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