Sustainability Corner: Rising Arctic temperatures and its potential effects
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The Arctic, known for its icy and remote wilderness, is undergoing extreme changes as warming in the Arctic continues to increase.
The Arctic, which has always been known as an icy and remote wilderness, is undergoing extreme changes as warming in the Arctic continues to increase. Recent news has come out stating that there is drastic warming in the Arctic that could change it beyond recognition— with it now warming four times faster than the global average; climate models also indicate that the decline in sea ice will continue.
According to the Global Arctic Programme, the warming of the Arctic will “amplify the warming of the waters below and enhance the exchange of gases between the ocean and the atmosphere.” While the total impact of these environmental changes is uncertain, it has been determined that species dependent on sea ice will face significant challenges if warming continues. Ice that has existed for thousands of years is beginning to melt, which could have massive effects on the global ecosystem without intervention.
Even though these changes affect the Arctic significantly, they also concern North America, Asia, and Europe in the form of droughts, floods, and wildfires. If they continue, these drastic changes could severely affect their entire globe with great uncertainty. Concerning this problem, The Global Arctic Programme states, “We must be prepared for the reality that the Arctic of tomorrow will be vastly different from the Arctic of the past and that these changes will affect the whole planet.”
Just last year, in 2024, it was announced that global air temperatures averaged more than 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time in post-industrial society. This temperature status can set off many natural disasters and climate events, such as unpredicted rainfall, flooding in the Sahara Desert, and extreme heat waves across multiple continents.
Yet, scientists were not surprised by this revelation, as they have continued to raise awareness and caution about global temperatures rising for a long time. Without aggressive and immediate action, they will continue to rise. According to earth.com, “Based on the current commitments made by governments to limit greenhouse gas emissions, the planet is projected to warm by 2.7 degrees Celsius (4.9 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. This level of warming would have devastating consequences, with no place on Earth experiencing them as profoundly as the Arctic.”
The Arctic is a crucial part of the Earth’s ecosystem, and as earth.com explains, “The Arctic acts as Earth’s refrigerator, reflecting sunlight and helping to cool the atmosphere. As ice disappears, the darker ocean absorbs more heat, accelerating the warming process in a cycle that scientists call Arctic amplification. This shift will have severe consequences beyond the Arctic. The melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet will contribute to rising sea levels, threatening coastal cities and small island nations.”
Thus, the changes in the Arctic's temperatures and weather patterns will affect the environment globally. There is a massive correlation between the changes going on in the Arctic and human activity. Scientists hope that if they present a clear picture of the Arctic that lies ahead, those in power will advocate for change in the amount of emissions produced to slow the pace of warming.
There is no other time but now to act to save the Arctic—and the entire planet—from becoming warmer and leading to irreversible damage.