Editing Arctic (section)

== Climate change ==
{{Main|Climate change in the Arctic}}
{{ multiple image |total_width = 450
| image1 = 1980- Arctic sea ice volume - radar chart by decade.svg |caption1 = Decade-by-decade progression of arctic sea ice melting shows continued ice loss, with the greatest percentage loss rate experienced in the late summer and early autumn.<ref name=PolarSciCtr_202504>{{cite web |title=PIOMAS Data / PIOMAS Ice Volume Data, 1979-present |url=https://psc.apl.washington.edu/research/projects/arctic-sea-ice-volume-anomaly/data/ |publisher=Polar Science Center, University of Washington |date= April 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250421023828/https://psc.apl.washington.edu/research/projects/arctic-sea-ice-volume-anomaly/data/ |archive-date=21 April 2025 |quote=Click to Download Monthly Ice Volume Data (text file, CSV file for Spreadsheets) |url-status=live}}</ref> Center of chart would be zero ice.
| image2 = 20250501 Arctic sea ice extent.svg |caption2 = The area of Arctic sea ice reached a minimum in September 2012, but recent years have shown less area than 2012 in other months.<ref name=NSIDCarcticIceExtent_202504>{{cite web |title=Charctic Interactive Sea Ice Graph / A Sea Ice Today Tool / Arctic Sea Ice Extent |url=https://nsidc.org/sea-ice-today/sea-ice-tools/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph#anchor-about-charctic-data |website=nsidc.org |publisher=National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), a part of CIRES at the University of Colorado Boulder |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250426114932/https://nsidc.org/sea-ice-today/sea-ice-tools/charctic-interactive-sea-ice-graph#anchor-about-charctic-data |archive-date=26 April 2025 |date=April 2025 |url-status=live}} (Hover mouse over data traces to view individual data values.)</ref> Late summer shows the greatest percentage loss.
}}
[[File:2007 Arctic Sea Ice.jpg |thumb |[[Arctic shrinkage|Arctic sea ice coverage]] as of 2007 compared to 2005 and compared to 1979–2000 average]]
The [[effects of climate change]] in the Arctic include rising temperatures, loss of [[sea ice]], and melting of the [[Greenland ice sheet]]. Potential [[Arctic methane emissions|methane release]] from the region, especially through the thawing of [[permafrost]] and [[methane clathrate]]s, is also a concern.<ref>Galera, L. A., Eckhardt, T., Beer, C., Pfeiffer, E.-M., & Knoblauch, C. (2023). "Ratio of in situ CO2 to CH4 production and its environmental controls in polygonal tundra soils of Samoylov Island, Northeastern Siberia". ''Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences'', 128, e2022JG006956. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JG006956 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102551/https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022JG006956 |date=30 June 2023 }}</ref> Because of the [[Polar amplification|amplified response of the Arctic]] to global warming, it is often seen as a leading indicator of global warming. The melting of Greenland's ice sheet is linked to polar amplification.<ref>[http://news.uga.edu/releases/article/study-2015-melting-greenland-ice-faster-arctic-warming-0616/ Study links 2015 melting Greenland ice to faster Arctic warming] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171118204819/http://news.uga.edu/releases/article/study-2015-melting-greenland-ice-faster-arctic-warming-0616/ |date=18 November 2017 }} 9 June 2016 University of Georgia</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1038/ncomms11723 |pmid=27277547 |pmc=4906163 |volume=7 |title=Arctic cut-off high drives the poleward shift of a new Greenland melting record |journal=Nature Communications |page=11723 |bibcode=2016NatCo...711723T |last1=Tedesco |first1=M. |last2=Mote |first2=T. |last3=Fettweis |first3=X. |last4=Hanna |first4=E. |last5=Jeyaratnam |first5=J. |last6=Booth |first6=J. F. |last7=Datta |first7=R. |last8=Briggs |first8=K. |year=2016}}</ref>

The Arctic region is especially vulnerable to the effects of any [[climate change]], as has become apparent with the reduction of sea ice in recent years. [[Climate model]]s predict much greater [[climate change in the Arctic]] than the global average,<ref name="HassolArctic Climate Impact Assessment2004">{{Cite book |title=Impacts of a warming Arctic: Arctic Climate Impact Assessment |url=https://archive.org/details/impactsofwarming0000hass |date=February 2005 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, UK |isbn=978-0-521-61778-9 |access-date=20 November 2006 |df=dmy-all |url-access=registration}}</ref> resulting in significant international attention to the region. In particular, there are concerns that Arctic shrinkage, a consequence of melting glaciers and other ice in Greenland, could soon contribute to a substantial rise in sea levels worldwide.<ref>Grinberg, Emanuella (17 December 2008). [http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/12/16/melting.ice/index.html "Ice melting across globe at accelerating rate, NASA says."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330054019/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/12/16/melting.ice/index.html |date=30 March 2022 }} CNN. Retrieved 30 March 2022</ref>

