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Melting Away
How are warming temperatures in the Arctic affecting the rest of the planet?
The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. In the winter, the Arctic Ocean is completely
frozen. When summer arrives, about half the ice usually melts. But in recent years, the amount of
summer ice has been much lower because of warmer temperatures. The Arctic meltdown is one
of the most significant effects of a trend known as climate change.
Earth's average temperature has been slowly rising for more than 100 years. Most scientists think
that humans have a lot to do with that increase. We drive cars that run on gasoline. We burn coal
and other fossil fuels to create electricity and heat. Burning these fuels releases a lot of carbon
dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere. Like a blanket, these gases trap heat from the sun
and make the planet warmer.
Polar regions are extra sensitive to climate change. In fact, the Arctic is heating up twice as fast
as the rest of Earth, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA). Here's why: The Arctic's snow and ice usually reflect sunlight back into space. But as
Arctic ice melts, more ocean water and soil are exposed. These darker areas absorb more of the
sun's rays, causing temperatures to rise even higher.
That has scientists especially worried, because the Arctic acts like a huge refrigerator that helps
keep the rest of the planet cool.
"What happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic," says scientist Martin Jeffries of NOAA.
"It has global consequences."
Here are a few ways that warmer Arctic temperatures are having an impact on the environment.
Words to Know
fossil fuels (FOSS-uhl FYOO-uhls) noun, plural, coal, oil, and natural gas formed from the
remains of prehistoric plants and animals
devastating (DEH-vuh-stayt-ing) adjective. causing great harm or damage
Higher Sea Levels
Greenland is a huge island in the Arctic region. It's covered by an ice sheet that's about a mile
thick. As the Arctic gets warmer, more of the ice is melting and flowing into the ocean. Scientists
say this is contributing to rising sea levels around the globe.
Higher sea levels can be bad news for coastal communities. People along the east coast of the
U.S. felt the impact of rising seas when Hurricane Sandy hit in October 2012. The storm caused
severe flooding that destroyed houses and businesses. Around the world, rising seas have even
put some islands at risk of vanishing beneath the waves forever.
Animals at Risk
Many Arctic animals are being hit hard by climate change. Walruses typically rest on sea ice
between dives for food. But as sea ice disappears, they're being forced onshore. Last September,
35,000 walruses crowde, onshore in Alaska. During these huge gatherings, diseases can spread
quickly and walrus calves can get trampled.
Polar bears also rely on sea ice as a resting place while they hunt for seals. With less ice, they're
being forced to swim longer distances to find food. According to the U.S. Geological Survey,
two thirds of the polar bear population could disappear by 2050.
Toppling Towns
Most of the land in and near the Arctic is permafrost, a thick layer of soil that remains frozen
year-round. But warmer weather is causing the permafrost to melt, making the ground unstable.
The most dramatic effects of this change can be seen in the coastal town of Shishmaref, Alaska.
Houses that were built on permafrost there have come crashing down during storms. The
destruction has been so devastating that residents have considered packing up*u
Feeling the Chill
It may sound strange, but many scientists think that warmer temperatures in the Arctic are
leading to colder winters farther south.
The polar vortex is a pocket of very cold Arctic air. It's normally trapped up north by a band of
fast-flowing winds called the jet stream. But in the winter of 2013-14, the polar vortex drifted
into the eastern and midwestern U.S. The result was record snowfall and low temperatures.
Some scientists suspect that the warming climate weakens the jet stream, allowing the polar
vortex to travel south. Scientist Martin Jeffries says that as the Arctic heats up, we can expect
"more extreme weather with longer duration of the extremes."
MAP: The Arctic had much less summer sea ice in 2014 than it had in previous years.
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