Shrinking Arctic Ices
By: Kalil Johnson and Naina Gimadeyeva
What Causes Arctic Ice to Shrink?
Albedo – surface reflectivity of the suns radiation. Not enough sunlight is being reflected but is being
absorbed, increasing sea level temperatures http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ999LIWvJk
Regional climate change Human Activity Global Warming Greenhouse gases buildup in the atmosphere- carbon
dioxide and methane
Animals effected By Melting Arctic Ice
Polar bears – hunt and raise cubs on sea ice
Walrus – feeding grounds are on sea ice Harped, Spotted, Ringed seals –use sea
ice as resting area, birth/raising, and protection
Penguins/Seabirds – breed, raise young, feeding grounds on sea ice
Phytoplankton – sparks blooms due to bacterial growth and temperature change
What are the Effects on animals?
Pollution brought in by precipitation bring disease to animals
Low maturity rateLow reproductive rateFeeding grounds being destroyedDeath
How are Polar bears effected? Ice is crucial for food, resting, and reproduction
thus if shrinking continues mortality increases If extinct this keystone species in the arctic
region would likely have impacts on other species in the habitat
Effect: The seals are a main food source for the polar bears and if they are unable to hunt for them on the ice they will die and then the seals would overpopulate and so they would lessen the fish population.
How are Polar Bears affected? Less food = no fat preservatives = less
reproductive success Having to swim longer distances to hunt for food
exhausts the polar bear which can lead to drowning
Low chance for survival rates for cubs if there is no shelter or food
No areas to rest may result in death due to exhaustion and starvation
Effects on the globe
Decrease salinity of sea water adding freshwater = change in water currents
Release of methane and carbon dioxide in atmosphere due to permafrost melting
Climate change/weather change Rising ocean temperature Biodiversity
Effects on the globe
Rising ocean levels-devastating effects on coastal towns, cities, and ecosystems
Ice sheets and glaciers over Greenland and Antarctica are not floating so ocean levels rise as it melts
Melting of floating arctic ices do not rise ocean levels because the weight is equal to the displaced water.
Ocean also expands as it gets warmer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XU4jcpyDC8
Positive Effects
Sparks Plankton blooms due to bacterial growth and increased water temperature Beneficial to plankton feeding animals
Prevention
Not burning so much fossil fuelAlternate sources of energy – wind,
solar, biofuels, and etc.
Video Links
Albedo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2RGQfmLl4E&NR=1
Polar Bears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1cyUmx5htA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taNTnxtgWTc&feature
=related http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kv9v9ALV3yk&feature=SeriesPlayList&p=769661F6DEB6BA55&index=5
Rising sea level http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XU4jcpyDC8
Works Cited
"Arctic Climate Change: Scientific Facts on Arctic Climate Change." GreenFacts - Facts on Health and the Environment. 26 Feb. 2009 <http://www.greenfacts.org/en/arctic-climate-change/index.htm#2>.
"Arctic shrinkage." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 26 Feb. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_shrinkage>.
"Endangered Oceanic Species-Polar Bears." Liza's Reef -Coral Reef Art. 26 Feb. 2009 <http://www.lizasreef.com/HOPE%20FOR%20THE%20OCEANS/polar_bears.htm>.
"NASA - Top Story - RECENT WARMING OF ARCTIC MAY AFFECT WORLDWIDE CLIMATE." NASA. 23 Oct. 2003. <http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2003/1023esuice.html>.
IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group. <http://pbsg.npolar.no/>.