| Science Daily has published The Arctic is | | | | Alaska, Western Canada and Eastern Russia |
| warming much more rapidly than previously | | | | have registered an increase of as much as 3 |
| known, at nearly twice the rate as the rest | | | | to 4 degrees Celsius. And in the next |
| of the globe, and increasing greenhouse gases | | | | century, temperatures are projected to |
| from human activities are projected to make | | | | increase by |
| it warmer still, according to the findings of | | | | |
| a 300-strong team of international | | | | 4 7 degrees Celsius or 7 13 degrees |
| scientists. | | | | Fahrenheit. |
| | | | |
| At the rate global warming is going, the | | | | As mentioned earlier, summer sea ice in the |
| Arctic is predicted to lose half of its | | | | Arctic is seen to drop by 50% at the turn of |
| summer ice as the century closes when | | | | the century. There is even a prediction of |
| temperature is projected to rise by another 4 | | | | its almost complete disappearance which can |
| to 7 degrees Celsius by year 2100. This | | | | kill ice living seals. This will prove too |
| melting is to include a sizeable section of | | | | much for the indigenous peoples of the |
| the Greenland Ice Sheet. Major global impacts | | | | region. who depend on these animals for food. |
| will be continued rise in sea-level and | | | | |
| intensifying global warming, as per the final | | | | Global warming increases melting of the |
| report of the ACIA or the Arctic Climate | | | | Greenland Ice Sheet, increasing the rates at |
| Impact Assessment. The exercise was ordered | | | | which sea levels rise. In the long run, |
| by the Arctic Council, an executive body | | | | Greenland will hold enough melted ice that |
| composed of the 8 eArctic nations, 6 | | | | sea level could rise to as much as 7 meters |
| indigenous POs or Peoples Organizations, and | | | | or 23 feet. The coastal towns around the |
| the IASC or the International Arctic Science | | | | Arctic now face the risk of erosion and |
| Committee. The latter is a worldwide | | | | flooding because of this. |
| organization appointed by 18 national science | | | | |
| institutes. | | | | The possibility of the extinction of some |
| | | | species of seals and polar bears is very |
| The assessment's report was first broadcast | | | | evident. |
| in detail at a symposium in Reykjavik, | | | | |
| Iceland in November 9 to 12, 2004. ACIA's | | | | Health and food security of the natives are |
| data were based on an average estimate of | | | | also areas that can be affected. This poses a |
| emissions of CO2 and other gases that | | | | challenge on the other tribe's culture. |
| aggravate the greenhouse effect in the years | | | | |
| to come. The report also integrates results | | | | The Assessment has reported that many of the |
| from 5 major climate simulations done by the | | | | projected physical, ecological, social and |
| Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or | | | | economic changes have already commenced. A |
| IPCC. | | | | major goal of the ACIA is to determine |
| | | | variability of ultra violet radiation and its |
| As Robert Corell, ACIA Chair mused, people in | | | | impact on society. |
| the Arctic are feelng the impacts of global | | | | |
| warming as the Arctic is now seeing the | | | | For the study, the University of Alaska, |
| fastest and extremely serious climate change. | | | | Fairbanks, hosted the ACIA Secretariat at was |
| These are predicted to increase even more as | | | | hosted at the International Arctic Research |
| the years roll by. | | | | Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. |
| | | | Funding for the Secretariat was provided by |
| Here are some of the findings: | | | | the U.S. National Science Foundation and the |
| | | | National Oceanic and Atmospheric |
| In the past 50 years, winter temperatures in | | | | Administration. |