Ice, page 23
Extras
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The year 2015 in numbers (as of September, 2015):
- Smallest Arctic’s winter ice cap maximum on record.
- Warmest January (globally, land and ocean surface) on record.
- Warmest February (globally, land and ocean surface) on record
- Warmest March (globally, land and ocean surface) on record.
- Warmest April (globally, ocean surface) on record.
- Warmest May (globally, land and ocean surface) on record.
- Warmest June (globally, land and ocean surface) on record.
- Warmest July (globally, land and ocean surface) on record, and warmest of all 1627 months measured since January 1880.
- Warmest August (globally, land and ocean surface) on record.
Source: NOAA, Global Analysis
…glaciers and ice caps in Arctic Canada, Alaska, northern Scandinavia and Svalbard, Iceland, and the Greenland Ice Sheet itself, continue to lose mass.”
State of the Climate in 2014
It is virtually certain that global mean sea level rise will continue for many centuries beyond 2100, with the amount of rise dependent on future emissions.
IPCC Report, Summary for Policy Makers
A large fraction of species faces increased extinction risk due to climate change during and beyond the 21st century…
IPCC Report, Summary for Policy Makers
Polar bears cannot adapt to terrestrial foods (…), and will most likely not be able to adapt to climate change and reduced sea ice extent
IPCC, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptations, and Vulnerability
Direct impacts of climate changes on the health of Arctic residents include extreme weather events, rapidly changing weather conditions, and increasingly unsafe hunting conditions (physical/mental injuries, death, disease), temperature-related stress (limits of human survival in thermal environment, cold injuries, cold-related diseases), and UV-B radiation (immunosuppression, skin cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cataracts).
IPCC, Climate Change 2014: Polar Regions
Indirect effects of climate change on the health of Arctic residents include a complex set of impacts such as changes in animal and plant populations (species responses, infectious diseases), changes in the physical environment (ice and snow, permafrost), diet (food yields, availability of country food), built environment (sanitation infrastructure, water supply system, waste systems, building structures), drinking water access, contaminants (local, long-range transported), and coastal issues (harmful algal blooms, erosion).
Warming temperatures are enabling increased overwintering survival and distribution of new insects that sting and bite as well as many bird, animal, and insect species that can serve as disease vectors and, in turn, causing an increase in human exposure to new and emerging infectious diseases.
IPCC, Climate Change 2014: Polar Regions
Indigenous populations in the Arctic—the original Native inhabitants of the region—are considered especially vulnerable to climate change because of their close relationship with the environment and its natural resources for physical, social, and cultural well-being. (…) In habitats across the Arctic, climate changes are affecting these livelihoods through decreased sea ice thickness and extent, less predictable weather, severe storms, sea level rise, changing seasonal melt/freeze-up of rivers and lakes, changes in snow type and timing, increasing shrub growth, permafrost thaw, and storm-related erosion, which, in turn, are causing such severe loss of land in some regions that a number of Alaskan coastal villages are having to relocate entire communities.
IPCC, Climate Change 2014: Polar Regions
Traditional knowledge is the historical knowledge of Indigenous peoples accumulated over many generations and it is increasingly emerging as an important knowledge base for more comprehensively addressing the impacts of environmental and other changes as well as development of appropriate adaptation strategies for Indigenous communities. (…) Increasingly, traditional knowledge is being combined with Western scientific knowledge to develop more sustainable adaptation strategies for all communities in the changing climate.
IPCC, Climate Change 2014: Polar Regions
Indigenous, local, and traditional forms of knowledge are a major resource for adapting to climate change.
IPCC, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptations, and Vulnerability
Already, accelerated rates of change in permafrost thaw, loss of coastal sea ice, sea level rise, and increased weather intensity are forcing relocation of some Indigenous communities in Alaska
IPCC, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptations, and Vulnerability
Lay knowledge about the environment and climate is deeply rooted in history, and encompasses important aspects of human life. Lay knowledge is particularly pertinent in cultures with an intimate relationship between people and the environment. For many indigenous and rural communities, for example, livelihood activities such as herding, hunting, fishing, or farming are directly connected to and dependent on climate and weather conditions. These communities thus have critical knowledge about dealing with environment changes and associated societal conditions. In regions around the world, such knowledge is commonly used in adapting to environmental conditions and is directly relevant to adaptation to climate change.
IPCC, Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptations, and Vulnerability
One last word on the map I drew: Sadly, this is not the best depiction of how northern Eurasia will look when the sea has risen by 12 metres. NASA data aren’t accurate enough at such a small scale, especially not at latitudes beyond +/- 60 degrees. Other uncertainties are tidal variations and coastal erosion.
Acknowledgments
Magnus for the recurring morning coffee miracle, without which I would be unable to crank open my goopy eyes. Béla and Lina for kicking me out of my office and dragging me into the woods so we can get all dirty and stinky.
Ralf Kleemann for a virtual peek into a solar plane cockpit, and the people at the Alaska Dog Mushing Forum for advice on sled dogs and how to best starve to death in the Arctic.
My editors, Nancy DeMarco and Sabrina Flynn, and my beta readers, SiewBee and Pete Andrews.
My sharp-eyed and ever patient proof reader, Tom Welsh.
Sol Eppi, Lior Shoov, and Ben Howard for inspiring music.
Annelie Wendeberg, Ice
