“The Melting of the Polar Ice Caps in the North Pole and its Effects to the Region’s

Biodiversity”

Prepared by:

AgustinEspina

GrimaresRiel

Tanedo

OVERVIEWStatus of North Pole

June 2011 average was 11.01 million square kilometers (4.25 million square miles).

Kara Sea region has prominent low ice extent.

Ice break up off the coast of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea

OVERVIEWStatus of North Pole

Arctic sea ice extent decline in recent years

Ice thickness decreased

NASA sea ice breakup

Ocean heat increased

OVERVIEWGlobal Role

Provides a certain amount of stability to the weather.

Affects the ocean circulation and worldwide climate.

Unique ecosystem that houses a diverse and different biodiversity.

ECOSYSTEM

North Pole Location

450 miles north of GreenlandDepth of the sea: 13, 410 meters

Diametrically opposite the South PoleSea ice is 2-3 m thick

Limited Primary ProductionTundra Biome

North Pole Climate

Warmer than the south poleSituated in the polar climate zone

North pole temperature: Winter: -34 C Summer: 0 C

Sun is above the horizon during summer months and below the

horizon during the winter months

SEASONChanges in the North Pole

Summer - Ice & + Water + Vegetation & - Marine Animals

Winter + Ice & - Water - Vegetation & + Marine Animals

BIODIVERSITY

Ice Algae & Phytoplankton

Zooplankton Horned Puffin

Polar Bear Arctic Fox Reindeer lichen

EFFECTSMelting Polar Ice Caps VS Biodiversity

Increased tree growth

Increase in population of migratory species

Decrease habitat for Arctic animals

More mobility of marine animals

Polar Bear Extinction

SOLUTIONSWays to Preserve

Environmental Awareness

Preserving Practices

Lessen CFC emission

FORECAST“Future”

IPCC ForecastFree of summer ice by 2020Sooner than the expected year of 2050Global warmingEarth will be warm

REFERENCES

• CLIMATE CHANGE: Impact on Coastal Habitation. Doeke Erisma, Ed. Florida: CRC Press, Inc., 1995. • http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/question473.htm• http://nsidc.org/articseaicenews• http://www.crystalinks.com/arctic.html• http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environment/articles/64073.aspx• http://www.livescience.com/3635-ancient -creature-survived-arctic-winters.html• http://www.livescience.com/1350-surprising-arctic-inhabitants-trees.html• http://www.livescience.com/13746-arctic-coast-erosion-climate-change-ice.html• http://www.livescience.com/11819-january-arctic-sea-ice-hits-record.html • http://www.livescience.com/14773-atlantic-ocean-europe-climate-change-plankton.html• http://www.livescience.com/5696-arctic-changed-study-finds.html• http://www.livescience.com/14073-arctic-ozone-hole-uk.html• http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-11-12-7-wonders-polar-ice-caps_x.htm• http://ecoicus.com/Theimportanceoficecaps.html• http://www.grida.no/publications/planet-in-peril/page/1321.aspx• http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/05/01/us-globalwarming-ice-idUSN0122477020070501

REFERENCES

• http://images.brighthub.com/2f/f/2ff19ec428c44492ba6a15aeb8da376c91c5e0ee_large.jpg• http://images.brighthub.com/76/6/76600726769b89624c94646a1f1656cd21a76e4a_large.jpg• http://images.brighthub.com/fd/a/fda49f4abac0ecb6ce85baa9bcf79a24de19f91b_large.jpg• http://i.pbase.com/g3/71/610971/2/56954043.Obtubeseaiceundersidealgae.jpg• http://edubuzz.org/blogs/croftmalloch/files/2010/03/08-arctic20fox.jpg• http://www.newscientist.com/blog/environment/uploaded_images/north-pole-719626.jpg• http://onramp.nsdl.org/eserv/onramp:16435/web_reindeer_lichen.jpg• http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2ptLyS7lFCE/Sk0kmbsx9QI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/KmiZ3LGGRxY/s400/

global_warming_by_teabing.jpg• http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/04_01/iceberg1DM0404_468x670.jpg