Climate change is a problem that many people are debating about these days. What’s happening in the Arctic is alarming.The region has warmed up more than any other part of the planet, and as a result, its climate has become unpredictable and volatile, changing from one extreme to another; we’ve seen winters turn into summers and summers turn into winters all within a year at levels never witnessed before.There are several things that Arctic communities and the rest of us can do to help stop climate change. It’s time to act on climate pollution and move away from unclean energy sources. We have everything we need within ourselves to make choices that protect our planet for current and future generations.The Arctic has warmed twice as much as anywhere else on Earth, creating conditions that are changing in ways we have never before seen.What is the temperature of the Arctic climate?The Arctic region is defined as being above 66.5 degrees north latitude, largely because of the ‘Arctic oscillation’ and the influence of the ‘North Atlantic oscillation’.The Arctic is home to some very low temperatures (often the lowest in the world) and some fairly warm average temperature numbers in summer. You can expect cool summers and unpredictable weather conditions in the Arctic.Arctic countries take up a vast area that stretches from 60 degrees North down through Russia and Iceland, across Greenland, Canada, and Alaska to North America and Siberia, up to within 100 mi (160.3 km) of Scandinavia.The Arctic is characterized by some of the lowest temperatures in the Northern Hemisphere, with a summer low of -58 F (-50 C). The mean annual temperature is around 12 F (-11.1 C).Arctic countries face changing winter temperatures from day to day, depending on weather systems and mountains that block the cold air masses from Siberia and Europe.These storms often arrive in waves, bringing with them days of intense heat or cold before moving away again.The region’s rugged terrain and distance from the sea guarantee that snow stays into autumn, making road travel difficult through much of the year.The world’s northernmost coastline is in the Arctic Ocean. The Arctic Ocean lies to the north of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, just south of Alaska.The Arctic is home to the world’s largest ice cap, an area nearly twice the size of Europe that covers most of Greenland and extends into Canada’s Ellesmere Island and northern Svalbard Archipelago.What animals can survive in the Arctic?Animals that can survive in the Arctic make up a large portion of the animal life on our planet. The Polar Regions have been home to a wide variety of plant and animal species for millions of years.The Arctic itself is made up of over 60% freshwater. This means it is one of the few regions on the Earth that has no desert or tundra (cold desert).Animals that are of special interest include polar bears, which are usually found in different types of tundra areas and forests. These areas may be found in the Arctic regions of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia.The polar bear is the world’s largest land carnivore. Polar bears are characterized as medium-sized bears with black and dark brown fur.They can weigh between 440-3,300 lb (199.5-1,496.8 kg) and stand about 6.6 ft (two m) tall.Polar bears hunt seals for their meat, which helps them stay warm during the winter months. Polar bears, like most other bears, have a very thick layer of fat under their skin.Besides the polar bear, other animals are well adapted to the cold climate. The caribou (elk) is one of the most abundant deer species.The Arctic fox, which shares a similar habitat with Canadian polar bears, is also common in these areas. In fact, Arctic foxes are hardy animals that live away from the coast.The Arctic fox is dependent on the existence of smaller animals for survival.When lemmings and small rodents are scarce, the Arctic fox becomes vulnerable. Snow cover and polar climates only add to their vulnerability.There are also certain species of birds that live in these areas. These birds include the snowy owl and the northern diver (aquatic birds).The snowy owl has a thick layer of feathers that insulate it from cold temperatures, while many species of diving birds will hold their breath while they dive beneath the surface of cold water to catch their prey, such as lemmings.The polar bear is a carnivore that eats a variety of seals, fish, and birds. The polar bear will eat anything that it can catch when it finds food.These animals are very reliant on the Arctic environment, and they are not able to survive in any other areas. Despite the cold temperatures and lack of food, Arctic animals can survive in this type of area. Such places are home to many different types of plants, animals, and trees, along with having numerous rivers and streams. These are important features as polar bears need to have access to water.Aside from these creatures, there are also marine mammals that live within these areas. Some of the marine mammals that can be found in Arctic regions are walruses and seals.Effects Of Global Warming On The ArcticThe Arctic region is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world. Canada’s Far North has warmed by three degrees since 1948 and continues to warm at a rate twice that of the global average.The Arctic is warming up faster than any other region on Earth, with temperatures rising by more than 4.5 F (-15.2 C) in parts of Northern Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, and