Examine the ecological impacts of global warming for Arctic areas Essay

Global warming is the general increase in just temperature globally over a period of time. This can have an return on the safety in a multitude of social, political and environmental ways For deterrent example, the Arctic Circle is home to over 150,000 Inuits, whose primary fodder source is fish and seals. As a result of global warming, arctic ice has receded greatly over the last 10 years, subverting seal capture grounds, and so limiting access to Inuit food supply.Also, the liquescent of glaciers into the arctic amniotic fluid is cause less fish to occupy the now fresh waters, causing polar bear and seal numbers to dwindle as on that point food source disappears. Such an impact to the Inuit food supply and main source of income would mean that communities would have to import food instead of track down it, which would be incredibly expensive (up to USD$ 1 million per year) due to their tall protein requirements to help them cope with the harsh environment. Another en vironmental impact is the prejudicious feedback mechanism that artic ice withdrawal creates.Arctic ice has a postgraduate albedo, meaning it reflects a lot of solar radiation back into space. However, the sea and rock have a low albedo, meaning these areas are warmer. As a result of the ice melting, the general albedo of the arctic is lowering, which in turn causes an increase in average temperature, and therefore increases ice melting even more, and so on. This negative feedback mechanism result also barely greenhouse gas emissions by the thawing of permafrost. Beneath the permafrost found on arctic tundra, are thousands of gallons of methane, trapped there for thousands of years.As this permafrost begins to melt, the methane will be released, increasing the temperature and creating a similar feedback mechanism to the albedo effect give tongue to above. Further so, the warming of the arctic means that the tree commercial enterprise (the line at which most forests such as coni ferous forests, stop growing) will recede. This withdrawal of the tree line means that habitats for creatures normally found in the northern parts of Russia and Greenland (or other arctic regions) will begin to stop further into the arctic, putting pressure on animals currently living in the arctic circle, for example the arctic fox.The melting of the arctic regions has also reveal opportunity for oil companies such as BP and shell to start drill for oil in regions they couldnt previously drill in (for example the arctic pass). This increase in oil production can completely further the greenhouse gas emissions, and spoil natural beauty of the area, and destroy habitats due to incidents such as oil spills (should they occur). Drilling is not the solely risk that is imposed, as Russia have also allowed for nuclear waste giving medication in there arctic territory, poisoning habitats and killing wildlife.