8/10/2011

The Melting of the Polar Ice Caps in the North Pole and its Effects to the Regions Biodiversity
Prepared by: Agustin Espina Grimares Riel Tanedo

OVERVIEW
Status of North Pole

June 2011 average was 11.01 million square kilometers (4.25 million square miles). Kara Sea region has prominent low ice extent. Ice break up off the coast of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea

OVERVIEW
Status of North Pole

OVERVIEW
Global Role

Arctic sea ice extent decline in recent years Ice thickness decreased NASA sea ice breakup Ocean heat increased

Provides a certain amount of stability to the weather. Affects the ocean circulation and worldwide climate. Unique ecosystem that houses a diverse and different biodiversity.

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ECOSYSTEM
North Pole Location 450 miles north of Greenland Depth of the sea: 13, 410 meters Diametrically opposite the South Pole Sea ice is 2-3 m thick Limited Primary Production Tundra Biome North Pole Climate Warmer than the south pole Situated in the polar climate zone North pole temperature: Winter: -34 C Summer: 0 C Sun is above the horizon during summer months and below the horizon during the winter months

SEASON
Changes in the North Pole

Summer - Ice & + Water + Vegetation & - Marine Animals

Winter + Ice & - Water - Vegetation & + Marine Animals

BIODIVERSITY

EFFECTS
Melting Polar Ice Caps VS Biodiversity

Increased tree growth Increase in population of migratory species

Ice Algae & Phytoplankton Zooplankton Horned Puffin

Decrease habitat for Arctic animals More mobility of marine animals Polar Bear Extinction

Polar Bear

Arctic Fox

Reindeer lichen

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SOLUTIONS
Ways to Preserve

FORECAST
Future

Environmental Awareness
Preserving Practices

Lessen CFC emission

IPCC Forecast Free of summer ice by 2020 Sooner than the expected year of 2050 Global warming Earth will be warm

REFERENCES
CLIMATE CHANGE: Impact on Coastal Habitation. Doeke Erisma, Ed. Florida: CRC Press, Inc., 1995. http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/question473.htm http://nsidc.org/articseaicenews http://www.crystalinks.com/arctic.html http://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environment/articles/64073.aspx http://www.livescience.com/3635-ancient -creature-survived-arctic-winters.html http://www.livescience.com/1350-surprising-arctic-inhabitants-trees.html http://www.livescience.com/13746-arctic-coast-erosion-climate-change-ice.html http://www.livescience.com/11819-january-arctic-sea-ice-hits-record.html http://www.livescience.com/14773-atlantic-ocean-europe-climate-change-plankton.html http://www.livescience.com/5696-arctic-changed-study-finds.html http://www.livescience.com/14073-arctic-ozone-hole-uk.html http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2006-11-12-7-wonders-polar-ice-caps_x.htm http://ecoicus.com/Theimportanceoficecaps.html http://www.grida.no/publications/planet-in-peril/page/1321.aspx http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/05/01/us-globalwarming-ice-idUSN0122477020070501

REFERENCES
http://images.brighthub.com/2f/f/2ff19ec428c44492ba6a15aeb8da376c91c5e0ee_large.jpg http://images.brighthub.com/76/6/76600726769b89624c94646a1f1656cd21a76e4a_large.jpg http://images.brighthub.com/fd/a/fda49f4abac0ecb6ce85baa9bcf79a24de19f91b_large.jpg http://i.pbase.com/g3/71/610971/2/56954043.Obtubeseaiceundersidealgae.jpg http://edubuzz.org/blogs/croftmalloch/files/2010/03/08-arctic20fox.jpg http://www.newscientist.com/blog/environment/uploaded_images/north-pole-719626.jpg http://onramp.nsdl.org/eserv/onramp:16435/web_reindeer_lichen.jpg http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_2ptLyS7lFCE/Sk0kmbsx9QI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/KmiZ3LGGRxY/s400/glo bal_warming_by_teabing.jpg http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/04_01/iceberg1DM0404_468x670.jpg