Siberia over the last 50 years.This temperature increase is greater than anywhere else on Earth, and it’s changing weather patterns in unpredictable ways around our planet, including bringing colder winters to places like Britain and Japan, while increasing droughts in Central America.The Arctic is so vulnerable to the impacts of climate change that it is often referred to as a ‘canary in a coal mine’, meaning that it acts as a warning signal for what might be in store for the rest of the planet.Global warming has a vast impact on humans, wildlife, and the ecosystems of the world. There is also a rise in the emission of carbon dioxide, which also contributes to global warming. It further exposes us to environmental hazards.Greenhouse gases are one of the main reasons behind global warming. But there are many causes that are responsible for the emission of greenhouse gases.For energy, humans burn fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, which release harmful gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.For industrial processes, transportation and electricity are required, which are reliant on fossil fuels.Some of them also emit greenhouse gases like methane and CFCs, which are equally responsible for global warming. Although CFCs are now banned, alternatives have been found which are used in AC units and refrigerators.People need food to survive in the world. Most of the food comes from agriculture. Many agricultural activities cause climate change.Fertilizers, pesticides, and many other things are used in agricultural activities which release powerful greenhouse gases like nitrous oxide and methane. The burning of biomass also emits harmful gases.Trees are responsible for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but nowadays, forests are being cut down on such a large scale. This leads to less absorption of harmful gases and more global warming.One study showed that around 15% of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are due to deforestation.Due to the changing climate, the world is facing the warming of the Arctic. It has many effects like rising sea levels, changes in climate, precipitation, loss of fish stocks, and a decline in marine animals. It is causing so many environmental changes.The temperature has been increasing everywhere. Heatwaves are experienced in even the coldest regions of the world.Many people are not able to survive heat waves most of the time. The poles are getting warmer faster.The Arctic is getting warmer at twice the rate as the global average, which is also known as Arctic Amplification. It contributes to persistent hot-dry extremes and winter continental cooling.Sea ice is reducing day by day due to global warming. The thickness of the ice is also affected. It has been shown in studies that if global warming is not reduced, summer sea ice may disappear by 2100.Sea ice has now covered Hudson Bay.Sea ice is an important component of hydrological systems and ecosystems within the Arctic landscape. Climatic conditions have led to a higher temperature, which has caused permafrost to thaw in the arctic. Arctic permafrost can release great amounts of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide.Vegetation is affected by the arctic. The methane emissions in the Arctic have disrupted the flora, which has impacts on nutrient cycling, humidity, and other key environmental factors that help shape plant communities.The animals which are adapted to the cold weather of the Arctic are going extinct due to climate change. Wildlife is decreasing, and ocean levels are rising.The ice sheet is melting at a fast rate. A big chunk of ice shattered into pieces, and it could be a hotspot for deglaciation in the coming years.The arctic needs to be saved from global warming. A campaign has been started for the sole purpose of saving the Arctic. Save the Arctic is a Greenpeace Programme. It is to prevent oil drilling and unsustainable industrial fishing in that area.Interesting Facts About The ArcticThe largest uninhabited island in the world is Devon Island. It is located in north-western Canada, just above the Arctic Circle.The Arctic has more coastline than the entire continent of Africa, about three times more coastline. The Arctic region includes Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, and parts of Russia.The land under the permanent ice cap is called ’tundra’. It can be a very dense and compacted layer of soil that is generally low in nutrients. The land area of the tundra is around twenty million square kilometers.The word ‘Arctic’ comes from the ancient Greek word ‘Arktikos’, meaning ’near the bear’.You can see both the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis (Southern Night Skies) in the Arctic.The Pole of Inaccessibility is a point at which the Arctic Ocean drops abruptly to 14,000 ft (4,267.2 m) below sea level.The word ‘Pole’ comes from the Latin’ pilis’, meaning pole. It is marked by a rock called Tyndall’s Pinnacle in the Victory Bay area of Ellesmere Island.Several areas are inhabited by indigenous people. They have been in the Arctic for thousands of years, and they have experienced and seen the northern sky glow, the freezing point change, Arctic Tundra being severely threatened by industrial activity, geostrophic adjustments becoming an issue in the polar basin, and fresh water and ocean water becoming polluted.
Climate change is a problem that many people are debating about these days. What’s happening in the Arctic is alarming.
