Changes in the Arctic climate system are mainly manifested in the following aspects:
Reduction in sea ice extent.
Sea ice is one of the most important features of the Arctic, and it has a profound impact on Arctic temperature, ecology and human activities. However, due to the effects of global warming, the sea ice extent in the Arctic has continued to shrink over the past few decades, reaching record lows. According to satellite observations, Arctic sea ice extent has decreased by 31% since 1979 and continues to decline. If greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, by the 70s of this century, there could be an "ice-free summer" in the Arctic summer, that is, there is almost no sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean.
Rise in temperature
The decrease in sea ice has led to a rise in temperature in the Arctic because sea ice is able to reflect sunlight and absorb less heat, while seawater absorbs more heat, creating a positive feedback loop. In addition, the loss of sea ice makes it easier for heat from the ground to be released to the surface, creating a vicious cycle of continuous temperature increases. In 2023, the Arctic region broke a 120-year record with an average temperature of 64, which is the highest value since 1900, when Arctic meteorological records began.
Increase in the number of rainy days
Precipitation in the Arctic is mainly snow, not rain, because the temperature is too low for water vapor to form a liquid state. However, as temperatures rise, so does the number of rainy days in the Arctic, which has a significant impact on both Arctic ecosystems and human activities. According to a study in the journal Nature Climate Change, the number of rainy days in the Arctic has increased by 31% over the past three decades, and the trend continues.
Rainfall accelerates the melting of sea ice and glaciers, affects the survival and distribution of flora and fauna, and can even cause disasters such as floods and landslides.
The ecosystems of the Arctic region are very fragile and unique, and they are very sensitive to climate change. With changes in sea ice, temperature and rainfall, the flora and fauna of the Arctic are also under tremendous pressure and challenges. Polar bears, seals and walruses rely on sea ice for food and breeding, and the decline in sea ice is threatening their living space and food**.
Salmon and herring have benefited from rising sea temperatures, with increased numbers and ranges. In addition, the vegetation in the Arctic has changed significantly, with increased greenery and plant diversity in the tundra zone, and even some forests have appeared.
These changes suggest that the Arctic region has entered a completely new climate system, which is fundamentally different from the climate systems of the past. Many scientists refer to the new phenomenon of the North Pole as the "new Arctic".
This is an absolute disaster for the ecology of the earth, and the climate change is slow but continuous, and once formed, it will be almost irreversible.
Even if any greenhouse gas emissions are suspended from now on, perhaps the Arctic will no longer exist!
Climate change in the Arctic is not just an Arctic problem, it's a global problem.
Changes in the Arctic affect ocean currents, wind direction and weather patterns around the world, and can also contribute to global warming and sea level rise.
Changes in the Arctic will also affect the economy, politics and security of the world, as the region is rich in energy, mineral and biological resources, as well as new shipping and tourism routes. Tackling climate change in the Arctic therefore requires global cooperation and action, and it cannot be left to worsen.
Fortunately, countries around the world have realized the crisis and urgency of climate change, and have begun to take some positive measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, develop renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, increase carbon sinks, protect ecosystems, adapt to the effects of climate change, and so on.
Recently, at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, countries agreed that more than 130 countries have committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. After all, according to the available data, greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase in various countries, and the global temperature will continue to increase in the next seven years.
Exceeding the temperature limit can have devastating consequences.
Climate change is a global problem that no country can solve alone, and no country can stay out of it. Under the premise of the climate crisis, no country can be immune, and developed countries should respect and support the legitimate demands and development rights of developing countries, and provide them with necessary financial, technological and capacity-building support to help them achieve low-carbon development and climate adaptation.
Climate change in the Arctic is a wake-up call for the severity and urgency of the climate crisis. We can no longer sit idly by, we can no longer procrastinate, we must act now to take responsibility for our planet and our future. We have the ability and responsibility to create a better world together.