These images from NASA’s ICESat satellite show the different in ice cover in the Arctic between 1980 (top) and 2003 (bottom). Click on image for full size (54 Kb) NASA

The effects of climate change are not felt with the same intensity in all parts of the world. While Earth’s average temperature has risen 0.6°C (1.0°F) during the 20th century, some areas of our planet have experienced more warming, and others have experienced less. In the north polar region, the climate has warmed rapidly in the past few decades. Average temperatures in the Arctic are rising twice as fast as they are elsewhere in the world. In Alaska, USA temperatures have increased on average 3.0°C (5.4°F) between 1970 and 2000. The warmer temperatures have caused other changes in the Arctic region. In the opposite hemisphere, the Antarctic Peninsula has also warmed rapidly, five times faster than the global average, while the temperature of the interior of the Antarctic continent has remained stable or has cooled, which may be related to ozone depletion. Since 1945, the Antarctic Peninsula has warmed about 4.5°F (2.5°C). The Southern Ocean is also warming faster than expected.

Why are the polar regions particularly susceptible to global warming? The ice and snow in the polar regions, because of its light color and high albedo, reflect most incoming solar energy back out to space. However, as the addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere is warming the planet, some of this ice and snow melts and so less of the incoming solar radiation is reflected back out to space and more of it is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and oceans. The additional energy warms the polar regions, causes more ice to melt and, consequently more warming occurs. This is known as the ice-albedo feedback.

As the atmosphere of polar regions becomes warmer, this impacts the land, cryosphere, ocean circulation, and living things in these regions. Click the links below to discover more about the effects of global warming in the Arctic and Antarctic.

• Effects of Warming in the Arctic
• Effects of Warming in the Antarctic Peninsula
• Inuit Culture in a Warming Arctic

These images from NASA’s ICESat satellite show the different in ice cover in the Arctic between 1980 (top) and 2003 (bottom). Click on image for full size (54 Kb) NASA

The effects of climate change are not the same in all parts of the world. While Earth’s average temperature has risen 0.6°C (1.0°F) during the 20th century, some areas of our planet are warming faster than others. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as other parts of the world. In Alaska (USA) average temperatures have increased 3.0°C (5.4°F) between 1970 and 2000. The warmer temperatures have caused other changes in the Arctic region such as melting ice and shrinking polar bear habitat. In the opposite hemisphere, the Antarctic Peninsula has also warmed rapidly, five times faster than the global average. Meanwhile, temperatures of the interior of the Antarctic continent have remained stable or have cooled, which may be related to ozone depletion. Since 1945, the Antarctic Peninsula has warmed about 4.5°F (2.5°C). The Southern Ocean is also warming faster than expected.

Why are the polar regions particularly vulnerable to global warming? The ice and snow in the polar regions, because of its light color and high albedo, reflect most incoming solar energy back out to space. However, as more greenhouse gases cause our planet to warm, some of this ice and snow melts, less of the solar radiation is reflected out to space, and more of it is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and oceans. The added energy warms the polar regions, causes more ice to melt and more warming.

As the atmosphere of polar regions becomes warmer, this impacts the land, cryosphere, ocean circulation, and living things in these regions. Click the links below to discover more about the effects of global warming in the Arctic and Antarctic.

• Effects of Warming in the Arctic
• Effects of Warming in the Antarctic Peninsula
• Inuit Culture in a Warming Arctic

These images from NASA’s ICESat satellite show the different in ice cover in the Arctic between 1980 (top) and 2003 (bottom). Click on image for full size (54 Kb) NASA

Some parts of the world are warming faster than others. The Arctic is warming twice as fast as other parts of the world. The warmer temperatures have caused other changes in the Arctic such as melting ice and less places for polar bears to live. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Antarctic Peninsula is warming five times faster than other parts of the world. The Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean are also warming.

Why are these areas near the poles warming faster? The ice and snow in these places reflect most solar energy back out to space because of its light color. As more greenhouse gases cause our planet to warm, some of this ice and snow melts, so less of the solar radiation is reflected out to space. More energy is absorbed by the Earth’s surface and oceans. The added energy warms the polar regions, which causes more ice to melt and more warming.

As the atmosphere of polar regions becomes warmer, changes to the land, ice, oceans, and living things happen. Click the links below to discover more about the effects of global warming in the Arctic and Antarctic.

• Effects of Warming in the Arctic
• Effects of Warming in the Antarctic Peninsula
• Inuit Culture in a Warming Arctic