The recently published study in the Nature journal suggests that the melting of Arctic Sea ice in summers is an inevitable consequence of our changing climate. This phenomenon, known as Arctic amplification, has been identified as a major concern for its potential impact on global climate and the environment.
New Findings on Arctic Sea Ice
According to reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is a confirmed decline in Arctic Sea ice. Projections indicate that the first “sea-ice free summer” could occur before 2050 due to global emissions driving temperatures beyond 4.5°C.
Satellite records show a yearly rate of Arctic ice loss at nearly 13%. The Nature study emphasizes that even significant emission reductions can’t prevent the loss of Arctic Sea ice in summer. If current trends continue, an ice-free summer could happen as early as the 2030s.
It is believed that human-induced factors contribute to approximately 90% of ice melting, with natural variability accounting for the rest. Existing climate models underestimated the speed of this melting. However, updated estimates reveal the possibility of ice-free Augusts and Octobers by 2080.
Role and Importance of Arctic Sea Ice
Arctic sea ice plays a pivotal role in shaping global climate patterns. It reflects sunlight, aiding in maintaining the Earth’s energy balance and cooling polar regions. It also acts as a barrier, keeping colder air above separated from the warmer water below.
Changes in sea ice significantly impact biodiversity, especially mammals like polar bears and walruses. Indigenous Arctic communities who rely on sea ice for hunting, breeding, and migration are also greatly affected.
Moreover, reduced ice cover leads to increased competition among nations for control over shipping lanes and access to natural resources in the Arctic.
Understanding Arctic Amplification
Arctic amplification refers to the situation where changes in surface air temperature and net radiation balance result in greater effects at the poles, specifically in the Arctic region.
Arctic amplification is primarily a result of global warming caused by human activities since pre-industrial times. Factors such as ice-albedo feedback, lapse rate feedback, water vapor feedback, and ocean heat transport contribute to this effect.
Consequences of Arctic Amplification
The consequences of Arctic amplification are far-reaching. Diminished sea ice weakens polar jet streams, leading to rising temperatures and heatwaves in Europe and unseasonal showers in northwest India.
Melting of the Greenland ice sheet adds to rising sea levels, with potential for a seven-meter rise in an extreme scenario. Additionally, warming of the Arctic Ocean affects biodiversity through changes in salinity and acidification.
Thawing permafrost not only releases carbon and methane, greenhouse gases contributing to global warming, but also long-dormant bacteria and viruses which could potentially cause disease outbreaks.
Impact on India
Studies indicate that reduced sea ice in the Barents-Kara Sea region can increase the likelihood of extreme rainfall events during the latter half of the monsoon season in India.
Changes brought about by diminishing sea ice along with warmer temperatures in the Arabian Sea enhance moisture and drive extreme rainfall events. In response to these conditions, in 2014, India deployed IndARC, India’s first moored-underwater observatory in the Kongsfjorden fjord, Svalbard, to monitor the impact of changes in the Arctic Ocean.
Meanwhile, the ‘State of Global Climate in 2021’ report states that sea level along the Indian coast is rising at a faster rate than the global average.
Understanding Methane Hydrate Deposits
Methane hydrate is a crystalline solid that consists of a methane molecule surrounded by a cage of interlocking water molecules. It naturally occurs in subsurface deposits where temperature and pressure conditions are suitable for its formation.
Global warming can trigger the release of methane gas from these deposits. Large deposits of methane hydrate are found in Arctic Tundra and under the sea floor. Methane in the atmosphere oxidizes to carbon dioxide after a decade or two, contributing to global warming. This information becomes important while framing policies and devising climate change mitigation strategies.
Comparative Impact of Melting Ice
The melting of the Arctic ice and the glaciers of Antarctica differ in their effects on the Earth’s weather patterns and human activities. Understanding their separate and combined impacts is crucial for comprehensive climate change mitigation efforts and policy planning.
