The Arctic, known for its vast wilderness and freezing temperatures, is in the midst of an unprecedented heatwave. A reading of 86 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded in May of 2020, the highest-known temperature recorded there in 62 years. As a result, researchers fear the worst for the future of this eco-system.
While the Arctic does go through yearly melting periods, these peaks usually occur much later into the summer season. These changes are set to have a profound impact on local communities–and the entire globe. (1)
How The Arctic Affects Earth’s Weather
The Arctic may seem far away to most people, but it largely affects the earth’s climate and weather. This northern polar region is a huge ocean basin, surrounded by land. Sea ice grows over this ocean in fall and winter and melts in spring and summer. Meanwhile, the snow that covers land masses also retreats during warm weather. This fuels the polar region’s yearly life cycle.
The freezing conditions of this region have a huge effect on weather across the globe. Global weather patterns circulate in the atmosphere and the ocean, fueling climate phenomena in lower regions. From heatwaves and cold snaps to floods and droughts, the state of the Arctic has profound effects throughout the earth. (2)
Scientists are increasingly recording warming temperatures in this polar region. According to research, climate change is no longer a theory. The measurable temperature changes in recent years, especially in the Arctic, are having profound effects on the entire globe. (1)
Warming Temperatures Fuel Climate Change
Ted Scambos is a senior research scientist at CIRES, the Cooperative Institute for Research In Environmental Sciences. His research into Arctic temperatures notes a 16 degree-rise above average data. Because of the presence of this unusual high-pressure system so early, clear skies mean extreme melt events for the season.
Scambos told the Washington Post that the early melting of sea ice could cause snowpack on top of the ice to “ripen” sooner than normal. This causes the snowpack to have liquid meltwater mix in, lowering its reflectivity. As a result, more incoming solar energy will be absorbed and earlier melting of the sea ice will continue throughout the season. (1)
This is important because of carbon. Organic carbon–the remnants of plants, animals, and microbes that have lived and died–accumulates in frozen soil. When the permafrost (frozen ground) that contains thousands of years of stored carbon starts to thaw, these compounds are released into the atmosphere. As a result, climate warming could accelerate and add to human-caused emissions of CO2. (3)
Effects On Arctic Communities
While warming Arctic temperatures could be affecting the entire globe, local peoples are already feeling the effects. According to the Arctic Report Card, communities in the Bering Sea region have noted the changes. Indigenous elders have noted that they are faced with decreased access to foods they’ve subsisted on for thousands of years. Storm surges–becoming higher and more frequent–also threaten homes, schools, airports, and essential utilities.
Animal populations are suffering as well, as sea ice melt affects their seasonal activities. The Arctic Report Card also notes that the ivory gull, for example, is a species occupying the Canadian Arctic that has been impacted. Since the 1980s, the breeding population has declined by 70%. (4)
As these effects are seen, researchers continue to gather data and information in hopes of effecting change. Time will tell whether global powers will act to mitigate the effects of climate change before it’s too late.
