Alaska Glacial Retreat And Acidification Impacts On Ecosystem Resilience Essay

to global warming melting our polar ice caps, this erosion is having profound effects on coastal

“Since the beginning of the industrial era, the ocean has absorbed some 525 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, presently around 22 million tons per day” (Ocean Portal, n.d). This number is expected to increase forevermore as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels increase and the effects of Climate Change worsen. At first, the idea of our oceans absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere may sound great, however, scientists have been quick to learn otherwise. High concentrations of carbon dioxide in oceans can have detrimental effects on the ocean chemistry and marine ecosystems (Hardt; Safina, 2008). Marine ecosystems are greatly complex and depend on every marine organism to function properly, any change can put the whole ecosystem at risk. For example, the increase of carbon dioxide in our oceans is responsible for the dissolving of “brittle star” skeletal parts, which has in effect caused food scarcity for many fish, crabs, shrimp, and other starfish (Leu, 2013). Furthermore, these marine ecosystems are very important to humans- being the primary food source for millions around the world and having an economic market worth trillions of dollars (Hardt; Safina, 2008). Part of keeping these ecosystems safe is to understand how they work and how projected changes can harm marine organisms.

This problem could mark either the end of human civilizations or mark the beginning of the next era of human development. It would decide on our species survival, whether there will be another mass extinction like the one 65 million years ago. The question is “How might the breaking up and melting of continental ice in Greenland and the Antarctic affect Canada’s coastline?”. In the following sections, we have gathered an abundance of information from a variety of sources from which we will discuss, and analyze. We will find out how this data can help us understand the effect of melting glaciers on Canada’s coastline, as well as how and what we could do to stop or slow it down.

Over the years, climate change has affected marine species because it has increased the ocean temperature, causing it to get warmer, which is causing a negative impact to most marine organisms like echinoderms and cnidarians (Quinn, 2016). In many cases, the optimum temperature of growth increased 1-6°C, which created harmful effects on stages of development (Quinn, 2016). In some cases such as the American lobster (Homarus americanus), warming of the ocean had caused smaller body sizes (Le Bris et al., 2016). Even though there is some research that showed that the warm temperature could also benefit the lobster’s population, most of their population has declined in the warmest and southernmost regions of the lobster’s range in places like southern New England and Long Island Sound (Quinn, 2016).

Chesterfield Inlet and Wager Bay are located in northwestern Hudson Bay within the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut (63°20'N 90°40'W and 65°08'N 87°56'W, respectively). The region is best described as continental-arctic with short cool summers and long cold winters with minimal precipitation (Dufresne, 2013). Average summer temperatures can reach up to 20ºC, while average winter temperatures range from -30ºC to -35ºC. Sea ice forms by December and breaks up by mid-June (Dufresne, 2013). However, ice in Wager Bay according to Canadian Parks Service (1977), can last longer than that of Chesterfield Inlet. The average depths encountered during the sampling program at both Wager Bay was 217 m and Chesterfield inlet was 42 m.

Kathy Conlan is an expert in understanding the weird and wonderful world of marine creatures that live deep under the Arctic ice. She specializes in marine benthic biology and amphipod systematics. Kathy studies how human and natural changes affect marine life in the Arctic and Antarctic, the effects of pollution on marine life as well as global warming. She is past chief officer for Life Sciences in the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) and is a judge for SCAR’s Martha T. Muse Prize for Science and policy in Antarctica, represents Canada for the Canadian Committee on Antarctic Research, taught at Huntsman Marine Science Centre and Students On Ice, mentors university students and gives speaches and “Show and tells” at the museum.

Southeast Alaska contains 10.9 million acres of forest land. Forty percent of southeast Alaska’s forest land or 4.4 million acres is reserved federal land and includes National Park Service or U.S. Forest Service lands, national forest wilderness areas, and federal game refuges (Campbell et al. 2004). The coastal rainforest of southeast Alaska spans across the majority of the coast and at KLGO, the coastal rainforest spans from sea level to around 3500 feet in elevation. Southeast Alaska receives high levels of annual precipitation and coniferous trees dominate the area, although Skagway receives less precipitation compared to the rest of the region. Coastal rainforest vegetation around KLGO includes: western and mountain hemlock, Sitka spruce,

The above mentioned habitats are crucial because it support priority species in the Bay. Although more than 3,600 different species of plants and animals live in the tidal waters of the Bay, there are priority species that shall be protected. The most important keystone species are the Blue Crab, the Oysters, the Bald Eagle and the Black Duck. Keystone species are valuable components at the community scale because they maintain biodiversity and influence critical ecological process (Peck, 1998:34). Blue crabs not only

Stemming from the belief that climate change only truly alters a landscape. This concept of what climate change can do has changed over the years with climate change today playing a larger impact in all areas. In relation to this control, Alaska’s parks and climate provides much-needed nutrients, water, and temperatures to forests, mountains, meadows, and rivers. These, then, produce from the nutrients and climatic sources, plants, and animals which sustain other parts of wildlife that depend greatly on those sources. Bears portray this concept by describing how much the bears in the film rely upon not just clams but by salmon that swim and later spawn in the rivers during the summer months.

