Two Concerns for Managers of Polar Bear Populations in the Near Future

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Two Concerns for Managers of Polar Bear Populations in the Near Future"

Transcription

1 Two Concerns for Managers of Polar Bear Populations in the Near Future Presentation to the Polar Bear Range States Meeting October, 2011 Ian Stirling, PhD, FRSC on behalf of the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group ( Ian Stirling)

2 We have been losing sea ice in the summer at a rate of 10-11% per decade in response to climate warming. This is confirmed directly from real time satellite data. The first year the whole of the Arctic Basin could be monitored by satellite was This graph presents real data not results from a model.

3 Timing of Break-up in Relation to Year, Western Hudson Bay, (after Stirling et al. 1999, Arctic 52: ; Lunn & Stirling unpublished data) 31 Jul Note: The decline is not linear. There is much large-scale inter-annual variation. Date of Sea Ice Break-up 21 Jul 11 Jul 1 Jul 21 Jun 11 Jun 1 Jun Comment: The average date of sea ice breakup in Western Hudson Bay is now a three weeks earlier than it was only 30 years ago. This rate of change is huge. r = p = weeks Year

4 Comment: The average estimated weight of adult female in the fall has declined from about kg to kg in only 25 years. This loss of condition of adult females (and bears of all other age and sex classes) has resulted in smaller litters, lower cub survival and population decline. in Western Hudson Bay. 189 kg in fall (Stirling and Parkinson 2006)

5 On land without food: Mortality rates of adult males on land in Western Hudson Bay in relation to the number of days of open water between breakup in spring and freeze-up in autumn. The current open period is already in the day range. 3% 6% 10% 20% 28 48% 130 or less or more number of days Molnár et al. 2010)

6 Comment: As of December 31, 2010, there was still no ice forming in Davis Strait and eastern Hudson Bay. Recall how much interannual variation there was in breakup dates in Western Hudson Bay. That degree of variation, combined with demonstration of the lengthy delay of freeze-up in eastern Hudson Bay indicates such a delay is likely in Western Hudson Bay is possible, and likely sometime in the foreseeable future. If this happens, there will be significant mortality of polar bears and many hungry bears entering settlements in search of food. Sea ice concentration Value Percent Water Ice (Data source:

7 What happened to the bears fasting on land in northern Labrador and Davis Strait during that extended period of open water in 2011? We don t know. But, we do know there was a significant die-off of harp seals along the coast of Labrador that bears may have fed on. We also know that in 2011, dead ringed seals (the main normal food of polar bears) that have died of an unidentified virus have been found in several areas of the Alaskan and Canadian Arctic. This is potentially worrisome for polar bears. ( Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada)

8 This diagram illustrates a critical part of the life history of the ringed seal, which makes up 80-90% of the food of polar bears. Adult female seals use the Claws on their front flippers To keep breathing holes in the ice open through the Winter. Snow drifts form over the breathing holes and females dig out small birth lairs under the snow drifts in which to hide their newborn pups from predation by polar bears. (from Smith and Stirling 1975)

9 ( Ian Stirling) Ringed seal pups are about 3-4 kg at birth in early April, and kg when they are weaned at 6 weeks of age. At that point, they are 50% fat and relatively naïve about predators (i.e., polar bears). They are the most critical part of the diet of the polar bear. In years when there is a reproductive failure of ringed seals, birth rates and survival of polar bear cubs are low.

10 Seals that breathe at newly formed breathing holes in young ice are vulnerable to polar bears when they surface to breathe. Adult female ringed seals have birth lairs beneath snow drifts like this to protect their pups from predation by polar bears. ( Ian Stirling) ( Ian Stirling)

11 The thickness of the snow cover over this ringed seal birth lair illustrates how much protection it provides from polar bear predation ( Ian Stirling)

12 This polar bear pounding down on the roof of a ringed seal birth lair illustrates how important a thick lair of snow cover is for the survival of ringed seal pups. ( Mireille de la Lez)

13 The protective lair of snow over this ringed seal birth lair was washed away by rain in an unseasonal warm spell when the temperature would normally be C. All the seal pups in the area died of predation by foxes and polar bears. Widespread warm weather and early rain will accompany climate warming resulting in high mortality of ringed seals, and loss of food for polar bears. ( Ian Stirling)

14 Dead cub Dead cub Warm weather and possibly unseasonal rain in winter, that will accompany climate warming, can result in the collapse of polar bear maternity dens, resulting in she death of the mother and her cubs. ( P. Clarkson) ( Peter Clarkson)

15 The greatest long-term threat to the survival of polar bears is the melting of their sea ice habitat by climate warming. The timing and rate of climatedriven change for polar bears and their habitats will differ in different populations. However, there is a significant risk of a crisis situation due to an unusually long ice-free periods in Western Hudson Bay, or other populations of polar bears in a Seasonal Ice Zone, in the foreseeable future. Similarly, unseasonably early warm weather and rain in ringed seal birth lair habitat is likely to result in high mortality, with significant subsequent effects on polar bears. Managers in the Range States need to develop both long-term strategies and response plans for these events. ( Ian Stirling)

