The increasing impact of global warming is deeply impacting the poles, both the North and South poles. The northernmost region of Earth has been, until recently, covered by thick ice blocking access to buried resources and newer travel routes.
- Arctic region consists of the ice-covered Arctic Ocean surrounded by the treeless, frozen permafrost of northern regions from Alaska, Canada, and Greenland to Scandinavia and Russia.
What impact will it cause?
- Will make the Arctic ocean ice-free in summers, ensuring newer shipping routes and opportunities for resource extraction.
- Thawing of ice will release stored methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
- Species dependent on ice, such as polar bears, will face habitat loss.
- Will affect the livelihood and culture of the indigenous population like the inuits.
Source: The Hindu