The issues of global warming and climate change are prominent in society today, as they are becoming increasingly more intense, affecting ways of life. One place where climate change and global warming have a major impact is the arctic. That arctic is warming at intense rates, affecting its environment and habitats, raising the global sea level, and harming native wildlife. These issue are a important in the arctic because the arctic connects to many different systems essential for life around the world. As the arctic is being impacted by global warming and climate change, the effects are causing extreme problems for the area and the entire planet.
The arctic is experiencing Global warming at a rate that is twice the global average. According to a study at NASA Gooddard the earth warmed around 1.44”F over the last 40 years, however the arctic warmed over 3.5”F in that same time . Some main reasons for global warming consist of burning fossil fuels,deforestation, and an overall increase in greenhouse gases. Scientists believe these human activities are also main causes of the changes in the arctic. One main action that scientists have identified in the issue of arctic climate change is the rapid melting of arctic sea ice. Arctic sea ice is vital for temperature control in the arctic. It is able to reflect much of the sun’s energy back into space, which otherwise would have been absorbed speeding the warming of the arctic. However according to a satellite study from NASA, the amount of sea ice is decreasing at a rate of 13.2 from 1979 to 2012, and experienced its biggest minimum in 2012. The sea ice is melting due to an increase in greenhouse gases which have been warming the ice for a period of time. As the sea ice melts the sun’s energy is being absorbed into the land increasing the arctic’s climate change and warming. People are causing Climate change and global warming because they are doing actions such as, using up fossil fuels at an alarming rate for things such as industry and transportation, not realizing the problems that it causing for different areas, such as the arctic.
Another toll global warming has taken on the arctic is on its ecosystem wildlife. As temperatures rise, the health of the wildlife is at risk. The wildlife in the arctic has adapted to a specific living conditions, and as the characteristics of the arctic change the wildlife is facing a reduction in appropriate habitats. Many coastal animals also face the threat of habitat destruction because of flooding, due to rising sea levels and severe weather around the coast. Arctic warming also puts wildlife at risk for disease and an increase in competition. The changes in climate also mean certain areas will not be able to support certain types of vegetation, such as grasses, mosses, and lichens. This has negative effects on the ecosystem because many animals feed on these organisms and many habitats depend on these animals and plants to survive. Since many animal’s habitats are either not surviving or are being destroyed the species become forced to migrate and find new areas to live in. This leads to an increase in competition between the migrant species and the native species, which causes both populations to decline, which has a negative effect on the area. Another affect global warming and climate change is having an arctic wildlife is on it’s freshwater ecosystems. Since many freshwater species are adapted to cold temperatures, they are not fit to live in the warmer waters which how are product of global warming in the arctic. The melting of permafrost is also leading to a lack have ground surface which is having a hurting freshwater ecosystems. This characteristic of the arctic is having drastic effects on not only the wildlife, but has overall adverse effects on the arctic as a whole and in turn the whole planet.
Permafrost is important to the arctic because it is a frozen layer of soil which helps and keeping many poisonous gases and microbes in the ground. Permafrost covers 25% of the western hemisphere, and now that it is melting these once dormant elements are beginning to have adverse effects on the environment. As permafrost melts, it releases things like carbon and mercury and could release ancient deadly diseases such as anthrax, which can pose immense threats to human life. Scientists have noticed an increase in permafrost temperatures, changing from around 18”F in the 1980s to 28”F in 2015. Permafrost also affects the land because of the release of water from its melting, which can cause the ground to fall apart. Permafrost in the Arctic poses many worries for scientists, however their main concern is the carbon dioxide that is being released. The melting of permafrost reveals plants that have been locked under the soil for many years which poses the threat of a dramatic increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Once the ancient plants have thawed out and decompose they will produce what scientists believe to be more than twice the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Permafrost melting also affects the wildlife as these toxins will eventually integrate into food webs and infect wildlife.
