How will Arctic animals deal with shrinking sea ice?
photo by Heather Thorkelson (heatherlyone on Flickr CC)
According to scientists, sea ice levels in the Arctic have been on the decline for decades and that decline looks to be speeding up.
A new study from the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado measures this year’s Arctic sea ice levels at their second lowest since records began back in 1979. The record low was in 2007 and made more extreme by unusually low cloud cover and strong winds brining warm air into the region.
Less ice in the summer means increased challenges for Arctic animals as they struggle to adapt to these new conditions. For example, when sea ice is thinner, walrus populations tend to congregate more on shore, where they are less mobile and have more difficulty feeding.
From NPR:
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