16 Thank you for listening

Climate Change and Arctic Ecosystems

Climate Change and Arctic Ecosystems itletitle Climate Change and Arctic Ecosystems Climate Change and Arctic Ecosystems Key Concepts: Greenhouse Gas Albedo Ecosystem Sea ice Vegetative zone WHAT YOU WILL LEARN 1. You will analyze Arctic

More information

REVIEW OF AERIAL SURVEY ESTIMATES FOR RINGED SEALS (PHOCA HISPIDA) IN WESTERN HUDSON BAY

REVIEW OF AERIAL SURVEY ESTIMATES FOR RINGED SEALS (PHOCA HISPIDA) IN WESTERN HUDSON BAY Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Science Advisory Report 2009/004 REVIEW OF AERIAL SURVEY ESTIMATES FOR RINGED SEALS (PHOCA HISPIDA) IN WESTERN HUDSON BAY J. Blair Dunn, DFO, Winnipeg, MB Context:

More information

Polar bears have not been harmed by sea ice declines in summer the evidence August 18, Dr. S. J. Crockford.

Polar bears have not been harmed by sea ice declines in summer the evidence August 18, Dr. S. J. Crockford. Polar bears have not been harmed by sea ice declines in summer the evidence August 18, 2013 Dr. S. J. Crockford Http://www.polarbearscience.com Polar bears have not been harmed by sea ice declines in summer

More information

Dr. Ian Stirling Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada. Current Research: long-term change: polar bear, seal and arctic marine ecosystems

Dr. Ian Stirling Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada. Current Research: long-term change: polar bear, seal and arctic marine ecosystems Dr. Ian Stirling Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada Current Research: long-term change: polar bear, seal and arctic marine ecosystems Polar Bears, seals, and climate in Hudson Bay and the High

More information

Comparing male densities and fertilization rates as potential Allee effects in Alaskan and Canadian Ursus maritimus populations

Comparing male densities and fertilization rates as potential Allee effects in Alaskan and Canadian Ursus maritimus populations Comparing male densities and fertilization rates as potential Allee effects in Alaskan and Canadian Ursus maritimus populations Introduction Research suggests that our world today is in the midst of a

More information

Polar bears must swim further than before

Polar bears must swim further than before Polar bears in Baffin Bay are affected by climate changes (Article based on the summary of the report A reassessment of the polar bears in Baffin Bay and Kane Basin (2011-2014). Scientists have now proved

More information

How does global warming threaten the polar bear?

How does global warming threaten the polar bear? How does global warming threaten the polar bear? An investigation of the present and likely future status of polar bears in a warming climate by the USGS and Collaborators Eric DeWeaver AOS Dept./Center

More information

Climate change projections for Ontario: an updated synthesis for policymakers and planners

Climate change projections for Ontario: an updated synthesis for policymakers and planners Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Climate change projections for Ontario: an updated synthesis for policymakers and planners Shannon Fera and Adam Hogg Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and

More information

Institute. Dr. Jon Aars, Norwegian Polar. Institute. Jon Aars, NPI

Institute. Dr. Jon Aars, Norwegian Polar. Institute. Jon Aars, NPI Research on polar Tracking bears the at Polar Norwegian Bear Polar Institute Dr. Jon Aars, Norwegian Polar Institute Jon Aars, NPI What are Norwegian Polar Institutes (NPI) mandates? We are asked by our

More information

NASA Images of Antarctica and the Arctic covered in both land and sea ice

NASA Images of Antarctica and the Arctic covered in both land and sea ice ICE SHELVES ACTIVITY 1: DECODING THE ROLE OF ANTARCTIC ICE IN GLOBAL CLIMATE Ice Shelves play a critical role in Antarctica, serving as a buffer between the ocean and the continental ice sheet covering

More information

Siaga antelope migration revisited: relationship to recent mass deaths

Siaga antelope migration revisited: relationship to recent mass deaths Siaga antelope migration revisited: relationship to recent mass deaths Navinder J Singh 1 and Matteo Mattiuzzi 2 1.Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 2.BOKU University, Vienna, Austria Theory

More information

Sea ice cycle in western Hudson Bay, Canada, from a polar bear perspective

Sea ice cycle in western Hudson Bay, Canada, from a polar bear perspective The following supplement accompanies the article Sea ice cycle in western Hudson Bay, Canada, from a polar bear perspective L. Castro de la Guardia*, P. G. Myers, A. E. Derocher, N. J. Lunn, A. D. Terwisscha

More information

Annual September Arctic Sea ice extent

Annual September Arctic Sea ice extent Annual September Arctic Sea ice extent 1979-2012 Annual September Arctic Sea ice extent 1979-2012 Notes: The month of September has the minimum sea ice cover each year. Passive microwave instruments on

More information

WFB 074 Lecture 13 READINGS THIS WEEK. Adam Markham Climate Change and Arctic Wildlife. Clean Air-Cool Planet. Arctic Fact Sheet.

