Sea Ice Extent High latitude sea ice plays a significant role on weather, climate, climate variability, and climate change. Sea ice extent defines a region as "ice-covered" when more than 15% of a region is covered by ice, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Sea ice extent in the Arctic and Antarctic undergoes considerable seasonal change. In general, September marks the minimum of sea ice extent, while March marks the maximum in sea ice extent in the Northern Hemisphere. The opposite occurs in the Southern Hemisphere. Since the early 1980s, satellites have offered a bird's eye view of the planet. Scientists have been mapping changes in parameters, like sea ice extent, on the planet. They have found that the extent of sea ice has declined in the past 40 years, from about 7 million km² in 1980 to about 4 million km? in 2019. A NASA visualization of changes in sea ice extent is available at Link 3B-2. Melting sea ice affects climate in several ways. As the ice melts, it adds fresh water into water at higher latitudes. This region of the planet, especially in the Atlantic Ocean, is the starting point for circulation of water deeper in the ocean. As the water freshens, the density decreases, weakening mixing and density-driven movement in the water column. In addition to changing water density, ice is highly reflective. Incoming solar radiation bounces off the white surface and returns to space, keeping the high latitudes cold. As sea ice melts, the area becomes less reflective and more energy is absorbed by the surface, so the area warms and more sea ice melts. 19. In the NASA visualization, the sea ice extent graph trends downward on a decadal scale, whereas there are smaller-scale annual fluctuations. The annual pattern varies due to marked changes in а. solar insolation atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration plant growth in the Arctic regions weather and ocean conditions within a particular year b. с. d. 20. As sea ice melts, decreases. а. sea level b. salinity с. temperature

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
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Sea Ice Extent
High latitude sea ice plays a significant role on weather, climate, climate variability, and climate change. Sea ice
extent defines a region as "ice-covered" when more than 15% of a region is covered by ice, according to the
National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).
Sea ice extent in the Arctic and Antarctic undergoes considerable seasonal change. In general, September marks the
minimum of sea ice extent, while March marks the maximum in sea ice extent in the Northern Hemisphere. The
opposite occurs in the Southern Hemisphere.
Since the early 1980s, satellites have offered a bird's eye view of the planet. Scientists have been mapping changes in
parameters, like sea ice extent, on the planet. They have found that the extent of sea ice has declined in the past 40
years, from about 7 million km² in 1980 to about 4 million km² in 2019. A NASA visualization of changes in sea ice
extent is available at Link 3B-2.
Melting sea ice affects climate in several ways. As the ice melts, it adds fresh water into water at higher latitudes.
This region of the planet, especially in the Atlantic Ocean, is the starting point for circulation of water deeper in the
ocean. As the water freshens, the density decreases, weakening mixing and density-driven movement in the water
column. In addition to changing water density, ice is highly reflective. Incoming solar radiation bounces off the white
surface and returns to space, keeping the high latitudes cold. As sea ice melts, the area becomes less reflective and
more energy is absorbed by the surface, so the area warms and more sea ice melts.
19. In the NASA visualization, the sea ice extent graph trends downward on a decadal scale, whereas there are
smaller-scale annual fluctuations. The annual pattern varies due to marked changes in
а.
solar insolation
atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration
plant growth in the Arctic regions
weather and ocean conditions within a particular year
b.
с.
d.
20. As sea ice melts,
decreases.
а.
sea level
b.
salinity
с.
temperature
Transcribed Image Text:Sea Ice Extent High latitude sea ice plays a significant role on weather, climate, climate variability, and climate change. Sea ice extent defines a region as "ice-covered" when more than 15% of a region is covered by ice, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). Sea ice extent in the Arctic and Antarctic undergoes considerable seasonal change. In general, September marks the minimum of sea ice extent, while March marks the maximum in sea ice extent in the Northern Hemisphere. The opposite occurs in the Southern Hemisphere. Since the early 1980s, satellites have offered a bird's eye view of the planet. Scientists have been mapping changes in parameters, like sea ice extent, on the planet. They have found that the extent of sea ice has declined in the past 40 years, from about 7 million km² in 1980 to about 4 million km² in 2019. A NASA visualization of changes in sea ice extent is available at Link 3B-2. Melting sea ice affects climate in several ways. As the ice melts, it adds fresh water into water at higher latitudes. This region of the planet, especially in the Atlantic Ocean, is the starting point for circulation of water deeper in the ocean. As the water freshens, the density decreases, weakening mixing and density-driven movement in the water column. In addition to changing water density, ice is highly reflective. Incoming solar radiation bounces off the white surface and returns to space, keeping the high latitudes cold. As sea ice melts, the area becomes less reflective and more energy is absorbed by the surface, so the area warms and more sea ice melts. 19. In the NASA visualization, the sea ice extent graph trends downward on a decadal scale, whereas there are smaller-scale annual fluctuations. The annual pattern varies due to marked changes in а. solar insolation atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration plant growth in the Arctic regions weather and ocean conditions within a particular year b. с. d. 20. As sea ice melts, decreases. а. sea level b. salinity с. temperature
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