Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Our current understanding of the Arctic climate system suggests that positive
feedbacks in high-latitude systems, including the snow and ice albedo effect,
amplify anthropogenic ally-induced atmospheric changes. These disturbances in
the circumpolar Arctic climate may substantially in
fl
uence global climate.
In the context of the health of the Arctic marine environment (Fig.
6.1
), from the
viewpoint of proper functioning of economically important ecosystems, Drewry
and Orheim (2000) have formulated a number of key questions:
How was the polar basin-formed, where are the plate boundaries?
What has been the detailed paleo-climatic history of the high Arctic Ocean
during the last 1 million years?
Do decreases in the ice extent and upper strati
cation of the ocean signal a
different sea ice regime?
Fig. 6.1 The Arctic environment (
http://arctic.cbl.umces.edu
)
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