The Impact of Global Warming on the Arctic
Living in large cities, people rarely think about how the world is changing because of global warming. The Arctic is warming and losing sea ice; this is an exceptional change, and how people respond to this is a significant challenge. The Arctic Ocean is an ecosystem already under stress that only worsens due to climate change. In a couple of decades, this region may change beyond recognition.
Unique Features and Species of the Arctic Ecosystem
Ice makes the Arctic ecosystem unique, creating permafrost in the ground, which can be either fast ice or floating in the sea. As a result of evolution in the Arctic regions, biological species have emerged that can use local conditions (Arctic 2022). Some of these species are found only in arctic and subarctic regions. These include polar cod, large marine mammals such as bowhead and beluga whales, narwhals, walruses, and some fish species (Arctic 2022). Microscopic plants, the starting point of the Arctic marine food chain, provide food for benthic living organisms and microscopic fauna, which are food for larger marine animals. Thus, despite the increased threat, the Arctic ecosystem continues to evolve, so it is essential to help it not lose its uniqueness.
Collaborative Efforts to Preserve Arctic Biodiversity
When embarking on new projects or a significant change in existing work, the concerned specialists try to proceed from the need to preserve biological diversity. Thus, the question arises: “How can the unique ecosystem of the Arctic be preserved, and global climate change prevented?”. There are already projects in Alaska where participants collaborate with local communities and representatives of indigenous peoples (Impact assessments 2022). Shell, a British-Dutch oil and gas company, helps finance these programs and uses their results for project planning and environmental impact assessment (Impact assessments 2022). They seek to use their Arctic experience best and complement their research programs with their indigenous experience of native species, land use, ice movement, migration patterns, and livelihoods.
References
Arctic. National Geographic Society. (2022). Web.
Impact assessments | Reducing environmental impact. Shell Global. (2022). Web.