Antarctic, the White world, is home to some of the world’s most extraordinary species, adapted to life in their unique home. Some, such as the enormous whales, migrate far and wide, while others, such as the Weddell seal and the emperor penguin, remain close to the continent. Millions of seabirds skim the Southern Ocean, the world’s most abundant, and species such as far-flung albatrosses and petrels circle these waters. Antarctic wildlife is generally unafraid of humans. Preserved for peace and science, Antarctic world rewards the traveler with inspiration, adventure and perspective. There's nothing quite like seeing ice shimmering in all directions, reflecting sunlight through each season, or the blazing twinkle of a velvet blanket of stars …show more content…
However, since Antarctica is a big place, climate change is not having a uniform impact, with some areas experiencing increases in sea ice extent. Yet in others, sea ice is decreasing, with measurable impacts on wildlife. Local Antarctic effects of climate change are only part of the problem. Antarctica comprises two geologically distinct regions, East Antarctica and West Antarctica, separated by the great Trans-Antarctic Mountains but joined together by the all-encompassing ice sheet. The presence of the high ice sheet and the polar location make Antarctica a powerful heat sink that strongly affects the climate of the whole Earth. Furthermore, the annual sea ice cover around the continent, which seasonally reaches an area greater than that of the continent itself, modulates exchanges of heat, moisture, and gases between the atmosphere and ocean and, through salt rejection when it freezes, forces the formation of cold oceanic bottom waters that spread out under the world’s oceans. Alterations to this system will affect climate all over the planet.
Although the impact of climate change and the Antarctic are discussed often in the media, climate change in the Antarctic is comparatively neglected, or reported ambiguous. The science is clear when says that climate change is already negatively impacting Antarctica, losing
The global mean surface temperature is projected to increase by around 0.3 to 4.8 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial values by the end of the 21th century. Therefore, if we continue to not check the anthropogenic emissions, the increase may be around 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, which is incredibly damaging to various ecosystems internationally. It is difficult to determine the possible aftereffects of the ice sheets melting because the equilibrium-response timescales of them is longer than both the atmosphere and ocean. The ice-sheet/ice-shelf model shows that if the atmospheric warming increases 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above the present temperatures, the Antarctic ice shelves will collapse and trigger a centennial scale response –a never-ending
Antarctica is one of the most rapid warming areas on the Earth, climate change on Antarctica is crucial to the world and the continent itself. Although climate change on Antarctica isn't widespread as it a wide place, only a small amount of impact is taking place. Some areas in Antarctica are experiencing decreases within the sea ice whereas other areas have an increase in sea ice. Both changes are causing negative impacts on wildlife. (Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition, 2014) Climate change has been a continuing scientific curiosity. Climate change is raising many concerns on not only the environmental and regulatory concerns but also within the economy, health, security, safety, and food production. (UNEP, 2009)
Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and most inhospitable continent on Earth. Yet it is yields some 90 percent of the Earth most precious natural resource: water. But behind this pristine exterior, Antarctica is fighting a losing battle. New data suggests that the continent as a whole is warming at an alarming rate. According to recent studies gathered from Nature Magazine, the western half of the continent is warming five times faster than any other place
For many years now, scientists have believed that our climate is changing. This climate change has caused water currents up north, near Antarctica to shift leading to warm waters taking the place of the usual cold arctic waters. Warm water melts the glaciers and causes the top of the glaciers to float off into the sea, allowing the warm water to melt even more glaciers. The extra glacier melting into our sea has caused the sea levels to raise and the
Above discussed are the ways by which we can save and protect ecosystem of Antarctica. Pollution is not only affecting the Antarctica but it's affecting the humankind too and causing severe damage to
The change the Artic will have an impact on the earth. Temperatures in the Arctic are rising at twice the rate of the rest of the world on average, and melting glaciers and land-based ice sheets are contributing to rising sea levels. Rising ocean temperatures are affecting ocean ecosystems. In turn having an affect on the communities and economies that depend on them. The changing Arctic could lead to global changes in ocean-based food security that will place additional burdens on economies, societies, and institutions around the world.