WFB 074 Lecture 13 READINGS THIS WEEK. Adam Markham Climate Change and Arctic Wildlife. Clean Air-Cool Planet. Arctic Fact Sheet. WFB 074 Lecture 13 READINGS THIS WEEK Adam Markham. 2009. Climate Change and Arctic Wildlife. Clean Air-Cool Planet. Arctic Fact Sheet. Gibbs, W. W. 2011. The Arctic oil and wildlife refuge. Scientific

More information

Activity 1 Eyewitnesses to Change

Activity 1 Eyewitnesses to Change Activity 1 Eyewitnesses to Change Forces of Change >> Arctic >> Activity 1 >> Page 1 EYEWITNESSES TO CHANGE NATIVE PEOPLES OBSERVE CLIMATE CHANGES IN THE ARCTIC Living With Change Sachs Harbour, Canada

More information

Polar Portal Season Report 2016

Polar Portal Season Report 2016 Polar Portal Season Report 2016 Less ice both on land and at sea This year s report is the fourth since the Polar Portal was launched, and as an introduction, we have chosen to take a look at the trends

More information

Project Number Polar Bears of western Hudson Bay: Survey extension investigation. November 2007

Project Number Polar Bears of western Hudson Bay: Survey extension investigation. November 2007 Project Number 2-07-19 Polar Bears of western Hudson Bay: Survey extension investigation November 2007 Dr. Elizabeth Peacock Polar Bear Biologist Department of Environment Igloolik, NU Dr. Mitchell Taylor

More information

Northwest Outlook October 2016

Northwest Outlook October 2016 Northwest Outlook October 2016 Rainfall Opportunities and Challenges Rainfall over the month of September presented some challenges for the fall harvest while other producers benefitted. Figure 1a shows

More information

POLAR REGIONS. By Kajavia Woods Arkansas State University

POLAR REGIONS. By Kajavia Woods Arkansas State University POLAR REGIONS By Kajavia Woods Arkansas State University OVERVIEW Life in the planet s polar regions can be difficult. Winter temperatures can reach deep into the negatives, and the winter night can last

More information

Exemplar for Internal Achievement Standard. Mathematics and Statistics Level 3

Exemplar for Internal Achievement Standard. Mathematics and Statistics Level 3 Exemplar for internal assessment resource Mathematics and Statistics for Achievement Standard 91580 Exemplar for Internal Achievement Standard Mathematics and Statistics Level 3 This exemplar supports

More information

POLAR BEAR RESEARCH GROUP

POLAR BEAR RESEARCH GROUP ᐊᕙᑎᓕᕆᔨᒃᑯᑦ Department of Environment Avatiliqiyikkut Ministère de l Environnement CONSULTATION MEETING TO DISCUSS THE RESULTS OF THE 2016 AERIAL SURVEY FOR THE WESTERN HUDSON BAY POLAR BEAR SUBPOPULATION

More information

Sea ice: physical properties, processes and trends. Stephen Howell Climate Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada July 18, 2017

Sea ice: physical properties, processes and trends. Stephen Howell Climate Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada July 18, 2017 Sea ice: physical properties, processes and trends Stephen Howell Climate Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada July 18, 2017 3-Part Sea Ice Lecture Overview 1. Physical properties,

More information

APPENDIX B PHYSICAL BASELINE STUDY: NORTHEAST BAFFIN BAY 1

APPENDIX B PHYSICAL BASELINE STUDY: NORTHEAST BAFFIN BAY 1 APPENDIX B PHYSICAL BASELINE STUDY: NORTHEAST BAFFIN BAY 1 1 By David B. Fissel, Mar Martínez de Saavedra Álvarez, and Randy C. Kerr, ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. (Feb. 2012) West Greenland Seismic

More information

MiSP Ecology/Pollution Global Warming Worksheet #1, L2 GLOBAL WARMING AND ICE EXTENT

MiSP Ecology/Pollution Global Warming Worksheet #1, L2 GLOBAL WARMING AND ICE EXTENT MiSP Ecology/Pollution Global Warming Worksheet #1, L2 Name Date GLOBAL WARMING AND ICE EXTENT Introduction: Sea ice is found in remote polar oceans. On average, sea ice covers about 25 million square

More information

Arctic marine mammals and climate change. SIO 133 Marine Mammal Biology April 26, 2017

Arctic marine mammals and climate change. SIO 133 Marine Mammal Biology April 26, 2017 Arctic marine mammals and climate change SIO 133 Marine Mammal Biology April 26, 2017 The Arctic Ocean: Extreme seasonal cycle of light and sea ice Arctic Ocean Food Webs Short growing season Intense

More information

Impact of Climate Change on Chinook Salmon

Impact of Climate Change on Chinook Salmon Region: Western Coastlines Grade Level(s): 5-8 Impact of Climate Change on Chinook Salmon Time Required: 2-3 class periods Focus Question(s): How will long term climate changes impact northwest Pacific

More information

Climate Change in Canada

Climate Change in Canada 1 Climate Change in Canada Climate change is an urgent, global concern. The implications of climate change are significant and far reaching, with the potential of impacting future generations throughout

More information

Lesson 10.1 Assignment

Lesson 10.1 Assignment Lesson 10.1 Assignment Name Date What, Me Negative? Introduction to Negative Integers Use the scenario to answer each question. Roller coasters have a rich history in the United States, and engineers are

More information

Winter. Here s what a weak La Nina usually brings to the nation with tempseraures:

Winter. Here s what a weak La Nina usually brings to the nation with tempseraures: 2017-2018 Winter Time again for my annual Winter Weather Outlook. Here's just a small part of the items I considered this year and how I think they will play out with our winter of 2017-2018. El Nino /

