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What factors make the Arctic particularly vulnerable to global climate change? (see essay 12.2)

What factors make the Arctic particularly vulnerable to global climate change? (see essay 12.2)

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
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What factors make the Arctic particularly vulnerable to global climate change? (see essay 12.2)

ESSAY 12.2: Why the Arctic Warms Faster Modified from original work by, Patrick C. Taylor, NASA Langley Research Center Earth's climate is changing in response to the human-induced increases in atmospheric CO2 and aerosols. Scientists expect the increase in global mean surface temperature to range from 1.5–4.5°C (2.7–8.1°F) by the end of the 21st century in response to a doubling of atmospheric CO2. The projected increase will significantly influence many facets of society, such as agriculture, water resources, energy management, and insurance. Not all regions of Earth, however, are expected to warm at the same rate. Earth's Arctic region is expected to warm more than twice as much and twice as fast as the rest of the planet. This phenomenon is referred to as polar temperature amplification. Based on observational and modeling evidence, the Arctic is more sensitive to a climate forcing than any other climate region. Enhanced climate sensitivity implies stronger positive (amplifying) climate feedbacks in the Arctic climate system, resulting in polar temperature amplification. Climate feedback analysis indicates melting sea ice is the primary contributor to polar temperature amplification. Warming Arctic surface temperatures make it more difficult to maintain the Arctic sea ice, resulting in a more ice-free ocean. Sea ice is much brighter than the ice-free ocean, meaning sea ice has a larger albedo than the ocean and it cools the Arctic surface by reflecting solar energy back into space. The ice-free ocean absorbs most of the solar energy and warms the Arctic surface. This process is referred to as the surface albedo feedback. The albedo feedback only operates in the Arctic and Antarctic because no sea ice forms in the warm tropical regions. Another feature of Arctic climate sensitivity is the seasonal structure. Models project the majority of Arctic warming occurs in fall and winter during polar night, when darkness lasts continuously for more than 24 hrs. Polar night ranges from six months of continuous darkness at the poles to 24 hrs at the Arctic Circle. The albedo feedback does not operate during polar night because there is no solar energy, so the albedo feedback is not operating when the Arctic is expected to warm the most. If the surface albedo feedback is the largest contributor to the polar temperature amplification, why does the greatest warming happen without the surface albedo feedback? To understand the seasonal structure of Arctic warming, energy storage in the ocean must also be considered. The most prominent feature of the Arctic is the annual cycle in sea-ice extent, varying from a March maximum to a September minimum. The Arctic region, which contains most of the Arctic Ocean, receives solar energy over long periods of daylight between the spring and fall equinoxes during the polar day with six months of continuous sunlight. As more sea ice melts through the summer, more ocean surface area becomes ice free and the accumulation of heat at the surface is accelerated. Anthropogenically-generated greenhouse gas emissions further reduce summer sea-ice extent and add to the accumulation of heat at the surface. Despite the added heat energy, the Arctic Ocean itself is not projected to warm in summer because much of the energy goes into melting sea ice, while any 'extra' heat energy is temporarily stored in the ocean surface. (This can be demonstrated by measuring the temperature change of a glass of ice water. The temperature of the ice and water mixture remains constant at approximately 0°C (32°F) until all of the ice is melted.) Starting with the fall equinox, the polar night begins at the North Pole and the heat energy stored in the ocean is transferred to the atmosphere causing significant warming in fall and winter. The summer environment (less ice, more water) lowers the surface albedo, and therefore increases the fall and winter Arctic warming by temporarily storing energy as melted ice in the ocean. Studies indicate that loss of sea-ice extent affects not only the Arctic but has global impacts, such as influencing weather patterns over the U.S. The Arctic climate is a highly coupled system and understanding the response to climate change requires knowledge of how energy exchanges are modulated by sea ice, the ocean, and clouds.
Transcribed Image Text:ESSAY 12.2: Why the Arctic Warms Faster Modified from original work by, Patrick C. Taylor, NASA Langley Research Center Earth's climate is changing in response to the human-induced increases in atmospheric CO2 and aerosols. Scientists expect the increase in global mean surface temperature to range from 1.5–4.5°C (2.7–8.1°F) by the end of the 21st century in response to a doubling of atmospheric CO2. The projected increase will significantly influence many facets of society, such as agriculture, water resources, energy management, and insurance. Not all regions of Earth, however, are expected to warm at the same rate. Earth's Arctic region is expected to warm more than twice as much and twice as fast as the rest of the planet. This phenomenon is referred to as polar temperature amplification. Based on observational and modeling evidence, the Arctic is more sensitive to a climate forcing than any other climate region. Enhanced climate sensitivity implies stronger positive (amplifying) climate feedbacks in the Arctic climate system, resulting in polar temperature amplification. Climate feedback analysis indicates melting sea ice is the primary contributor to polar temperature amplification. Warming Arctic surface temperatures make it more difficult to maintain the Arctic sea ice, resulting in a more ice-free ocean. Sea ice is much brighter than the ice-free ocean, meaning sea ice has a larger albedo than the ocean and it cools the Arctic surface by reflecting solar energy back into space. The ice-free ocean absorbs most of the solar energy and warms the Arctic surface. This process is referred to as the surface albedo feedback. The albedo feedback only operates in the Arctic and Antarctic because no sea ice forms in the warm tropical regions. Another feature of Arctic climate sensitivity is the seasonal structure. Models project the majority of Arctic warming occurs in fall and winter during polar night, when darkness lasts continuously for more than 24 hrs. Polar night ranges from six months of continuous darkness at the poles to 24 hrs at the Arctic Circle. The albedo feedback does not operate during polar night because there is no solar energy, so the albedo feedback is not operating when the Arctic is expected to warm the most. If the surface albedo feedback is the largest contributor to the polar temperature amplification, why does the greatest warming happen without the surface albedo feedback? To understand the seasonal structure of Arctic warming, energy storage in the ocean must also be considered. The most prominent feature of the Arctic is the annual cycle in sea-ice extent, varying from a March maximum to a September minimum. The Arctic region, which contains most of the Arctic Ocean, receives solar energy over long periods of daylight between the spring and fall equinoxes during the polar day with six months of continuous sunlight. As more sea ice melts through the summer, more ocean surface area becomes ice free and the accumulation of heat at the surface is accelerated. Anthropogenically-generated greenhouse gas emissions further reduce summer sea-ice extent and add to the accumulation of heat at the surface. Despite the added heat energy, the Arctic Ocean itself is not projected to warm in summer because much of the energy goes into melting sea ice, while any 'extra' heat energy is temporarily stored in the ocean surface. (This can be demonstrated by measuring the temperature change of a glass of ice water. The temperature of the ice and water mixture remains constant at approximately 0°C (32°F) until all of the ice is melted.) Starting with the fall equinox, the polar night begins at the North Pole and the heat energy stored in the ocean is transferred to the atmosphere causing significant warming in fall and winter. The summer environment (less ice, more water) lowers the surface albedo, and therefore increases the fall and winter Arctic warming by temporarily storing energy as melted ice in the ocean. Studies indicate that loss of sea-ice extent affects not only the Arctic but has global impacts, such as influencing weather patterns over the U.S. The Arctic climate is a highly coupled system and understanding the response to climate change requires knowledge of how energy exchanges are modulated by sea ice, the ocean, and clouds.
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