Antarctica is essential for science because of its enormous effect on the Earth's climate and ocean systems. The Antarctic is critical our understanding of global climate change. Preserved in its four kilometre-thick ice sheet is a unique record of the
It has been observed through various researches that in the last century, average temperatures across the globe increased by over 1.3°F with an increase of more than two times in the Arctic. (Bates, Kundzewicz, Wu, & Palutikof, June 2008). The results of climate change can also be seen in changing precipitation patterns, increases in ocean temperatures, changes in the sea level, and acidity and melting of glaciers and sea ice (USEPA, 2014).
Climate change is change is the change in weather patterns that last for an extended period of time. Climate change is affecting the Emperor penguins because then Antarctica continent is warming up, but the northern part just towards South America is warming up the fastest and that's where most of the penguins are found. Since the weather's getting warmer it's causing the ice to melt and making a smaller surface for the penguins to live on, and causing the sea ice season, used for hunting is cut shorter than it used to be. The ice melting is causing the penguins to get separated from each other because once the ice melts enough it breaks away from the mainland. The chicks don't maintain their waterproof feathers until they grow more mature,
There are many ways in which increased levels of greenhouse gasses can affect marine life adapted to colder and warmer water, and many ways marine life can adapt to the effects of climate change whether that be beneficial in the case of phytoplankton or detrimental in the case of Adelie penguins loosing numbers in the south pole.
The convention applies to the area south of sixty degrees. Antarctica is an exceptional, remote continent surrounded by a wide, cold and stormy ocean. To some Antarctica is simply a cold, distant uninviting and dangerous place with little to offer the world. Antarctica is the last and largest unspoiled wilderness area on Earth. It is a reminder of what the planet was like before the influence of man. Its unspoiled beauty has inspired people, since first glimpse, to explore and discover the vast desert like continent. Antarctic has stretches of the most pristine oceans on earth with an enormous variety and quantity of marine life, much of which is only found in Antarctica. Antarctica is a continent for science, as it is so unspoiled it acts as a laboratory for the rest of the world where changes can be measured in isolation from the effects of
There are possible solutions to climate change and its effects on Antarctica but if not taken there will be grave consequences of inaction. A solution to climate change is reducing our greenhouse gas emissions. A solution to climate change is reducing our dependency on fossil fuels. Another possible solution is to start more green initiatives. Corn
On 15 November 2015, Ocean Endeavour struck ice causing some damage to the hull during the night near the South Shetland Islands. The vessel did not require any assistance and with the agreement of the both Flag State and Classification Society proceeded back to the port
Climate change is one of the biggest problems the whole world is collectively facing. Even though climate change is partially caused by the natural cycles of Earth, humans I think are still a major part of it and I think that we can do more to protect the environment that we live in. Climate change happens when temperatures increase dramatically. When climate change causes temperature rises many environmental problems can occur here on earth . Temperatures rising can result in more floods, droughts, or flooding rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves which can cause wildfires. Oceans and the Antarctic Ice Glaciers have also experienced changes in oceans that are rising temperatures and are becoming more acidic. The Antarctic ice glaciers are melting and sea levels are rising destroying many habitats along the ice glaciers such as penguins and polar bears. As these changes frequently occur in future decades, they will likely present challenges to our society and environment.
One of the effects of global warming is the polar ice caps’ melting. Scientists have been researching and examining the polar ice caps for a long time and they have come to the conclusion that the thin ice sheets are slowly wasting away. They have also found out that Greenland’s glaciers are getting smaller and smaller. Places around the globe that use to be covered in ice and snow are now showing more green terrain as the years go on and as the winter months grow warmer. The polar ice caps are melting more and more due to higher global temperatures. This is really bad because the ice caps “reflect and help regulate the Earth’s temperatures.”