More information

Extreme Weather and Climate Change: the big picture Alan K. Betts Atmospheric Research Pittsford, VT NESC, Saratoga, NY

Extreme Weather and Climate Change: the big picture Alan K. Betts Atmospheric Research Pittsford, VT   NESC, Saratoga, NY Extreme Weather and Climate Change: the big picture Alan K. Betts Atmospheric Research Pittsford, VT http://alanbetts.com NESC, Saratoga, NY March 10, 2018 Increases in Extreme Weather Last decade: lack

More information

Activity 2.2: Recognizing Change (Observation vs. Inference)

Activity 2.2: Recognizing Change (Observation vs. Inference) Activity 2.2: Recognizing Change (Observation vs. Inference) Teacher Notes: Evidence for Climate Change PowerPoint Slide 1 Slide 2 Introduction Image 1 (Namib Desert, Namibia) The sun is on the horizon

More information

Chapter outline. Reference 12/13/2016

Chapter outline. Reference 12/13/2016 Chapter 2. observation CC EST 5103 Climate Change Science Rezaul Karim Environmental Science & Technology Jessore University of science & Technology Chapter outline Temperature in the instrumental record

More information

DOWNLOAD OR READ : UNDER ARCTIC ICE A COMPLETE NOVELETTE PDF EBOOK EPUB MOBI

DOWNLOAD OR READ : UNDER ARCTIC ICE A COMPLETE NOVELETTE PDF EBOOK EPUB MOBI DOWNLOAD OR READ : UNDER ARCTIC ICE A COMPLETE NOVELETTE PDF EBOOK EPUB MOBI Page 1 Page 2 under arctic ice a complete novelette under arctic ice a pdf under arctic ice a complete novelette Warming in

More information

Canadian Ice Service

Canadian Ice Service Canadian Ice Service Key Points and Details concerning the 2009 Arctic Minimum Summer Sea Ice Extent October 1 st, 2009 http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca 1 Key Points of Interest Arctic-wide The Arctic-wide minimum

More information

Regional Outlook for the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas Contribution to the 2018 Sea Ice Outlook

Regional Outlook for the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas Contribution to the 2018 Sea Ice Outlook Regional Outlook for the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas Contribution to the 2018 Sea Ice Outlook 25 July 2018 Matthew Druckenmiller (National Snow and Ice Data Center, Univ. Colorado Boulder) & Hajo Eicken

More information

Climatic Conditions Around Greenland 1993

Climatic Conditions Around Greenland 1993 NFO Sci. Coun. Studies, 22: 43 49 Climatic Conditions round Greenland 1993 M. Stein Institut für Seefischerei, Palmaille 9, D 22767 Hamburg Federal Republic of Germany bstract ir temperature anomalies

More information

Climate change: Rain melting Greenland ice sheet 'even in winter'

Climate change: Rain melting Greenland ice sheet 'even in winter' Climate change: Rain melting Greenland ice sheet 'even in winter' By David Shukman Science editor 8 hours ago JOSEPH COOK After it rains the surface darkens, which speeds up melting Rain is becoming more

More information

Grade 9 Geography Chapter 11 - Climate Connections

Grade 9 Geography Chapter 11 - Climate Connections Grade 9 Geography Chapter 11 - Climate Connections 1. Define: Weather. 2. In what way has weather affected your activities in the last two weeks? 3. Define: Climate. 4. Canada s climate is a function of

More information

Pacific Decadal Oscillation ( PDO ):

Pacific Decadal Oscillation ( PDO ): Time again for my annual Winter Weather Outlook. Here's just a small part of the items I considered this year and how I think they will play out with our winter of 2015-2016. El Nino / La Nina: When looking

More information

CLIMATE. UNIT TWO March 2019

CLIMATE. UNIT TWO March 2019 CLIMATE UNIT TWO March 2019 OUTCOME 9.2.1Demonstrate an understanding of the basic features of Canada s landscape and climate. identify and locate major climatic regions of Canada explain the characteristics

More information

Weather Outlook 2016: Cycles and Patterns Influencing Our Growing Season

Weather Outlook 2016: Cycles and Patterns Influencing Our Growing Season Weather Outlook 2016: Cycles and Patterns Influencing Our Growing Season Leon F. Osborne Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Sciences University of North Dakota Cycle of El Niño Events

More information

What are you doing in my ocean? Sea animals get strange new neighbors

What are you doing in my ocean? Sea animals get strange new neighbors What are you doing in my ocean? Sea animals get strange new neighbors By Washington Post, adapted by Newsela staff on 12.21.15 Word Count 795 A research paper argues that climate change has led to more

More information

Climate Change in Newfoundland & Labrador

Climate Change in Newfoundland & Labrador Climate Change in Newfoundland & Labrador Impacts and Adaptation Newleef Conference 08 October 2015 Met-Ocean Services The Team 55 personnel; 24/7 operational weather forecast desk; Equipment technician

More information

Climatic Conditions Around Greenland 1995

Climatic Conditions Around Greenland 1995 NAFO Sci. Coun. Studies, 27: 39 47 Climatic Conditions Around Greenland 1995 M. Stein Institut fur Seefischerei, Palmaille 9 D-22767 Hamburg, Federal Republic of Germany Abstract The annual review of variability

