Arctic Climate Change

Arctic Climate ChangeArctic Climate Change

Presented by: Presented by: Ben Chou and Kelly CunninghamBen Chou and Kelly Cunningham

Global Temperature AnomaliesGlobal Temperature Anomalies

Data Source: NASA GISS GHCN, 2006

Dec-Jan-Feb 2001-2005 Jun-Jul-Aug 2001-2005

Greenland Summer MeltGreenland Summer Melt

Source: Comiso and Parkinson, 2004

• Summer melt increased by 17% from 1992-2002; SLR from continental melting: 5.9 +/- 1.6 cm

Arctic Sea IceArctic Sea Ice

1979 2005

Source: Walker, 2006

Total decrease summer sea ice: 20-50%, 1.3 mil km2

Summer: 8-10%/decade; Winter: 6-7%/decade

Ice-Albedo FeedbackIce-Albedo Feedback

Source: Comiso and Parkinson, 2004

Ice-Albedo Animation

Arctic PermafrostArctic Permafrost

• Retreat 31 cm/yr• Stores 1/3 of global

soil carbon• Models predict loss

of 50% by 2050; 90% by 2100

Source: Lawrence and Slater, 2006

““Take Home” Messages Take Home” Messages Arctic: a global indicator for climate change:1) Melting of Greenland and Arctic glaciers will

induce sea level rise and could weaken or disrupt THC

2) Retreat of snow and sea-ice reduces planetary albedo, and melting of permafrost releases GHGs – both exacerbate global warming

3) The sensitive dynamics of its ecosystem have contributed to accelerated warming in the Arctic