Arctic May Be Changed Forever, Study Finds
David Post of Penn State and his international team of researchers recently completed a study of the effects of climate change from ecosystems across the Arctic. Their study found that global warming is producing different effects in the ecosystems of the Arctic. He believes these changes will forever change the Arctic as we know it. These scientists found that changes to the Arctic’s environment are having a strong impact on the Arctic’s animals as well as its plant life. Over the past two to three decades, the amount of ice covering the Arctic in the summer has decreased by 17,000 square miles a year. Global warming is also causing spring to come earlier to the Arctic. The study found that the changes in the Arctic ecosystems have different effects on different species. Species like the ivory gulls, Pacific walrus, ringed seals and polar bears that depend on the sea ice are declining in population. The warming of the Arctic has caused an explosion of plant life. Species like the wild reindeer have increased in population because the abundance of new plants has given them an increased food supply.
In my opinion the study by David Post and his team will make people more aware of the effects of global warming on the Arctic. When we think of the effects of global warming on the Arctic we think of melting ice. Now this study will show that global warming is not just having an effect of the Arctic’s sea ice, it’s also having strong effects on the Arctic’s animals and plant life. This study will show people the adverse effects of global warming and the permanent changes it is making on the Arctic.
By: greendragon
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