Kelp forests are “a source of food and habitat for dozens of other coastal species” (qtd. in Soulé et al 1240). Therefore, to maintain the diversity and richness of the coastal marine ecology, kelp forests should be preserved.

"Climate change is a change in the statistical properties of the climate system that persists for several decades or longer" (Montgomery, 2015). Climate change (or global warming) can be caused by a natural progress such as sun 's radiations and volcanoes, or it can be caused by human 's actions such as land use, deforestation, and pollution. (Hardy, 2003).This phenomenon not only affects the environment, but it also affects human lives. Alaska is the largest state in the United States. It includes lands on both sides of the Arctic Circle. Sixteen national wildlife refuges are home to a great variety of flora and fauna. In the past 60 years. The Alaska 's environment changed drastically; the climate is warming up as twice as much in comparison to all the other states. This essay will discuss firstly the climate change in the Alaskan environment. Then it will highlight the changes in the ocean and costs, the effects that global warming is having on Alaska 's natives and the melting permafrost. It will then finally address who is responsible for this effects and some measures that can be taken.

It contains an expanse of tundra with many marshes and lagoons with rivers situated between foothills of the Brooks Range and the wide, icy waters of the Beaufort Sea. Environmentalists said that this area “is the most biologically productive part of the Arctic Refuge for wildlife and is the center if wildlife activity.” The importance of these resources is not measurable. The Arctic is home to such animals as caribou, polar bears, grizzly bears, musk oxen, whales, wolves and snow geese. This area is full of wildflowers and contains water of excellent, unpolluted quality and quantity. The Arctic Ocean costal plain is an area critical to the survival of many birds and mammals (‘Alaska Wild’).

For Arizona, changes in the weather tends to mean cooler air and some waterworks, which is a balm to our constant heat. However, for the ocean, climate change can be a deadly change. Though, it does not seem a likely cause, changes in currents, tides and winds can disperse the borders of dead zones. In the northwest pacific dead zones can be up to 20,000 sq miles and winds can spread the dead zones and make them larger (Pope). Causing all marine life who are unable to swim away to die. When searching for sea life in one of these dead zones a marine biologist, Jane Lubchenco, said, “it was so overwhelming and depressing” to see only the bones of those animals left behind (Weiss). Strong winds are producing plankton to quickly at higher sea levels and isn’t being consumed quick enough by fish (Weiss). The left over plankton dies falling to the ocean floor and begins to decay. Which then causes a dead zone or spreads and already dead zone farther out. It wouldn’t be a problem if upper waters pushed oxygen to the rotting areas, but in Oregon, there has been a change with the wind. The wind is now pushing areas without oxygen to shallow waters and closer to shore (Pope). So, instead of taking oxygen to the dead zones, the winds are

Marine biologist play a key role in understanding climate change and identifying sustainable and profitable ways humans can use the sea and its resources. Marine biologist understand marine organisms needs in their habitats, ultimately helping protect species and reduce human threats. As experts in understanding marine habitats, marine biologist often form essential parts of relief teams. They respond to oil spills and chemical leaks, helping other scientist restore normalcy to local habitats. Sometimes, marine biologists influence other spheres, such as economics and law. They might analyze the effect of sonar on whales and seals, for instance, recommending best practices for reducing harm on those sensitive populations. Marine biologists understand how the ocean supports basic needs, and in turn relay that information to lawmakers, who establish protocols regarding human use of ocean waters and marine organisms. Marine biologist help develop ocean technology too, improving waste elimination, energy sourcing and extraction of key sources. A brief review of components of the marine environment, world food resources, climate control, air and water quality, transportation, and the ecosystem balance are important features that are studied by marine biology. So, understanding why marine biology is important is foundational to integrating a balanced approach toward management of the sea and proper stewardship of organisms,

Global warming is a major problem when providing a suitable habitat and lifestyle for ample marine life. With sea levels rising there are consequences to plant life in coastal wetlands that can not handle the amount of water being provided. The wetlands are important in their job to protect the species they contain and for stabilizing coastlines. Storms are increasing in magnitude and severity, causing the transport of nutrients to marine life to be disturbed. As shores move further inland animals will have to move and adapt, history has shown how this can decrease populations. In the future both rare and abundant species could become locally extinct, with rare species on the verge of becoming totally extinct.