The polar ecosystems are experiencing accelerated effects of environmental change. Alarmingly, the Arctic is warming twice as fast as other global regions. Four ways the Arctic ecosystem is impacted by climate change include:
- Melting ice: Rapid melting of the sea ice is having a profound impact on the Arctic ecosystem. For example, melting ice can cause habitat loss for polar bears and other ice-dependent species, and can also lead to sea level rise and changes in ocean currents.
- Ocean acidification: As carbon dioxide levels continue to rise in the atmosphere, the oceans are becoming more acidic, which disrupts the ability of organisms to build their shells: such as mollusks and plankton. This leads to reduced populations and potential ecological cascades.
- Harmful algal blooms (HABs): HABs commonly known as red tides are a growing problem in the Arctic ecosystem. These blooms occur when certain types of algae grow rapidly as sea water warms and produce toxins that can harm marine organisms, including fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and humans (through seafood ingestion).
- Pollution: Oil and gas exploration, shipping, and mining release pollutants such as oil and heavy metals into the environment, which can have negative impacts on the health of marine organisms and the degrade the ecosystem as a whole.
The Arctic ecosystem is facing serious challenges which requires global collaborative efforts to reduce carbon emissions and protect critical marine habitats.