The Arctic and its Climate

Every week there seems to be a new report about climate change in the Arctic. The arctic ice sheet is diminishing rapidly within the next decade or so the ice sheet over the North Pole is likely to disappear completely. If this happens there will almost certainly be a profound effect on our weather and climate. We are already experiencing a disturbance of the jet stream over the North Atlantic. Western Europe is being affected by an increasing frequency of winter storms and rainfall and flooding. 2016 looks like being the warmest year on record.

Many species in the Arctic are coming under threat including the polar bear which relies upon sea ice for its survival. The arctic fox is coming under threat from the larger and more powerful red fox which is able to push further north because of the warmer climate.

Some parts of the arctic north of 80 degrees are recording record high temperatures. The sea ice is melting in some places even in mid-winter.

It is hard to believe that human activity could disturb the global climate but this is what is happening. The evidence is now before our eyes; we no longer need instrumental readings to show us what is going on with the climate.

The polar bear and arctic fox are in danger of extinction by the beginning of the next century. We must be careful that the same thing does not happen to us.