29
SEVEN DETRIMENTAL WAYS IN WHICH THE
OCEANS THEMSELVES WILL BE AFFECTED
BY CLIMATE CHANGE
MELTING OF
ARCTIC SEA ICE
Arctic sea-ice reductions have significant impacts on climate,
wildlife and communities. The opening of open water across
the Arctic ocean will have unknown consequences in terms of
changes in water circulation and redistribution of species from
the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. As sea ice coverage declines, albe-
do diminishes and more radiation is absorbed by the sea water, in
a feed-back process that enhances warming and melting sea ice.
The ecology of the planet is closely linked to different ocean processes, most of which are
directly affected by climate change.
Figure 9: Loss of the ice sheet.
1
Sea ice anomaly in Northern Hemisphere
Million square kilometres, from 1978-2000 average
Source : NOAA, 2009.
2000
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2010
2002
2004 2006
2008
0.0
-0.5
-1.0
-1.5
-2.0
-2.5
0.5
