If you look at a graph that depicts the average Arctic temperature over the past 2,000 years, you'll see a line that slowly declines as it moves to the right, implying that from 0 C.E. (common era) to about 1900, the average Arctic temperature was slowly declining by about a half of one degree Celsius or about one degree Fahrenheit. From about 1900 to today the little line on the graph jumps up, showing an increase of average arctic temperature by about 2 degrees Celsius or almost 4 degrees Fahrenheit. This 2 degree jump is huge. Scientists compiled a very large amount of data and found that, if it were not for carbon dioxide emissions and other greenhouse gases, the Arctic would still be slowly cooling, as it had been up until about 1900.
The Earth has a wobbly cycle of about 21,000 years, which alters the relative timing of Earth's closest pass by the Sun. Over the last 7,000 years, the Earth's closest passing to the Sun has shifted from September to January, which has caused a gradual reduction in the intensity of the sunlight reaching the Arctic in the summertime when Earth is further away from the Sun. As part of the natural cyclic wobble of Earth, the Arctic would have continued its gradual path to cooler temperatures. However, due to anthropogenic climate change or global warming, Arctic temperatures are now more subject to greenhouse gas emissions than to the Sun.
If you know anything about global warming, and you probably do, you already know what the implications are for a warmer Arctic region. The warmer temperatures will cause Arctic glaciers to melt at a far more rapid rate than they would have naturally. As the glaciers melt in the Arctic, the sea levels will rise, which will cause land masses all over the world to shrink. That means that coastal cities will be threatened. In the most extreme global warming models, experts indicate that coastal cities could even disappear under water within the next century.
The other implication of warmer Arctic temperatures is even scarier. As permafrost melts in the Arctic due to warmer temperatures, huge amounts of methane and other gases will be emitted into the atmosphere. With all of this information, the Arctic temperatures explain how global warming is really affecting the world, and it's not looking good. EnviroCitizen.org encourages you to continue to research this topic and see what you can do to stop contributing to global warming. Little steps can make a big difference. |