More information

LET NOT THAT ICE MELT IN SVALBARD S. RAJAN, INCOIS NEELU SINGH, NCAOR

LET NOT THAT ICE MELT IN SVALBARD S. RAJAN, INCOIS NEELU SINGH, NCAOR LET NOT THAT ICE MELT IN SVALBARD S. RAJAN, INCOIS NEELU SINGH, NCAOR 1. Arctic (surface air) temperatures are rising twice as fast as the temperatures in the rest of the world (Amplification). The Arctic

More information

Levels of Ecological Organization. Biotic and Abiotic Factors. Studying Ecology. Chapter 4 Population Ecology

Levels of Ecological Organization. Biotic and Abiotic Factors. Studying Ecology. Chapter 4 Population Ecology Chapter 4 Population Ecology Lesson 4.1 Studying Ecology Levels of Ecological Organization Biotic and Abiotic Factors The study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environments Scientists

More information

Chapter 4 Population Ecology

Chapter 4 Population Ecology Chapter 4 Population Ecology Lesson 4.1 Studying Ecology Levels of Ecological Organization The study of how organisms interact with each other and with their environments Scientists study ecology at various

More information

Activity 5 Changes Ahoof?

Activity 5 Changes Ahoof? Activity 5 Changes Ahoof? Forces of Change >> Arctic >> Activity 5 >> Page 1 ACTIVITY 5 CHANGES AHOOF? COULD CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECT ARCTIC CARIBOU? Caribou or Reindeer? They are the same species, but called

More information

Here s what a weak El Nino usually brings to the nation with temperatures:

Here s what a weak El Nino usually brings to the nation with temperatures: Time again for my annual Winter Weather Outlook. Here's just a small part of the items I considered this year and how I think they will play out with our winter of 2018-2019. El Nino / La Nina: When looking

More information

Bee Colony Activities Throughout The Year

Bee Colony Activities Throughout The Year Bee Colony Activities Throughout The Year Written by Khalil Hamdan Apeldoorn The Netherlands A honeybee gathering nectar from a flower. Photo source: forestwander.com Bee collecting pollen. Photo source:

More information

Observed Climate Variability and Change: Evidence and Issues Related to Uncertainty

Observed Climate Variability and Change: Evidence and Issues Related to Uncertainty Observed Climate Variability and Change: Evidence and Issues Related to Uncertainty David R. Easterling National Climatic Data Center Asheville, North Carolina Overview Some examples of observed climate

More information

Walking across a snowy field or mountain, you might not notice many living things. But if you dig into the snow, you ll find a lot of life!

Walking across a snowy field or mountain, you might not notice many living things. But if you dig into the snow, you ll find a lot of life! Beetle, it s cold outside! Featured scientists: Caroline Williams & Andre Szejner Sigal, University of California, Berkeley, & Nikki Chambers, Biology Teacher, West High School, Torrance, CA Research Background:

More information

Recent-Year-to-Year Variations in Seasonal Temperatures and Sea Ice Conditions in the Eastern Canadian Arctic

Recent-Year-to-Year Variations in Seasonal Temperatures and Sea Ice Conditions in the Eastern Canadian Arctic ARCTH: VOL. 32. NO. 4 (DEC. 1979), P. 345-354 Recent-Year-to-Year Variations in Seasonal Temperatures and Sea Ice Conditions in the Eastern Canadian Arctic JOHN D. JACOBS' and JOHN P. NEWELL* ABSTRACT.

More information

Ecology Student Edition. A. Sparrows breathe air. B. Sparrows drink water. C. Sparrows use the sun for food. D. Sparrows use plants for shelter.

Ecology Student Edition. A. Sparrows breathe air. B. Sparrows drink water. C. Sparrows use the sun for food. D. Sparrows use plants for shelter. Name: Date: 1. Which of the following does not give an example of how sparrows use resources in their environment to survive? A. Sparrows breathe air. B. Sparrows drink water. C. Sparrows use the sun for

More information

IMPACTS OF A WARMING ARCTIC

IMPACTS OF A WARMING ARCTIC The Earth s Greenhouse Effect Most of the heat energy emitted from the surface is absorbed by greenhouse gases which radiate heat back down to warm the lower atmosphere and the surface. Increasing the

More information

Biodiversity Classwork Classwork #1

Biodiversity Classwork Classwork #1 Biodiversity Classwork Classwork #1 1. What is biodiversity? 2. In the boxes below, create two ecosystems: one with low biodiversity and one with high biodiversity. Explain the difference. Biodiversity

More information

Biomes Section 2. Chapter 6: Biomes Section 2: Forest Biomes DAY ONE

Biomes Section 2. Chapter 6: Biomes Section 2: Forest Biomes DAY ONE Chapter 6: Biomes Section 2: Forest Biomes DAY ONE Of all the biomes in the world, forest biomes are the most widespread and the most diverse. The large trees of forests need a lot of water, so forests

More information

Impacts of Changes in Extreme Weather and Climate on Wild Plants and Animals. Camille Parmesan Integrative Biology University of Texas at Austin

