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Arctic ice sheet melting ….its effects on global warming. Atreyee Bhattacharya EPS 131. Overview of the talk. Why should be study the Arctic? How do we study the melting of arctic sea ice The findings of the study Conclusions and predictions. Decreasing albedo
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Arctic ice sheet melting….its effects on global warming Atreyee Bhattacharya EPS 131
Overview of the talk Why should be study the Arctic? How do we study the melting of arctic sea ice The findings of the study Conclusions and predictions
Decreasing albedo Warmer oceans & warmer atmosphere Ice sheet melting Fresh water deluge Shutdown of thermohaline circulation Drastic cooling ………..the ignored danger!
The decay rate • Image NOAA
How do we know that the arctic ice sheet has dwindled? Answer) Ice drafts 3 m 2 m ~ volume is down by some 40%. ~ area shrunk by 6% SCICEX data,1999 Rothrock et al 1999 How fast Is the ice melting(using ice drafts)
The ice is melting probably because… multi-decadal cycle ? OR continue the observed decline? Answer : Greenhouse gas concentration!!
Effects on ecology and mankind 1.Changes in migration patterns and habitat of terrestrial and marine mammals. 2.Changes in the availability of food resources for sea birds and marine life. 3. Changes in storm surges, shore erosion, and wind. ……..implies recent effects as observed in 1996 4. Changes in precipitation in the summer, fall, and winter ……..implies drying up of traditional food 5. A reduction in sea-ice and changes in the timing of ice formation and thaw in the Bering and Chukchi Seas. ……implies the poor hunting during 1997 and 1998
References 1.Arctic Sea-Ice: Changes, Causes, and ImplicationsUSGCRP Seminar, 20 April 1999 2. 6.Ecology.com 3. NOOA 4. Ohio State University Department of Mechanical Engineering, “Science Daily”. 5. Rothrock. D.A., Yu. Y. ,& Maykut. G.A.,; Thinning of the Arctic Sea-Ice Cover. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 26,No. 23, pages 3469-3472, December 1, 1999 6. US geological survey
Thank you!! Questions??