The current Arctic warming is leading to ancient carbon being released from thawing [[permafrost]], leading to [[methane]] and [[carbon dioxide]] production by micro-organisms.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lenton |first1=T. M. |last2=Held |first2=H. |last3=Kriegler |first3=E. |last4=Hall |first4=J. W. |last5=Lucht |first5=W. |last6=Rahmstorf |first6=S. |last7=Schellnhuber |first7=H. J. |doi=10.1073/pnas.0705414105 |title=Inaugural Article: Tipping elements in the Earth's climate system |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=105 |issue=6 |pages=1786–93 |year=2008 |pmid=18258748 |pmc=2538841 |bibcode=2008PNAS..105.1786L |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Turetsky |first=Merritt R. |date=2019-04-30 |title=Permafrost collapse is accelerating carbon release |journal=Nature |volume=569 |issue=7754 |pages=32–34 |doi=10.1038/d41586-019-01313-4 |pmid=31040419 |bibcode=2019Natur.569...32T |doi-access=free}}</ref> Release of methane and carbon dioxide stored in permafrost could cause abrupt and severe global warming,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080918192943.htm |title=Abrupt Climate Change Focus Of U.S. National Laboratories |work=Science Daily |date=23 September 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=28 February 2018 |archive-date=23 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623010338/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/09/080918192943.htm}}</ref> as they are potent [[greenhouse gas]]es.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/18/arctic-permafrost-canada-science-climate-crisis |title=Scientists shocked by Arctic permafrost thawing 70 years sooner than predicted |agency=Reuters |date=2019-06-18 |work=The Guardian |access-date=2019-07-02 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=6 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191006020220/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/18/arctic-permafrost-canada-science-climate-crisis |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Svolvær_Harbor_(15226568739).jpg|thumb|The shrinking Arctic: Parts of Norway inside the Arctic Circle has a temperate climate with the 1991–2020 normals, such as [[Skrova]] near [[Svolvær]] with mean annual temperature of {{Convert|6|C}}, four months above 10°C and no month below {{Convert|0|C}}.<ref>[https://www.yr.no/en/statistics/table/5-85380/Norway/Nordland/V%C3%A5gan/Skrova%20fyr?q=last-13-months Skrova climate statistics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109172300/https://www.yr.no/en/statistics/table/5-85380/Norway/Nordland/V%C3%A5gan/Skrova%20fyr?q=last-13-months |date=9 November 2021 }}. yr.no. Retrieved 2021-11-09.</ref>]]
Climate change is also predicted to have a large impact on tundra vegetation, causing an increase of shrubs,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Myers-Smith |first1=Isla H. |last2=Forbes |first2=Bruce C. |last3=Wilmking |first3=Martin |last4=Hallinger |first4=Martin |last5=Lantz |first5=Trevor |last6=Blok |first6=Daan |last7=Tape |first7=Ken D. |last8=Macias-Fauria |first8=Marc |last9=Sass-Klaassen |first9=Ute |date=2011-01-01 |title=Shrub expansion in tundra ecosystems: dynamics, impacts and research priorities |journal=Environmental Research Letters |language=en |volume=6 |issue=4 |page=045509 |doi=10.1088/1748-9326/6/4/045509 |issn=1748-9326 |bibcode=2011ERL.....6d5509M |doi-access=free|hdl=10536/DRO/DU:30114246 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> and having a negative impact on bryophytes and lichens.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Alatalo |first1=Juha M. |last2=Jägerbrand |first2=Annika K. |last3=Molau |first3=Ulf |date=2015-11-01 |title=Testing reliability of short-term responses to predict longer-term responses of bryophytes and lichens to environmental change |journal=Ecological Indicators |volume=58 |pages=77–85 |doi=10.1016/j.ecolind.2015.05.050}}</ref>

Apart from concerns regarding the detrimental effects of warming in the Arctic, some potential opportunities have gained attention. The melting of the ice is making the [[Northwest Passage]], shipping routes through the northernmost latitudes, more navigable, raising the possibility that the Arctic region will become a prime [[trade route]].<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/08/29/northwest.passage/ "Will ice melt open fabled Northwest Passage?"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109062759/http://archives.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/08/29/northwest.passage/ |date=9 November 2007 }} CNN. 29 August 2002.</ref> One harbinger of the opening navigability of the Arctic took place in the summer of 2016 when the [[Crystal Serenity]] successfully navigated the Northwest Passage, a first for a large cruise ship.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/09/16/crystal-serenity-docks-in-nyc/ |title=Largest Cruise Ship Ever To Sail Northwest Passage Docks In NYC |access-date=2016-09-24 |date=2016-09-16 |archive-date=27 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927065229/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2016/09/16/crystal-serenity-docks-in-nyc/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition, it is believed that the Arctic seabed may contain substantial [[Petroleum reservoir#Oil field|oil fields]] which may become accessible if the ice covering them melts.<ref>Demos, Telis. [https://money.cnn.com/2007/08/07/news/international/arctic_oil.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007080810 "The great Arctic Circle oil rush."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918134845/https://money.cnn.com/2007/08/07/news/international/arctic_oil.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2007080810 |date=18 September 2020 }} CNN. 8 August 2007.</ref> These factors have led to recent international debates as to which nations can claim sovereignty or ownership over the waters of the Arctic.<ref name="Canada sovereignty">Shaw, Rob. [http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=497c719f-a5be-4691-86f4-30ec877101a7&k=77 "New patrol ships will reassert northern sovereignty: PM".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929213616/http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=497c719f-a5be-4691-86f4-30ec877101a7&k=77 |date=29 September 2007 }} Victoria Times Colonist. 9 July 2007.</ref><ref>Halpin, Tony. [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2155477.ece "Russia stakes its claim the North Pole in the underwater search for oil".] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007151839/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2155477.ece |date=7 October 2008 }} ''The Times''. 28 July 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Arctic melt stuns scientists |work=CBS News |date=9 October 2007 |url=http://www.webcastr.com/videos/news/arctic-melt-stuns-scientists.html}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=d0135cd8-c15a-48a3-9579-0df5f8e185c1 |title=Conference could mark start of Arctic power struggle |publisher=Canada.com |date=28 May 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304204151/http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=d0135cd8-c15a-48a3-9579-0df5f8e185c1 |archive-date=4 March 2009}}</ref>