People need to know and care about global warming and climate change in the arctic because it is detrimental to their way of life. One main area of concern is the previously mentioned issue of arctic sea ice. Arctic sea ice affects people’s lives in many ways, such as driving the circulation of the earth’s oceans. As the ice melts it won’t be able to drive this process, which will greatly affect the global climate and present new challenges for human development. The warming of the arctic is also having adverse effects on the earth’s oceans by slowing thermohaline circulation, this is circulation in the oceans caused by temperature and salt concentrations. As glaciers and ice are melting, oceans are heating up and freshwater is coming into oceans to lower the temperature, causing them to become less salty and creating a layer of freshwater over-the-top slowing thermohaline circulation. This is an issue because if thermohaline circulation slows carbon dioxide is rapidly produced into the atmosphere intensifying and prolonging the issues of climate change and global warming. The changes in the arctic are also leading to an increase in greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. These gases are being released in many ways such as methane being produced do to soil and decomposition, and the release of methane hydrants from permafrost and sea beds. These emotions lead to more severe weather in the arctic and intensify the effects of global warming and climate change. However not all effects of arctic warming and climate change are environmental, some affects even impact industries and economies. The rising sea level that is caused by changes in the arctic is not only affecting habitats, but is flooding towns and destroying coastal communities. Arctic tourism is also becoming reduced due to disruptions to the agriculture and wildlife, causing the area to lose its appeal to tourists. Fishing industries are also affected considering the oceans rising temperature many fish migrate making it hard or impossible for some communities to fish effectively, causing them to lose a large source of income.
In order to stop global warming and climate change in the arctic, The production of greenhouse gases needs to be significantly cut down, fossil fuels in the Arctic need to be kept in the ground, public access to certain areas and oceans in the Arctic needs to be reduced, and scientists need to find ways to stop the melting of arctic sea ice. There are many steps being taken in order to try and solve the issues of climate change and global warming is the arctic. Some of these actions are done through different organizations such as WWF, who successfully made the arctic government take recognition and a lead on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Another organization, the arctic council which consists of different arctic nations, is spreading awareness of the issue of arctic climate change and working with many programs and the arctic government to help reduce emissions, preserve the areas is biodiversity, and help protect the arctic environment. Scientists are also battling these issues, studying the different conditions of the arctic and discovering new attempts to reverse the effects of climate change and global warming on the area. One project scientists have created is the Manhattan project, this project is aimed at using wind turbines to create more sea ice in the arctic. Other ways to improve the condition of the arctic due to climate change and global warming are simpler and can be done by anyone. Some of these things include recycling, planting a tree, eating locally grown food, cutting down gas fuel transportation, saving electricity and informing others of the issue of arctic climate change. These actions may seem small, but in turn help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, stopping climate change and global warming, saving the arctic.
In conclusion, the issues of global warming and climate change are having pressing effects on the arctic regions. Animals and wildlife have begun to lose their habitats and ways of life, Arctic sea ice is melting, permafrost is exposing new threats for environment, sea levels are rising, coasts are becoming flooded, global warming and climate change has spelt disaster for the arctic regions. Due to this evidence it is not beyond reason for scientists to believe that the human race could soon be facing worldwide affects like this itself. It is known that the arctic plays a large role in global temperature balance and ocean circulation. As the arctic is warming and changing faster than ever before, its effects will be felt across the planet, changing the lives of billions of people. It is essential that people understand the future consequences of these issues in the arctic, as without this understanding it is not possible to preserve this iconic territory and the planet.
Works Cited
‘Opportunities and Challenges: Economic, Social, and Political Impacts of Climate Change in the Arctic.’ ACCEL, 6 Oct. 2014, accelfellowship.wordpress.com/opportunities-and-challenges-economic-social-and-political-impacts-of-climate-change-in-the-arctic/.
‘National Snow and Ice Data Center.’ Climate Change in the Arctic | National Snow and Ice Data Center, nsidc.org/cryosphere/arctic-meteorology/climate_change.html.
‘Arctic Sea Ice Minimum | NASA Global Climate Change.’ NASA, NASA, 24 Oct. 2017, climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/arctic-sea-ice/.
‘Climate Change and Its Impacts – Arctic – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.’ U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, www.fws.gov/refuge/arctic/climatechange.html.
‘Permafrost In a Warming World.’ Weather Underground (10.226.247.75), www.wunderground.com/resources/climate/melting_permafrost.asp.