Research Paper
· The temperatures in the artic are increasing at almost twice the rate of the average over the last 20 years. This is causing a reduction in the amount of snow and ice cover in the artic
· The warming temperatures are caused by human activities.
· The artic sea temperatures have significantly declined in the last 15 years, this is thought to be part of the cause of sea ice decline
· There is lots of evidence supporting the continuation of declining glacier levels. There are predictions that in the coming decades there could be a total loss of glaciers in some areas of the world.
· The large loss of Alaskan ice is thought to be a major contributor to the worlds rising sea levels
· There is evidence from satellite monitoring that Iceland is losing massive amounts of ice. The current estimates are that the melting ice from Greenland in contributing 0.5-0.6 mm/yr to the rising sea levels
· In 2007 the sea ice extant levels were 39% less than the average from 1979-2000.
· There has been a declining level of spring snow during the last 20 years compared to the previous 60. There is predicted to be a rise in snow fall in some areas of the artic counteracting the overall trend in declining snow cover.
· Permafrost (soil blow the freezing point of water) in some cases stores a high amount of rich carbon rich wouldn’t be good for the environment if it got released.
· There is research backing the claims of climate changes impact on species, communities, and ecosystems in marine, terrestrial and freshwater systems.
· There are many species that rely on sea that are become closer to been endangered like ringed seals and grey whales. Another animal suffering from the loss of sea ice is the Polar bear and model projecting has a loss of two-thirds of the current polar bears population by the middle of the century.
· The warming temperatures are caused by human activities.
· The artic sea temperatures have significantly declined in the last 15 years, this is thought to be part of the cause of sea ice decline
· There is lots of evidence supporting the continuation of declining glacier levels. There are predictions that in the coming decades there could be a total loss of glaciers in some areas of the world.
· The large loss of Alaskan ice is thought to be a major contributor to the worlds rising sea levels
· There is evidence from satellite monitoring that Iceland is losing massive amounts of ice. The current estimates are that the melting ice from Greenland in contributing 0.5-0.6 mm/yr to the rising sea levels
· In 2007 the sea ice extant levels were 39% less than the average from 1979-2000.
· There has been a declining level of spring snow during the last 20 years compared to the previous 60. There is predicted to be a rise in snow fall in some areas of the artic counteracting the overall trend in declining snow cover.
· Permafrost (soil blow the freezing point of water) in some cases stores a high amount of rich carbon rich wouldn’t be good for the environment if it got released.
· There is research backing the claims of climate changes impact on species, communities, and ecosystems in marine, terrestrial and freshwater systems.
· There are many species that rely on sea that are become closer to been endangered like ringed seals and grey whales. Another animal suffering from the loss of sea ice is the Polar bear and model projecting has a loss of two-thirds of the current polar bears population by the middle of the century.
Umky Patrol
Climate change is a major issue effecting the Polar Regions. It is caused by the burning of fossil fuels which release greenhouse gases, practically carbon dioxide. Climate change has significantly contributed to the raising of air and water temperatures. This has caused the ice to melt in the arctic and the sea levels to rise. In recent years there have been a climbing population of polar bears wondering into towns in Chukotka posing a risk to the community and themselves. This is thought to be because of global warming causing a reduction in their natural habitat. The Umky patrol was formed between the WWF and the local people of the Chukotka region to interrupt the polar bears journey to the villages. They do this by using long sticks to push them away which saves them from the deadly conflict. The Umky Patrol is now looking out for walruses another ice dependent animal which has also been effected by the ice melting. Because the walruses have to go on shore where they are not comfortable. When they are disturbed they stampede towards to water where they feel safer causing hundreds of them to be killed. The WWF are taking members of the Umky patrol to Alaska to share their conservation stories and the adaptions made to suite the changing climate.