• The article discusses the effects of climate change on the arctic.
• It explains how temperatures are rising, resulting in a decrease in sea ice and other consequences.
• The article also highlights the impact these changes have on wildlife, ecosystems, and human communities living in the arctic regions.
Introduction
Climate change is having a profound effect on the Arctic region, with rising temperatures creating a host of environmental impacts that range from melting sea ice to altering ecosystems and affecting human communities that live there.
Temperature Increase
The Arctic region is experiencing some of the most drastic effects of climate change with temperatures increasing at twice the global average rate. This has resulted in a dramatic decrease in sea ice coverage over recent decades, with predictions that it could be gone entirely during summer months by 2050 or earlier. In addition to this, permafrost – which is soil that has been frozen for two or more years – is thawing due to higher temperatures.
Impact on Wildlife
These effects are having an impact not only on humans but also wildlife that inhabit this area such as polar bears and walruses who rely heavily upon sea ice for survival. There are fears that if temperatures continue to rise at their current rate, these species may become extinct within our lifetime due to habitat loss and increased competition for resources as their traditional environment changes rapidly before them.
Ecosystem Change
The changing environment also has implications for entire ecosystems which have evolved to thrive under specific conditions created by cold weather and seasonal cycles. With warmer temperatures come new species from more temperate areas who may out-compete existing ones or disrupt established food webs and nutrient cycles; this could lead to an overall reduction in biodiversity across the region as well as reduced productivity of fisheries.
Human Communities Affected
Finally, climate change can also affect human communities living near or within arctic regions through higher energy costs due to melting permafrost damaging infrastructure such as roads or buildings; it can also increase water levels making certain areas inaccessible or inhabitable due to flooding; health problems such as heat stroke can become more common; food security may be threatened due to changes in crop yields caused by extreme weather events like floods or droughts; and finally tourism may suffer if key destinations become too dangerous or difficult for people to visit due to rising risk from extreme weather events like storms or wildfires.
In conclusion, climate change is having a devastating effect on the Arctic region with far-reaching impacts both now and into the future unless we act quickly to reduce our emissions and limit global temperature increases before it’s too late.