Climate Change Effects on the Arctic Environment

Arctic Region Environmental Changes Due to Global Warming

Oct 20, 2008 Laurence O'Sullivan

The Arctic Report Card confirms that global warming is changing the environment of the arctic region with less ice cover and higher air temperatures.

The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued its “Arctic Report Card 2008” on October 17, 2008. In a news release, issued by NOAA on October 16, 2008, entitled “Annual Arctic Report Card Shows Stronger Effects of Warming”, the lead author, James Overland said “Changes in the Arctic show a domino effect from multiple causes more clearly than in other regions.”

Arctic Environmental Changes

The report highlights six areas of major concern in the Arctic environment.

• Diminishing Arctic sea ice.

• Increasing Arctic atmospheric temperatures.

• Increased Arctic Ocean temperatures.

• Increased loss of Arctic permafrost.

• Environmental impact on Arctic marine life.

• Danger to the Greenland ice shelf.

The report shows the most dramatic effect of global warming on the Arctic is the continued loss of summer sea ice. This loss of summer sea ice is an ongoing trend since the 1990s. More ominously, the report states, “In recent years, the rate of reduction in the amount of older, thicker perennial ice has been increasing, and now very little ice older than 5 yr remains.”

Increasing Arctic Atmospheric Temperatures

2008 was second only to 2007, the warmest year on record for the Arctic. Atmospheric temperatures in the Arctic are now 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) greater than normal. According to the report, “Winter and springtime temperatures remain relatively warm over the entire Arctic, in contrast to the 20th century and consistent with an emerging global warming influence.”

Increased Arctic Ocean Temperatures

The report says the oceans of the Arctic continue to warm, mainly as a result of the dramatic sea ice melt which allows more solar energy to be absorbed by the oceans. More worryingly the report finds that “These changes were accompanied by an unprecedented rate of sea level rise” and in relation to the salinity of the Arctic region said “in 2007 upper-ocean salinity structure and Atlantic Water temperatures in the central Arctic Ocean moved away from climatological norms, with increased salinity and temperature.”

Increased Loss of Arctic Permafrost

The report highlights a general increase in permafrost temperatures in Alaska, Northwest Canada, Siberia and Northern Europe. This could have a large impact on global warming as, according to Chapter 6 of Terrestrial Ecosystems in a Changing World, by JG Canadell et al, published by Springer-Verlag in 2007, permafrost traps over 400 billion tons of carbon in the soil.

Environmental Impact on Arctic Marine Life

The report shows that the warming temperature and the loss of sea ice impacts heavily on marine life in the Arctic region. It lists the polar bear, walrus, caribou, beluga whale and reindeer populations as being particularly at risk of the environmental changes taking place.

Danger to the Greenland Ice Shelf

While melting of sea ice in the Arctic would have a marginal effect on sea levels, melting of the ice shelf in Greenland would have dramatic sea level effects. The report states that “Greenland's largest glacier, among a majority of others, continued its retreat. The ice sheet lost at least 100 cubic km (24 cubic miles) of ice, making it one of the largest single contributors to global sea level rise.”

In line with other reports, the “Arctic Report Card 2008” shows how close the planet is to reaching a carbon tipping point. It emphasizes the dangers of a self perpetuating cycle of global warming with continuing growth in carbon dioxide levels and methane. As Richard Spinrad, NOAA assistant administrator said in the press release accompanying the report, “The Arctic is an extraordinarily interconnected region, so what happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay in the Arctic.”

The copyright of the article Climate Change Effects on the Arctic Environment in Meteorology & Climatology is owned by Laurence O'Sullivan. Permission to republish Climate Change Effects on the Arctic Environment in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Arctic Environment	Arctic Marine Life	Greenland Ice Shelf
Diminishing Arctic Sea Ice	Loss of Arctic Permafrost

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Nov 21, 2008 3:26 AM

Guest :

global warming is such a massive issue that will effect everyone,there is no excuse that our economy cant fee it,there wont be economy if we don't all do something,but most importantly America need to take the lead as it is the biggest superpower and it needs to the set the standard for the countries as it has the most influence over (especially newly industrisized countries eg china)

Dec 12, 2008 4:02 PM

Guest :

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