Arctic - Climate Change

Lies within the Arctic circle
66.5 degree line of latitude
Consists of the ice sheet surrounding the North Pole
Eight countries - Canada, USA, Russia, Greenland, Iceland, Sweden, Finland and Norway
14.5 million sq km in land mass
It is mostly covered by pack-ice averaging 2-3 meters thick
January temperatures average -35 degrees and in July -1.5 degrees
Arctic is warming faster than anywhere else of earth
Is a barometer for change
Over the past few decades, the Arctic has warmed at about twice the rate of the rest of the globe
The IPCC states that over the last 30 years the average sea ice extent in the Arctic has decreased by 8%
The Greenland ice sheet is the largest body of freshwater ice in the Northern hemisphere
Some models suggest that the Arctic may be ice free in the summer in 10 to 50 years
Increased absorption of heat from the sun into the ocean (lowered albedo) is a major contributor to sea ice reduction
The breaking of the ice much earlier in the season makes it difficult to hunt
Arctic soils contain a lot of carbon in the form of partially decomposed organic matter
As permafrost thaws methane and carbon dioxide are released
Climate change is already destabilizing other systems in Greenland, including mountain glaciers, the distribution of permafrost and vegetation
The thermohaline circulation links the major oceans and it plays an important role in the transference of heat from the equator to the poles
1. It is caused by the different density of sea water caused by temperature and salinity
2. If the water doesn't cool enough it won't sink and then the circulation will break down with possibly catastrophic effects
3. The melting caps will cause more fresh water as a result in reduced salinity which could cause cooling in the North-West of Europe
About half of the analysed models suggest near-complete to complete ice loss in September by 2100
Climate warming and insect infestations make forests more susceptible to forest fires
1. A fire in 1996 burned 37,000 acres of forest
  1. This caused $80 million in direct losses, 450 structures destroyed including 200 homes
2. As many as 200,000 Alaskan residents may now be at risk from fires
NASA reported ice sheets 12 times the size of the UK were lost by 2012
Vegetation shifts
Tree line moves further North
Vegetation shift may weaken food webs
Warmer growing season will benefit the Arctic agriculture consequently creating more carbon sinks
Up to 40% of permafrost is expected to thaw
Thawing permafrost may damage houses, roads, airports and pipelines
Thawing permafrost may cause land instability and landslides
Local coastal losses to erosion of up to 100ft in some places have been recorded
Increased UV radiation will reach the Earth's surface as snow and ice cover is lost
Many freshwater eco-systems are highly sensitive to UV radiation, which destroys Phytoplankton at the base of the marine ecosystem
Melting glaciers and ice sheets leads to a reduction in the albedo effect causing further warming
There will be a spread in certain species such as the spruce bark beetle in Alaska
Eustatic rise in sea level
Loss of hunting culture and decline of food for indigenous people such as Inuit's
90% of Greenland's population are Inuit's
Need for herd animals such as reindeer to change their migration routes
A decline in Northern freshwater fisheries will result, but enhanced marine fisheries will evolve
Transport opportunities will arise
Increased access for marine shipping
Arctic will become vulnerable to exploitation for oil, gas, fish and other resources
Over 3,000 households rely on hunting and fishing as a source of employment and food
Warmer water is reducing the quantity of marine plants
Thinning ice makes hunting far more dangerous for inuit's
Melting ice sheets will add to rising global sea levels
May be quicker to travel across land in the future
Travel tour operations from places like Canada will boost the local economy
Improved soil due to thawing permafrost
Opportunities for TNCs
Increased population possible
Tourism opportunities
Greater diversity in species

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Arctic - Climate Change

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	Created by Jodie Goodacre almost 11 years ago