Impacts of Changes in Extreme Weather and Climate on Wild Plants and Animals. Camille Parmesan Integrative Biology University of Texas at Austin Impacts of Changes in Extreme Weather and Climate on Wild Plants and Animals Camille Parmesan Integrative Biology University of Texas at Austin Species Level: Climate extremes determine species distributions

More information

Arctic climate change and effects on the ecosystems

Arctic climate change and effects on the ecosystems Arctic climate change and effects on the ecosystems NalânKoç Centre for Ice, Climate and Ecosystems (ICE) Norwegian Polar Institute Nalan.koc@npolar.no The Arctic Pacific Ocean Main inflow Main outflow

More information

Impacts of Climate on the Corn Belt

Impacts of Climate on the Corn Belt Impacts of Climate on the Corn Belt Great Lakes Crop Summit 2015 2015 Evelyn Browning Garriss Conclusions Climate change is not linear. It ebbs and flows. Recent polar volcano eruptions created a cool

More information

Ursis Maritimus Module 7 - Akshayuk Pass Expedition

Ursis Maritimus Module 7 - Akshayuk Pass Expedition Ursis Maritimus Module 7 - Akshayuk Pass Expedition A DAY IN THE PARK Every visitor to the Auyuittuq National Park must have a park orientation. So a few days ago, just prior to heading into the Park,

More information

Population Questions. 1. Which of the following conditions is most likely to lead to an increase in a field mouse population?

Population Questions. 1. Which of the following conditions is most likely to lead to an increase in a field mouse population? Biology II Ms. Chen Name: Date: Population Questions 1. Which of the following conditions is most likely to lead to an increase in a field mouse population? A. the arrival of another herbivorous mammal

More information

LEARNING RESOURCE GUIDE GRADES K - 3

LEARNING RESOURCE GUIDE GRADES K - 3 LEARNING RESOURCE GUIDE GRADES K - 3 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 2 Ice Worlds 4-D Experience is a SimEx-Iwerks 4-D adaptation of an original BBC production that introduces students to how the power of the

More information

HELCOM Red List Category: Previous HELCOM Red List threat assessments BSEP 75 (HELCOM 1998): BSEP 113 (HELCOM 2007): Greater concern stated by:

HELCOM Red List Category: Previous HELCOM Red List threat assessments BSEP 75 (HELCOM 1998): BSEP 113 (HELCOM 2007): Greater concern stated by: English name: Code in HELCOM HUB: Baltic Sea seasonal sea ice AC Characteristic species: Phytoplankton (diatoms, autotrophic flagellates, dinoflagellates), heterotrophic bacteria, zooplankton (heterotrophic

More information

Ed Ross 1, David Fissel 1, Humfrey Melling 2. ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. Victoria, British Columbia V8M 1Z5

Ed Ross 1, David Fissel 1, Humfrey Melling 2. ASL Environmental Sciences Inc. Victoria, British Columbia V8M 1Z5 Spatial Variability of Sea Ice Drafts in the Continental Margin of the Canadian Beaufort Sea from a Dense Array of Moored Upward Looking Sonar Instruments Ed Ross 1, David Fissel 1, Humfrey Melling 2 1

More information

Monthly overview. Rainfall

Monthly overview. Rainfall Monthly overview 1 to 10 April 2018 Widespread rainfall continued to fall over most parts of the summer rainfall region during this period. Unseasonably good rain fell over the eastern half of the Northern

More information

EC-PORS III Research. Sodankylä, February Developing a Polar Prediction System

EC-PORS III Research. Sodankylä, February Developing a Polar Prediction System EC-PORS III Research Sodankylä, February 2012 Developing a Polar Prediction System Polar Prediction System - Status 1. EC-PORS I (Oct. 2009) -> initial discussions 2. WWRP/THORPEX Polar Prediction Workshop,

More information

Grade 8 Science. Unit 1: Water Systems on Earth Chapter 1

Grade 8 Science. Unit 1: Water Systems on Earth Chapter 1 Grade 8 Science Unit 1: Water Systems on Earth Chapter 1 Effects of Water? Churchill River Large Ocean Wave How do you use water? House Hold Use Personal Use Recreational Activities Water Distribution

More information

Sea-ice change around Alaska & Impacts on Human Activities

Sea-ice change around Alaska & Impacts on Human Activities Sea-ice change around Alaska & Impacts on Human Activities Hajo Eicken Geophysical Institute University of Alaska Fairbanks, hajo.eicken@gi.alaska.edu Introduction The Arctic sea-ice cover: Observations

More information

Polar Bears in a Warming Climate 1

Polar Bears in a Warming Climate 1 INTEGR. COMP. BIOL., 44:163 176 (2004) Polar Bears in a Warming Climate 1 ANDREW E. DEROCHER, 2, *NICHOLAS J. LUNN, AND IAN STIRLING *Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton,

More information

The Northern Hemisphere Sea ice Trends: Regional Features and the Late 1990s Change. Renguang Wu

The Northern Hemisphere Sea ice Trends: Regional Features and the Late 1990s Change. Renguang Wu The Northern Hemisphere Sea ice Trends: Regional Features and the Late 1990s Change Renguang Wu Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing World Conference on Climate Change

