in this region over the past "twenty years is more than eight times the rate of Global Warming over the last 100 years" (NASA)

This information is considered very credible because it has been observed for an extended period of time. Images, tests, and studies have recently reached their conclusion, presenting us with a surplus of information regarding the Arctic and its changes. The findings of this research helps to prove not only that Global Warming exists, but how it will affect the earth and in what ways. Because the Arctic has warmed so quickly and dramatically, it has lent much proof to the fact that this is not a "natural" warming, but caused by an excess of greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere. (The Guardian)

The Affect on Wildlife and Habitat

The Arctic is an extremely sensitive region whose weather patterns highly affect and determine the global climate. Global Warming has affected this region of the globe more quickly and dramatically then anywhere else thus far. According to the British newspaper The Guardian, by 2070 there may be no ice covering the arctic during the summer months at all. The temperature has been increasing at an annual rate of about 9% per year for the past thirty years.

These changes are not only a harbinger of things to come for the world, but will most likely have dramatic and wide sweeping affects on ocean currents and crop rotations all around the globe. However, the first region to be greatly affected, and the place currently experiencing the most direct results is the Arctic itself.

Always considered to be a beautiful and isolated tundra, the Arctic has for thousands of years consisted of massive sheets of ice and snow, inhabited by unique animals and native peoples. However, as the snow and ice deplete more rapidly each year, the habitat and its populations are facing serious dangers. With the destruction of their habitat, polar bears, penguins, and sea otters face endangerment and extinction. Thus, the native people and animals that rely on the delicate food chain will also be disrupted. Native Inuit villages have been forced to move from areas they have inhabited for centuries after unsafe conditions have rendered the areas unsuitable. (The Guardian).

Some species have benefited from the recent thaw. Populations of the Spruce Bark Beetle have risen dramatically. Their appetite for wood has caused much of the Alaskan Forest to be depleted. (NRDC)

Short term "benefits" include the accessibility of previously frozen oil deposits, although this will ultimately contribute to the cause of the problem. (The Guardian)
The world will soon see the repercussions of a melting Arctic, but for now, they are being felt close to home for those already there.

My References

I used the following websites as references:

1)
http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/qthinice.asp
This website was funded by the National Resources Defense Council. Additionally, it provided comprehensive information about the topics it was addressing, including charts and maps.

2)
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/1023esuice.html
This website is sponsored by NASA, so I assumed the information presented was correct and factual. It also had various pictures of the ongoing damage on the arctic.

3)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2004/nov/03/environment.environment
This was an article provided by The Guardian, a British newspaper. As a trusted news source, I assumed the information had been thoroughly researched and was therefore veritable.

4)
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=261
This piece on the arctic was provided by Environmental Defense. They provided comprehensive information about themselves, including sponsoring organizations. Additionally, all information provided agreed with what I had already collected.

5)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/12/1206_041206_global_warming.html
National Geographic is a world wide source for trusted news. As such, I trusted their website and the facts it provided.

6)
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/08/31/arctic_pla.html?category=earth
The discovery channel is a public source for science information. The information on this website corresponded to much of the information I had already found.

An Introduction

This blog will cover the affects of Global Warming on the Arctic. It will address the reduction of Arctic Ice cover and ice cracks, as well as examining snowfall/thaw timelines and amounts.