The Detrimental Effects of Melting Arctic Ice
- Fazeelah Ali
- Apr 26
- 2 min read
Background
As climate change escalates due to global warming, Arctic ice has been melting rapidly. According to Six Ways Loss of Arctic Ice Impacts Everyone, “We lose Arctic sea ice at a rate of almost 13% per decade, and over the past 30 years, the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic has declined by a stunning 95%.” These rates are exceedingly high due to carbon emissions. If conditions remain unchanged, the Arctic could be ice-free in only 15 years. This naturally comes with countless negative impacts on the Arctic and the rest of the world, such as harmful effects on weather patterns, sea levels, wildlife, and many more.
Results
With Arctic ice melting at exponential rates, numerous harmful outcomes have come into play. Recent issues, such as California’s intense droughts and Europe’s uncharacteristically wet winters, are all repercussions of melting Arctic ice. The melting of Arctic ice causes less heat to be reflected from the Earth, which results in more extreme heat waves and harsh winters. Studies show that while other climate influences like greenhouse gases contribute to the atypical weather patterns, Arctic ice melting escalates these trends.
Rising sea levels are also a direct result of melting Arctic ice. High sea levels endanger small island nations and coastal cities with threats of flooding and storms. Dangerous weather events have also become more common in these areas.
Conclusion
Arctic ice is critical to our environment because it influences global weather patterns, regulates the Earth’s temperature, and affects ocean circulation. Arctic ice reflects sunlight, helps maintain ocean salinity levels, and even acts as an insulating barrier between the ocean and the atmosphere. Arctic ice is an indispensable resource to Earth, yet it is rapidly disappearing before our eyes due to human disruption of the environment, such as the emission of carbon pollutants into the atmosphere. One way we can help is by reducing our carbon footprint, which can slow Arctic ice melt. Simple actions like using public transport, conserving energy, and supporting clean energy initiatives can make a difference in the long run.