The Arctic is one of the most remarkable ecosystems in the world. Receiving less than ten inches of precipitation per year, the Arctic is considered a desert (“Earth”). However, unlike most deserts, the temperature ranges from -34’ F to 54’ F (Wachman). Although the climate appears somewhat extreme, great variety of species can be found there. Around 450,000 caribou roam the Arctic Tundra (“Arctic” Alaska). In the summer, wolves, bears, reindeer, and birds inhabit the area (Briney). Also, whales, seals, and fish can be found in the Arctic waters (Biney).Unfortunately, due to human involvement, conditions in this wonderful climate are quickly declining. The presence of valuable resources, such as petroleum, are the cause of most of its problems (Briney). The balance is very sensitive, which means pollution affects this ecosystem more than any other. To many, the Arctic is considered the “poster child for climate change” (“Arctic” Alaska). In order to halt the downward spiral of destruction, major changes need to be made.
The Arctic’s latitudinal location gives it a very unique climate; It never receives direct sunlight (Briney). Also, in the Summer, the Sun remains in the sky for up to two months at a time (“Earth”). While most people picture a snowy desert, the Arctic Ocean actually makes up the majority of the region (Briney). In some places, it can be 3,200 feet deep. Over the Winter, drifting ice pack can be 9 feet thick, but it breaks up tremendously in the Summer. With its abundance of fish, seals, walrus, and polar bears rely on these coastal waters to survive.The Arctic Ocean also keeps temperatures stable, as opposed to the volatility of Antarctica (Briney). While the Arctic Ocean possesses many interesting traits, t...
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...arth has always varied from time to time, since the time the earth was formed and it is one of the most unpredictable processes. Though it is a natural process, anthropogenic contributions are also accounted upon heavily these days. According to studies, although the earth is supposed to be experiencing a cooling phase at this time, it is evident from the polar ice caps melting that the earth is warming. The polar ecosystem is hence going through a phase of dynamism more due to external disturbances such as rising temperature and ocean thermal expansion. Therefore the need of the hour is to be aware about the changes in the ecosystem that is occurring and to come together to either prevent or adapt to the changing conditions. Only then can a ecosystem function in a healthy manner with its species diversity and good interaction among themselves and their environment.
Out of the three, habitat loss is considered to be the largest threat to the Arctic Fox population. Due to rising temperatures, sea ice is not as abundant and new plant species are beginning to emerge. Sea ice is important to the Arctic Fox population because they rely on the extra space to find food and there are fewer predators (2). Because the sea ice habitat provides important winter food resources for the Arctic foxes, especially in low lemming population years, the loss of the sea-ice habitat is likely to result in lower winter survival and reproductive success for Arctic fox population. Due to the decrease in food resources, Arctic Foxes may start to wander into human settlements in search of food which will increase the chance of foxes being killed by human inhabitants. A decrease in food resources and hunting grounds is not the only issue with the loss of sea ice habitats. According to the Species Survival Commission, as ...
First, global warming has an immense impact on Arctic Sovereignty as the rise of greenhouse gases thrive in Canada along with other countries. Within 20 years, the polar ice caps of the Arctic have melted twice as fast compared to before. The loss of Arctic ice can furthermore pose a threat to shipping, as navigating the Arctic becomes increasingly challenging. Finally, climate change threatens the extinction of numerous animal species, namely the polar bear. Hence, global warming poses a major challenge to Arctic Sovereignty and Canada along with other members in the Arctic Council must prevent it.
Global warming is the greatest challenge facing our planet. It is one of the widely discussed topics because global warming is a threat to all living things on Earth. The animals and people in the arctic are already experiencing this. The earth’s temperature dramatically increased during the past 50 years and now, ice caps are melting w...
An important strategy of Canada’s government is engaging youth in the national dialogue about climate change and its resources and how to solve it. They sent indigenous and non-indigenous people on the 2017 ice arctic expedition. They facilitated discussions on history and science of changing climate in the artic. They found out that Canada’s artic is presently vulnerable to the impacts of climate change because it’s warming up at the rate of three times to the global average.
