Albedo – surface reflectivity of the suns radiation. Not enough sunlight is being reflected but is being absorbed, increasing sea level temperatures.

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/>.