All Things Polar Climate Change: global warming at the poles and in between
Entire websites are devoted to issues of climate change and global warming. The goal of this ATP page is to introduce these two intertwined issues: the effects that global warming are having on the polar regions due to climate change and how those resulting changes are now themselves having further global effects. A variety of "in-depth resources" are listed at the bottom of the page.What are the major causes of global warming?
Trapping of the sun’s heat in our atmosphere-primarily due to carbon dioxide (less heat-trapping, lasting many years) and methane (more heat-trapping, lasting fewer years and less prevalent) in the atmosphere, preventing sunlight off the land and sea from escaping the atmosphere-the well known greenhouse effect. Increased production of these gases is attributed to the increased burning of fossil fuels, oil and natural gas specifically. Land use changes and deforestation also contribute to increased carbon dioxide levels. There has been a 47% increase in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere since the start of the industrial revolution. Methane comes from many sources. Nitrous oxide and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) also act as potent greenhouse gases, though their prevalence in the atmosphere is minor compared to carbon dioxide.
Increased heat retention due to decreased solar reflection-read about the Albedo effect. In short, lighter areas such as sand and snow reflect more sunlight and heat while darker areas of the earth absorb more heat. This is an important issue in polar regions given the high reflectivity of snow.
What are the effects of global warming globally and more specifically upon the polar regions?
Globally/general-Increased global temperatures have myriad effects: higher sea levels leading to flooding in prone areas, warmer oceans leading to more hurricanes, droughts causing agricultural events and human displacement, ocean acidification affecting corals and marine ecosystems, and other myriad aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem effects.
Polar specific effects due to rises in air and water temperatures-the Arctic is the fastest warming region on the planet; thawing of permafrost, melting sea-ice, and disappearance of large ice sheets are speeding up the effects of global warming. Antarctica is not far behind in its temperature changes, and while sea ice in the Antarctica is not affected as it is in the Arctic, the melting of glaciers and ice shelves is accelerating .
Permafrost melting in the Arctic tundra-increased temperatures have led to a thawing of sub-Arctic tundra regions that have been frozen for years. Trapped in this frozen tundra are large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, a result of organic decomposition over the millenia. Once thawed, these areas release their greenhouse gases, contributing to greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. 40% of the worlds permafrost exists in the Arctic, some 2.5 million square miles worth. Some project that this could all be thawed by the end of this century. How much carbon is estimated to be trapped in the permafrost, available for release upon thawing? Some 1,400 gigatons. In addition to the release of gases, melting of the permafrost has profound effects on the ecology of the plants and animals living there as well as significant effects on indigenous peoples of the region.
Melting of ice sheets (Greenland and West Antarctica), glaciers, and Arctic sea-ice. As an example, it is projected that Antarctica is losing about 134 billion metric tons of ice/year, since 2002. The Greenland ice sheet, which covers about 80 percent of the surface of Greenland is roughly 660,000 square miles in size, three quadrillion tons; it is up to two miles thick. Some studies show that if it were to melt completely sea levels would increase by about 24 feet. To date since 1990, studies show that the surface of the ice sheet has increased by about 5 degrees F. Roughly 65% of the sheet is now vulnerable to melting (2018). Back to the Antarctic. The Antarctic peninsula has warmed 3 degrees C over the last 50 years compared to the global average of 0.9 degrees C. Since 2012 ice loss has tripled compared to the two previous decades. Iceberg “calving” has accelerated as has meltwater lake formation. The latter has contributed to a decreasing Albedo effect: these Antarctic lakes, found in East Antarctica, reflect less sun than the snow, leading to further melting. Another contributor to the Albedo effect in the Antarctic: red algae which is able to grow in the snow and which is increasing due to warming. As with water, the red color allows more solar absorption than white snow, leading to further melting, again a positive feedback loop.
How do polar regions contribute to global warming and climate change?
Decreased solar reflection with increased absorption of the sun’s heat-as lighter items (think ice and snow) melt due to global warming, the darker surfaces underneath (think the open ocean) absorbs more of the sun’s heat-this decrease in the Albedo unfortunately causes a positive feedback loop: a decrease in the Albedo leads to more melting and more warming, which which leads to further decreases in Albedo. As an example, the Albedo of fresh snow is roughly 0.8 (scale of 0-1) while that of open ocean is about 0.06. Water absorbs much more of the sun’s rays than does snow or ice covering that same area of what was once frozen ocean.
