Why care about Arctic Sea-Ice change?

ECOSYSTEMS

Sea-ice is "home" for a rich ecosystem, from Polar Bears and Walrus, to small algae INSIDE the ice.
- how will they cope?

Walrus
(Credit: allposters.com)

Ice Amoeba, the width of a human hair
(Credit: C. Krembs, PSC)

Ice-edge fisheries, especially the Bering Sea, produce over 50% of all US caught fish.
- how will we cope as that changes?

(Credit: American Pride)

(Credit: Bristol Bay, Fishing Express)

HUMAN ACTIVITIES

Retreating sea-ice will allow cargo ships to transit the Arctic, shortening trade routes, and open up areas for oil and gas exploration.
- what are the environmental impacts?

Possible Arctic Shipping Routes
(Credit: United Nations Environment Programme)

Native people in the Arctic depend on sea-ice for transportation and subsistence
- how will they cope?

Whale Camp (Credit: Don Schell)

WORLD CLIMATE

Changes in the Arctic may affect the climate of the rest of the world. We are still working out how.
Sea-ice currently reflects sunlight back up into the atmosphere. As the sea-ice melts, more heat from the sun will enter into the ocean.

(Credit: Earth & Space Research, Seattle)

Freshwater from melting sea-ice may influence ocean currents in the North Atlantic possibly stopping the Gulf Stream flowing north to Europe.

North Atlantic Circulation from DFO and POL

Present Day North Atlantic Circulation - red = warm, upper waters (including the Gulf Stream); blue = cold, deeper waters. (Credit: DFO, Canada and POL, UK)

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