Q.7 Why global sea ice cover has dipped to record low — What does this mean ?
Ans: Global sea ice cover has reached a record low, driven by rising temperatures, warmer oceans, and changing wind patterns. This phenomenon, observed in both the Arctic and Antarctic, underscores the accelerating impacts of climate change on polar regions.
Global Sea Ice Cover Has Dipped to a Record Low because:
- The decline in sea ice is attributed to a combination of factors.
- In the Arctic, delayed freezing due to unusually warm ocean temperatures and storms breaking apart ice in regions like the Barents and Bering Seas have contributed to the reduction.
- Similarly, in the Antarctic, warmer air and ocean temperatures during the southern hemisphere summer have accelerated ice melt.
- Ice-breaking winds, coupled with the region’s thinner and more mobile ice, have further exacerbated the situation.
- Historical trends show a consistent decline, with Arctic sea ice shrinking at 12.2% per decade since the 1980s, while Antarctic ice has experienced significant losses since 2015.
What Does This Mean :
- The loss of sea ice has far-reaching consequences.
- Reduced ice cover exposes more ocean to sunlight, increasing heat absorption and accelerating global warming.
- This disrupts ocean currents, impacts marine ecosystems, and destabilizes ice shelves.
- The polar regions, warming faster than the rest of the planet, are critical indicators of climate change.
The record low in global sea ice cover highlights the urgent need for climate action. Mitigation strategies, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing global cooperation, are essential to address this crisis.
| Source : Indian Express Article: Link |
| Keywords: Sea ice, Arctic, Antarctic, climate change, ocean warming, ice shelves. |
| Extra Info : The annual Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), published since 2005, is an independent monitoring tool for tracking the climate protection performance of 63 countries and the EU. The CCPI aims to enhance transparency in international climate politics and it enables comparison of individual countries’ climate protection efforts and progress. |