The Arctic affected by increased temperatre

Question 1

Role

Answer 1

Sea ice regulates evaporation and precipitation

The Arctic acts as a barometer or early warning system for the environmental impacts resulting from the burning of fossil fuels

Arctic temperatures have risen twice as fast as the global average in the past few decades

Question 2

Examples

Answer 2

Antarctica and Greenland ice sheets have lost mass and glaciers are shrinking

Arctic sea ice and spring snow cover in the northern hemisphere continue to decrease in extent and thickness

Question 3

Impacts

Answer 3

Permafrost is melting

Carbon uptake by plants is increasing because of the lengthening of their growing season

A loss of albedo as the ice that once covered the land is replaced by tundra and tundra is replaced by taiga (further encouraging global warming)