Sea-level rise-from the melting of the polar reservoirs of water: sea ice, glaciers, and ice sheets, due to their melting from global warming
Release of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. These gases, trapped throughout the ages in frozen permafrost, are now being released due to their thawing from global warming. This occurs by two mechanisms. As the ground thaws, the myriad micro-organisms that are present but were previously dormant due to the low temperatures break down organic material releasing carbon dioxide and methane. In addition, the thawing simply allows the upward rise of methane trapped beneath the surface that was once prevented from doing so due to the frozen ground.
How is polar climate change affecting indigenous communities? Indigenous peoples have developed all aspects of their livelihood over the centuries based on landscapes and ecosystems governed by stabile temperatures and the accompanying snow and ice. Global warming has disrupted their transportation methods, their food sources, their ability to hunt and fish, and their cultural traditions centered around these activities which are now endangered. Equally, as they confront the requirements to “change with the times”, the peoples of these regions are often least equipped to do so. Economic development, education, and safety net infrastructures are often lacking though they have improved more recently. The expectation that they will both want to and be able to make the changes necessary for their survival must be tempered by realistic expectations and an understanding of the resources they will need to empower themselves.
How should the polar regions be governed and who should be responsible for policies whose actions may contribute to local and global climate change, especially in the following industries: fuels, mining, tourism, and fishing? Both the Arctic and Antarctic are unique in that they are not controlled by a single nation state. In the case of the Arctic, eight contiguous countries have claimed portions of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions. These include Canada, the United States, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Primarily, each of these countries have claimed waters based on mileage limits from their shores, though there are areas of dispute. In the case of the Antarctic, it is loosely governed by the Antarctic Treaty System signed in 1961. by 12 countries originally. 17 additional countries now have voting rights at the annual Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings (ATCM). As one might imagine, getting consensus on issues of climate change, tourism, fishing, mining, jurisdiction over waterways, security threats, and more is no easy task.
What factors prevent recognition/mobilization of governments and leaders to deal with global warming and climate change, especially in the polar regions? As mentioned above, the number of actors with a stake in the Arctic and Antarctic is significant, adding to bureaucracy and slowing inertia. In addition, solutions are not simple, are multi-faceted, and are imperfect. Competing priorities make decisions difficult. This is especially true in the arctic, where potential solutions must be undertaken with the agreement and cooperation of the indigenous peoples. The enormity of the problem does not help. Lastly, many of the decisions which need to be made to halt global warming have little to do with the polar regions.
What MUST we do?
Technology innovations-some believe that technology can be brought to bear to solve this problem of global warming and climate change. Even if technological solutions do arise, their adoption must be swift and have few downstream unintended consequences. This is a tall order. Certainly, adoption of technologies which move us away from a fossil fuel based society are critical, but likely not the whole picture of what is needed.
Lifestyle changes
Many believe that regardless of new and adopted technologies, humans will only be successful in combating global warming by making profound changes in lifestyle:
Talk to your friends and family about global warming to increase awareness and let everyone know that it is not a hoax; get involved and contribute to an environmental organization. See the ATP Societies and Charities page
Power your home with renewable energy, either directly or through purchasing energy derived from renewable resources
Weatherize your home as much as possible to decrease heating and cooling requirements
Use energy efficient appliances-look for the the Energy Star label or equivalent
Purchase vehicles that are more efficient; carpool and take public transportation
Reduce water waste-its treatment, transfer and waste all consume carbon
Decrease plastic use as it is made from fossil fuels
Eat the food you buy, reduce meat consumption, or switch to a plant based diet-meat production consumes large amounts of carbon
Buy LED light bulbs to decrease your home’s energy consumption
Visiting the polar regions?-a question to consider. As with any ecologically sensitive area it’s a balance whether to promote tourism or not. The Galapagos, the Amazon, the Great Barrier Reef, the Serengeti, these areas and others, along with the poles, are all locations where we must wrestle with our conscience when considering a trip that might further environmental degradation and contribute to global warming. The positive: visiting these areas and developing an awareness of the environmental complexities surrounding them is likely to stimulate our desire to help to protect them, support like-minded organizations, and perhaps be an ambassador for them. In the end, the decision to visit the poles is a personal decision. ATP strongly recommends that if you decide to book a trip above or below the Arctic or Antarctic Circle respectively, that you use an operator with a history of environmental commitment, make a decision to fight global warming, and get involved in the plight of the poles or another environmentally sensitive area around the world by joining and donating to an environmental organization
In-depth resources: