Arctic Climate Change
description
Transcript of Arctic Climate Change
Arctic Climate ChangeArctic Climate Change
Presented by: Presented by: Ben Chou and Kelly CunninghamBen Chou and Kelly Cunningham
Global Temperature AnomaliesGlobal Temperature Anomalies
Data Source: NASA GISS GHCN, 2006
Dec-Jan-Feb 2001-2005 Jun-Jul-Aug 2001-2005
Greenland Summer MeltGreenland Summer Melt
Source: Comiso and Parkinson, 2004
• Summer melt increased by 17% from 1992-2002; SLR from continental melting: 5.9 +/- 1.6 cm
Arctic Sea IceArctic Sea Ice
1979 2005
Source: Walker, 2006
Total decrease summer sea ice: 20-50%, 1.3 mil km2
Summer: 8-10%/decade; Winter: 6-7%/decade
Ice-Albedo FeedbackIce-Albedo Feedback
Source: Comiso and Parkinson, 2004
Ice-Albedo Animation
Arctic PermafrostArctic Permafrost
• Retreat 31 cm/yr• Stores 1/3 of global
soil carbon• Models predict loss
of 50% by 2050; 90% by 2100
Source: Lawrence and Slater, 2006
““Take Home” Messages Take Home” Messages Arctic: a global indicator for climate change:1) Melting of Greenland and Arctic glaciers will
induce sea level rise and could weaken or disrupt THC
2) Retreat of snow and sea-ice reduces planetary albedo, and melting of permafrost releases GHGs – both exacerbate global warming
3) The sensitive dynamics of its ecosystem have contributed to accelerated warming in the Arctic