More information

Observing Arctic Sea Ice Change. Christian Haas

Observing Arctic Sea Ice Change. Christian Haas Observing Arctic Sea Ice Change Christian Haas Decreasing Arctic sea ice extent in September Ice extent is decreasing, but regional patterns are very different every year The Cryosphere Today, http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu;

More information

Climate change in the U.S. Northeast

Climate change in the U.S. Northeast Climate change in the U.S. Northeast By U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, adapted by Newsela staff on 04.10.17 Word Count 1,109 Killington Ski Resort is located in Vermont. As temperatures increase

More information

Weather and Climate Summary and Forecast Winter

Weather and Climate Summary and Forecast Winter Weather and Climate Summary and Forecast Winter 2016-17 Gregory V. Jones Southern Oregon University February 7, 2017 What a difference from last year at this time. Temperatures in January and February

More information

6. What has been the most effective erosive agent in the climate system? a. Water b. Ice c. Wind

6. What has been the most effective erosive agent in the climate system? a. Water b. Ice c. Wind Multiple Choice. 1. Heinrich Events a. Show increased abundance of warm-water species of planktic foraminifera b. Show greater intensity since the last deglaciation c. Show increased accumulation of ice-rafted

More information

Weather and Climate Summary and Forecast March 2018 Report

Weather and Climate Summary and Forecast March 2018 Report Weather and Climate Summary and Forecast March 2018 Report Gregory V. Jones Linfield College March 7, 2018 Summary: The ridge pattern that brought drier and warmer conditions from December through most

More information

Claim: Arctic, antarctic and Greenland ice loss is accelerating due to global warming REBUTTAL

Claim: Arctic, antarctic and Greenland ice loss is accelerating due to global warming REBUTTAL Claim: Arctic, antarctic and Greenland ice loss is accelerating due to global warming REBUTTAL Satellite and surface temperature records and sea surface temperatures show that both the East Antarctic Ice

More information

A SURVEY OF HYDROCLIMATE, FLOODING, AND RUNOFF IN THE RED RIVER BASIN PRIOR TO 1870

A SURVEY OF HYDROCLIMATE, FLOODING, AND RUNOFF IN THE RED RIVER BASIN PRIOR TO 1870 A SURVEY OF HYDROCLIMATE, FLOODING, AND RUNOFF IN THE RED RIVER BASIN PRIOR TO 1870 W. F. RANNIE (UNIVERSITY OF WINNIPEG) Prepared for the Geological Survey of Canada September, 1998 TABLE OF CONTENTS

More information

Seasonal Variations of Sea Ice Extent in the Davis Strait-Labrador Sea Area and Relationships with Synoptic-Scale Atmospheric Circulation

Seasonal Variations of Sea Ice Extent in the Davis Strait-Labrador Sea Area and Relationships with Synoptic-Scale Atmospheric Circulation ARCTIC VOL. 31, NO. 4 (DEC. 1978), P. 434-447 Seasonal Variations of Sea Ice Extent in the Davis Strait-Labrador Sea Area and Relationships with Synoptic-Scale Atmospheric Circulation R.G. CRANE ABSTRACT.

More information

Sea Ice Characteristics and Operational Conditions for Ships Working in the Eastern Zone of the NSR

Sea Ice Characteristics and Operational Conditions for Ships Working in the Eastern Zone of the NSR The Arctic 2030 Project: Feasibility and Reliability of Shipping on the Northern Sea Route and Modeling of an Arctic Marine Transportation & Logistics System 3-rd. Industry Seminar: Sea-Ice & Operational

More information

Tropical Moist Rainforest

Tropical Moist Rainforest Tropical or Lowlatitude Climates: Controlled by equatorial tropical air masses Tropical Moist Rainforest Rainfall is heavy in all months - more than 250 cm. (100 in.). Common temperatures of 27 C (80 F)

More information

Regional Climate Change: Current Impacts and Perspectives Greater Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council Annual Meeting Wednesday April 16, 2014

Regional Climate Change: Current Impacts and Perspectives Greater Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council Annual Meeting Wednesday April 16, 2014 Regional Climate Change: Current Impacts and Perspectives Greater Lake Nipissing Stewardship Council Annual Meeting Wednesday April 16, 2014 Speaker: Peter Bullock, Stantec Consulting Information Source:

More information

Changing Marine Access in the Arctic Ocean: The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment Panama Canal Authority 11 January 2005

Changing Marine Access in the Arctic Ocean: The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment Panama Canal Authority 11 January 2005 Changing Marine Access in the Arctic Ocean: The Arctic Climate Impact Assessment Panama Canal Authority 11 January 2005 Lawson Brigham Deputy Director, U.S. Arctic Research Commission ACIA Contributing

More information

Climate also has a large influence on how local ecosystems have evolved and how we interact with them.

Climate also has a large influence on how local ecosystems have evolved and how we interact with them. The Mississippi River in a Changing Climate By Paul Lehman, P.Eng., General Manager Mississippi Valley Conservation (This article originally appeared in the Mississippi Lakes Association s 212 Mississippi

More information

TRENDS IN SEA ICE IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC

TRENDS IN SEA ICE IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC Ice in the Environment: Proceedings of the 16th IAHR International Symposium on Ice Dunedin, New Zealand, 2nd 6th December 22 International Association of Hydraulic Engineering and Research TRENDS IN SEA

More information

Challenges for Climate Science in the Arctic. Ralf Döscher Rossby Centre, SMHI, Sweden

Challenges for Climate Science in the Arctic. Ralf Döscher Rossby Centre, SMHI, Sweden Challenges for Climate Science in the Arctic Ralf Döscher Rossby Centre, SMHI, Sweden The Arctic is changing 1) Why is Arctic sea ice disappearing so rapidly? 2) What are the local and remote consequences?