You’ve heard about glaciers melting , Ecosystems being destroyed and animals are starving. Through history we have impacted climate change and have done very little about it until now. There are solutions to these problem although they might change the way we live life now they will help our planet.That’s why we have to learn from our mistakes and come out ahead of climate change to stop it before it’s too late. Anyone can help save the tundra with even the smallest action from using a little solar power or eating less red meat even you can help stop climate change today. I ask you to buy one solar panel or not eat as much red meat even walking or biking one day can have an impact. Do even one of these suggestions and the world thank you for helping in however small or big way you
The Arctic Tundra The Tundra is located in the northern regions of North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. as well as a few regions of Antarctica. The Tundra is the second largest vegetation. zone in Canada. It can be divided into three different sections: the High Arctic Tundra, the Low Arctic Tundra and the Alpine Tundra.
In winter, the sun never rises in the arctic because light rays are bent by the atmosphere, however the sun can be seen only when it is below the horizon. Imagine how it would be like without sunlight for 6 straight months during midwinter as shown in the picture below on the last page; it’s breathtaking. The reason it is because the earth’s rotate to the plane of its orbit around the sun.
The topic of climate change and global warming has always been one of great debate and controversy; however, it’s clear to see that Canadians should take precautions to avoid the problems their country faces. The Canadian government should do everyth...
Amos, Jonathan. “Deep Ice tells Long Climate Story.” BBC News. BBC News. 9/4/2006. Web. 4 Apr. 2014.
... phytoplankton to fish, the sea ice is an integral part of the Arctic marine ecosystem” (Derocher, 2014).
It is an unquestioned fact that the climate is changing. There is abundant evidence that the world is becoming warmer and warmer. The temperature of the global land average temperature has increased by about 8.5 degrees centigrade from 1880 to 2012 (Karr, et al 406). The one or two degrees increase in temperature can cause dramatic and serious consequences to the earth as well as humans. More extreme weather occurs, such as heat waves and droughts. The Arctic Region is especially sensitive to global climate change. According to the data in recent decades, the temperature in the Arctic has increased by more than 2 degrees centigrade in the recent half century (Przybylak 316). Climate change has led to a series of environmental and ecological negative
The ecological consequences of global climate change are expected to be drastic although not much is known as to how individual species will react to these changes. Irrespective of the causes of climate change, whether anthropogenic or natural, it is imperative that we address these concerns, as they will have widespread impacts on the human species, both directly and indirectly through forcings on other species. The climate is not expected to shift evenly and the ways in which certain species adapt or migrate due to these changes could be erratic and unpredictable. The rate at which the earth’s climate is currently changing is unprecedented and has not been seen in the past 450,000 years. Although many species have simply migrated northward or vertically up mountainsides to escape warming habitats, others do not have this luxury or cannot migrate fast enough to survive. The earth’s temperature has risen by over one degree Fahrenheit over the past century, based on land and sea level measurements. The temperature is expected to continue rising at a faster pace over the next century, possibly increasing by as much as seven degrees Celsius. In comparison, the earth’s average global temperature was only twelve degrees cooler than it is now during the last great ice age. A vast majority of species now living do so within a narrow spectrum of temperature ranges and will not be able to adapt to a warming climate on such a large scale. If humans are the cause of a warming climate we will ultimately be responsible for the destruction of millions of species.
Analyzing polar bears’ life history will help lay a foundation for understanding why they are currently threatened. Currently there are about 22,000-31,000 polar bears found in 19 subpopulations across the globe (Wiig O et al., 2015). Polar bears have a “circumpolar distribution”: they generally live around the Arctic region around the North Pole, relying heavily on the Arctic ice for hunting, mating, resting, and creating dens (Gunderson, 2009). Their geographic range is determined by the level of ice in coastal areas which differs from summer to winter time. For example, during the winter, polar bears are more often seen at the southern edge of the ice pack versus during the winter they tend to stay on islands and coastal regions that retain ice on land. This heavy dependence on the level of sea ice makes them highly susceptible to global
Global warming is a serious problem with two major effects which are increasing in sea level and degradation of wild lives. Increase in sea level is affecting the entire landmass of the earth. According to NASA, the polar ice cap is melting at the alarming rate of nine percent per decade. Arctic ice thickness has decreased 40 percent since the 1960s (Oskin). The amount of water is more than the land in our planet. If this global warming continues at this pace, soon there will be no ground left on earth. The terrestrial animals will be exterminated from the earth if glo...