Many research studies have suggested that the arctic region is suffering from global warming; broken glaciers, melting ice caps, polar bears and other species on the verge of extinction. Even though the Arctic is not a usual place for humans to live on, it plays an important part in our lives and the world at large. And in this blog, it just feels right to shine some light and get some information on what's really going on in the beautiful arctic region in relation to global warming.
Some facts about the Arctic:
- Arctic is north of Earth's arctic circle, the one that is on top of the Earth's spherical shape. There in lies the Arctic ocean, surrounded by Russia, Greenland, Canada and Alaska.
- Arctic makes up about 6% of the Earth's surface area.
- In contrast to Antarctica that is a land surrounded by water, the Arctic is composed of ice-filled ocean surrounded by land covered in snow and ice.
- In the Arctic or North Pole region, there is constant day for half of the year and constant night for the other half of the year. Summer in the Northern Hemisphere gives constant day while winter gives constant night.
- Summer temperatures in the Arctic averages at 0 centigrade. Winter temperatures averages around -30 centigrade.
- The arctic is home to few groups of indigenous people and animals, such as polar bears, wolverines, walruses, seals, caribous, musk oxes and arctic foxes among others.
- Arctic is abundant with natural resources like crude oil, diamonds, gold and industrial metals. Scientists believe arctic's natural resources go far beyond these.
- Arctic affects our weather and climate. During winter, the cold air from the arctic leads to low temperatures, winds and snow in the mid-latitude areas.
- Arctic's air circulation plays a role on how heat from the tropical areas is distributed. Given that the arctic deflects heat away from it because of long periods of darkness without sunlight during the winter and its high reflectivity of its snow and ice during the summer, Earth's atmosphere and oceans move the heat from the tropical areas to the poles, creating a more likeable and bearable temperature for the Earth.
- Changes in the arctic's landscape can lead to disturbances in heat distribution throughout the globe, ocean currents and weather conditions.
The impact of global warming in the Arctic has not offered a clear cut answer. But over the last 30 to 50 years, the Arctic region has undergone through profound changes. There have been reports and published articles that Arctic is now becoming an open water. This finding is not always reliable because ice are regularly being shifted by the winds. However, what is increasingly becoming more clear and significant is the thinning of ice over the large surfaces of the Arctic region for the past 20 years.
Arctic Report Card's present analysis and updates on the Arctic region:
- Record low of snow and sea ice occurred last June and September 2012
- Melting duration of ice on Greenland's ice sheet was at its longest last Summer 2012
- Growth of shrubs (plants) are increasing, which signifies warming temperatures
- Rapid ice decline on the first half of July 2013
- Below average ice extent continues up to this day
Increasing global warming prompts increasing attention on the Arctic. While there is still more to discover on this seemingly elusive yet beautiful region, there is no doubt that the Arctic is a very interesting and unique place that deserves to be preserved.
Source
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