Arctic domino effect from global warming
Climate change is shown most clearly in the Arctic where the effect on environment is dramatic and wide-ranging. This year, Arctic air temperature was five degrees above the average and ice melting the second most comprehensive on record.
Temperature increase, a near record loss of summer sea ice, and continuing melting of the surface ice on Greenland are important indicators of the dramatic temperature increase in the Arctic. Both within and beyond the Arctic, the implications of global warming and declining sea ice are enormous.
One crucial factor for Arctic changes is the autumn air temperature, which have been five degrees above normal the recent years, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the USA. This has led to a major melting of sea ice, which again has allowed more solar heating of the Ocean. This warming affects both land and marine life. The year 2007 was the warmest on record for the Arctic and there are no indications that this situation is changing.
According to NSIDC, Artcic ice extent this autumn is the second lowest recorded since the satellite measurements began in 1979. The only year the ice extent has been lower was last year. Even though the ice extent is a bit larger then last year, there are now indications that the decline is changing. In August the melting was larger than in any previous August on record.
