Shrinking Arctic Ices

North Pole.. Not the south pole sono penguins..

Global Warming?• Even though this winter is

colder than usual, the arctic ices are still shrinking.

• The Arctic ice cap shrank to an all-time low in the summer of 2007. Studies have shown that this accelerated shrinkage of Arctic sea ice may be because a strong warming trend.

Global Warming? Cont.

• The climate reacts more strongly to a given amount of global warming than initially believed.

• Greenhouse effect:

Video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hY49F2LWnM

Albedo

• Albedo is the fraction of solar energy reflected from the Earth back into space.

Water vs. Ice

• Water is much more absorbent and less reflective than ice therefore ice has a higher albedo.

MOVIE

• Al Gore- An inconvenient truth – Minute 43

Predicted Effects

•Average temperatures in the Arctic have risen at almost twice the rate as temperatures in the rest of the world over past decades.• Melting of glaciers and sea ice and rising permafrost temperatures present additional evidence of strong Arctic warming

Video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGZbiWy47bA

Sea Levels Rising

• Due to the increase in temperatures (because of global warming and the albedo effect) the arctic ices have begun to shrink. Since they are melting, the excess water has made the sea levels rise.

Northeastern U.S. coast will rise almost twice as fast as global sea levels during this century, cities like New York City will be affected.

Video

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xopoWF98y4

Polar Bears being affected…

• The Polar Bears are affected in numerous ways by the ice melting. First and most important is since the ice is melting the bears are drowning.

Other reasons…

• Population sizes decreasing

• Sea ice platforms moving farther apart and swimming conditions more dangerous

• Fewer hunting opportunities and increased scarcity of food

Polar Bears cont.

• Along with drowning, the polar bears are becoming skinnier, Because of this far fewer of the cubs are able to survive.

Ten Questions1. What is causing the arctic ices to shrink?

A. Albedo Effect C. Greenhouse gassesB. Global Warming D. All of the above

2. What year did the Arctic ices shrink to an all time low?A. 2005 C. 2007B. 2006 D. 2008

3. Albedo is the fraction of solar energy reflected from…A. Space to earth C. Earth to spaceB. Sun to moon D. Moon to space

4. Shrinking arctic ices are causing the sea levels to…A. Increase C. Stay the sameB. Decrease D. None of the above

5. Which of the following has higher albedo than ice?A. Water C. GrassB. Mirror D. Oil

Ten Questions Cont’d6. Average arctic temperatures have risen almost ______ as much

as it has over past decades. A. Three times C. Four timesB. Twice D. Five times

7._________ gasses are what is causing global warming.A. Bluehouse C. GreenhouseB. RedHouse D. Yellowhouse

8. What is albedo?9. How do we know that sea levels rising will affect New York City?10.

Citations

Science Dailyhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090315155112.htm

How Polar bears are affected by global warming

http://www.helium.com/items/714335-how-polar-bears-are-affected-by- global-warming

Albedo http://www.esr.org/outreach/glossary/albedo.html