Arctic Region and Melting Aspirations
According to a recent study, limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C or 2°C as per the Paris Agreement may not stop the melting of Arctic sea ice in the summer season.
The first such warming season could possibly occur in the 2030s. Prior to this, it was believed that global warming could exceed 4.5 °C due to emissions from the world. Due to this, the Arctic region will become ice free by the year 2081-2100.
Earlier, a NASA study reported that, as a result of global warming, the extent of Arctic sea ice in summer is shrinking at a rate of 12.6 percent per decade.
Importance of Arctic sea ice:
- Sea ice is lighter in colour, so it reflects more sunlight back into space than liquid water.
- Thus it plays an important role in keeping the polar regions cool and maintaining the energy balance of the earth.
- Sea ice also keeps the air cooler by forming a barrier between the cooler air above and the relatively warmer water below the surface.
- Loss of sea ice can affect biodiversity. Also, it can harm mammals such as polar bears and walruses.
- It may also influence the subsistence-hunting traditional lifestyle of indigenous populations such as the Yupik, Iñupiat and Inuit.
- However, the resulting ice loss “could also provide commercial and economic opportunities”. This would open up shipping routes in the Arctic region and increase access to its natural resources.
Source – The Hindu
