How our changing climate is affecting the Arctic?

How our changing climate is affecting the Arctic?

Melting ice speeds up climate change. Global warming is causing Arctic ice to melt – ice reflects sunlight, while water absorbs it. When the Arctic ice melts, the oceans around it absorb more sunlight and heat up, making the world warmer as a result.

Why is seasonal change so important in the Arctic?

Storage (mainly in summer) and release (mainly in winter) of energy in the Arctic Ocean both depend strongly on sea ice cover (and to a lesser extent sea ice thickness), with its insulating properties regulating wintertime release of heat to the overlying atmosphere21.

What are the seasonal changes in the Arctic?

Each year, Arctic sea ice follows the same general trajectory: growth from late September through March or April, and melt from April through mid-September. Although the shape of the yearly trajectory has not changed, recent years have experienced lower extents in all seasons, but especially summer and early autumn.

Why does the Arctic Circle have extreme seasonal changes?

The climate of the Arctic Circle is largely defined by the Earth’s axial tilt. This tilt is responsible for creating the seasons, as the portion of the Earth that is tilted towards the Sun experiences summer and the part that is tilted away experiences winter.

Which tusked whale from the Arctic is one of the most at risk due to global warming?

narwhal
The narwhal, a whale with a long spiral tusk that inspired the myth of the unicorn, edged out the polar bear for the ranking of most potentially vulnerable in a climate change risk analysis of Arctic marine mammals.

How does the Arctic change from winter to summer?

Once spring arrives, bringing more sunlight and higher temperatures, the ice begins to melt back, shrinking to its minimum extent each September. Sea ice minimum and maximum extents occur toward the end of summer and the end of winter in part because the ocean lags behind the atmosphere in warming up and cooling down.

How is the climate in the Arctic changing?

The average temperature of the Arctic has increased 2.3°C since the 1970s. Ice dependent species such as narwhals, polar bears, and walruses are at increasing risk with shrinking sea ice cover.

Why does the Arctic lose snow and ice?

Shiny ice and snow reflect a high proportion of the sun’s energy into space. As the Arctic loses snow and ice, bare rock and water absorb more and more of the sun’s energy, making it even warmer. This is called the albedo effect.

What’s the average temperature in the Arctic Circle?

Due to its high latitude and the tilt of the earth, the arctic experi- ences light and temperature extremes throughout the calendar year. Temperatures range from 60°F (50° C) in the winter to 77° F (25° C) in the summer. In Barrow, Alaska, on the northern coast, there is a 67- day-long period of darkness beginning November 18.

When does the summer solstice occur at the Arctic Circle?

At the Arctic Circle, there is only one day of continuous daylight. This occurs at the summer solstice, usually around 21 June, but depending on the year can also occur on 20 or 22 June. At the North Pole, there is almost six months of continuous daylight.