More information

Flood Risk Assessment

Flood Risk Assessment Flood Risk Assessment February 14, 2008 Larry Schick Army Corps of Engineers Seattle District Meteorologist General Assessment As promised, La Nina caused an active winter with above to much above normal

More information

SEA ICE PREDICTION NETWORK (SIPN) Template for Pan-Arctic Sea Ice Outlook Core Contributions August 2015 Report

SEA ICE PREDICTION NETWORK (SIPN) Template for Pan-Arctic Sea Ice Outlook Core Contributions August 2015 Report SEA ICE PREDICTION NETWORK (SIPN) Template for Pan-Arctic Sea Ice Outlook Core Contributions August 2015 Report 1. David Rennie / Amateur Individual 2. Executive summary This estimate is primarily based

More information

Presented by Bjarne Lyberth, Inuit Circumpolar Council Greenland, Executive Science Advisor,

Presented by Bjarne Lyberth, Inuit Circumpolar Council Greenland, Executive Science Advisor, Template for Submission of Scientific Information to Describe Areas Meeting Scientific Criteria for Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas Title/Name of the area: Presented by Bjarne Lyberth,

More information

Forces and Interactions

Forces and Interactions August & September Forces and Interactions 3-PS2-1 3 rd Grade Next Generation Science Standards 2013-14 Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces

More information

Name Date Class. growth rings of trees, fossilized pollen, and ocean. in the northern hemisphere.

Name Date Class. growth rings of trees, fossilized pollen, and ocean. in the northern hemisphere. Lesson Outline LESSON 2 A. Long-Term Cycles 1. A(n) climate cycle takes much longer than a lifetime to complete. a. To learn about long-term climate cycles, scientists study natural records, such as growth

More information

Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. A Continent of Ice

Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. A Continent of Ice Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question. A Continent of Ice Imagine a place with bone-chilling temperatures and blizzards so thick you cannot see your hand

More information

Alaska villagers face dual threat of hungry polar bears, warmer weather

Alaska villagers face dual threat of hungry polar bears, warmer weather Alaska villagers face dual threat of hungry polar bears, warmer weather By PBS NewsHour, adapted by Newsela staff on 10.24.16 Word Count 869 A polar bear roams Alaska. Photo: Photo by Hoberman Collection/UIG

More information

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Ice-Albedo Feedback Processes in the Arctic Basin

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Ice-Albedo Feedback Processes in the Arctic Basin LONG TERM GOALS Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Ice-Albedo Feedback Processes in the Arctic Basin D.K. Perovich J.A. Richter-Menge W.B. Tucker III M. Sturm U. S. Army Cold Regions Research and

More information

Activity 3 Arctic Heat Wave?

Activity 3 Arctic Heat Wave? Activity 3 Arctic Heat Wave? Forces of Change >> Arctic >> Activity 3 >> Page 1 ACTIVITY 3 ARCTIC HEAT WAVE? THE RATE OF CLIMATE CHANGE Are Ice Caps Melting Faster? From 1979 to 2002, seasonal melting

More information

Today s Lecture: Land, biosphere, cryosphere (All that stuff we don t have equations for... )

Today s Lecture: Land, biosphere, cryosphere (All that stuff we don t have equations for... ) Today s Lecture: Land, biosphere, cryosphere (All that stuff we don t have equations for... ) 4 Land, biosphere, cryosphere 1. Introduction 2. Atmosphere 3. Ocean 4. Land, biosphere, cryosphere 4.1 Land

More information

1 Earth s Oceans. TAKE A LOOK 2. Identify What are the five main oceans?

1 Earth s Oceans. TAKE A LOOK 2. Identify What are the five main oceans? CHAPTER 13 1 Earth s Oceans SECTION Exploring the Oceans BEFORE YOU READ After you read this section, you should be able to answer these questions: What affects the salinity of ocean water? What affects

More information

Polar Portal Season Report 2013

Polar Portal Season Report 2013 Polar Portal Season Report 2013 All in all, 2013 has been a year with large melting from both the Greenland Ice Sheet and the Arctic sea ice but not nearly as large as the record-setting year of 2012.

More information

The weather in Iceland 2012

The weather in Iceland 2012 The Icelandic Meteorological Office Climate summary 2012 published 9.1.2013 The weather in Iceland 2012 Climate summary Sunset in Reykjavík 24th April 2012 at 21:42. View towards west from the balcony

More information

A Synthesis of Results from the Norwegian ESSAS (N-ESSAS) Project

A Synthesis of Results from the Norwegian ESSAS (N-ESSAS) Project A Synthesis of Results from the Norwegian ESSAS (N-ESSAS) Project Ken Drinkwater Institute of Marine Research Bergen, Norway ken.drinkwater@imr.no ESSAS has several formally recognized national research

More information