Loss of Arctic Albedo

• Snowmelt is beginning earlier and earlier every year in Yukon - snowmelt normally occurs in March/April; now it begins in February

  So, more water is entering the river systems earlier, bringing earlier peak flows and the risk of flooding

  E.G since 2000, inflows to the Yukon river has increased by 39%.
• Loss of Arctic Albedo:

  • Albedo = measure of how sunlight is reflected away from Earth’s surface
  • Ice = high reflexivity index = reduction in amount of sea ice = positive feedback loop = melting allows more heat absorption = more melting
  • Less summer sea ice = replaced with reflective ice = darker ocean absorbing more heat = hotter water = damage to physical pump and thermohaline circulation
  • Replacement of lighter tundra a with darker forests (shorter days) = less time for photosynthesis = effect on water and carbon cycle
• Increased Carbon CO2 Feedback:

  • Increased CO2 emissions tundra soils
  • Forest growth will absorb more of sun’s energy, accelerating climate change which damages soil moisture soils
  • Methane hydrates are found in permafrost and ocean sediments in shallow water. Store more carbon than all proven reserves of coals, oil and natural gas all together. But, they destabilize after thawing and will add to GHG; CH4 is 25x more powerful a GHG than CO2 so will do inevitable damage to the carbon cycle
• Warm Water Flows into the Arctic From Pacific and Atlantic

  • Throws off thermohaline circulation
  • Increased or new emissions of mainly CH4 and some CO2 from thawing permafrost
  • More snowmelt = less water stored in snow = damage to water cycle
• • The Arctic is often considered to be a ‘barometer’ or early warning to the rest of the planet 
  • Has experienced more rapid and higher avg temp increases than elsewhere 
  • Changes to arctic will have impacts on ocean currents, air circulation, sea level rises and flooding.