Reduced Sea Ice Disturbs Balance of Greenhouse Gases

Feb. 18, 2013 The widespread reduction in Arctic sea ice is causing
significant changes to the balance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
This is shown in a new study conducted by researchers from Lund University
in Sweden, among others.

According to the study, the melting of sea ice in the Arctic has a tangible impact
on the balance of greenhouse gases in this region, both in terms of uptake and release.
The researchers have studied the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane both
in the tundra and in the Arctic Ocean.
"Changes in the balance of greenhouse gases can have major consequences
because, globally, plants and the oceans absorb around half of the carbon dioxide that
humans release into the air through the use of fossil fuels. If the Arctic component of
this buffer changes, so will the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere," says
Dr Frans-Jan Parmentier, a researcher at Lund University, Sweden.
He has carried out the research study together with a number of colleagues both
from Lund University and from Denmark, Greenland, Canada and the USA. The
researchers observed that a vicious circle is formed when the sea ice melts. Normally,
the white ice reflects sunlight, which then bounces out into space, but when the sea-ice
cover shrinks, the amount of sunlight reflected is also reduced. Instead, a larger
proportion is absorbed by the surface of the ocean, which causes warming that
contributes to the rise in air temperatures around the Arctic.
On the one hand, the rising temperatures make vegetation grow more vigorously
and therefore more carbon dioxide is taken up, which is a positive effect. On the other
hand, the same temperature rise means that more carbon dioxide and methane are
released from the soil, which has a strong negative impact on the climate, according to
Dr Frans-Jan Parmentier.
In addition to the changes on land, the present study shows that there are a
number of uncertainties surrounding the effects of the melting ice on the amount of
greenhouse gases exchanged by the ocean through natural processes. Many of these
marine processes are poorly understood in this context.
"We know very little about how the shrinking sea ice cover disturbs the balance
of greenhouse gases in the sea in the long term," says Dr Parmentier.
The article has been published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Outline
Topic: Reduction in Arctic sea ice
Main Idea: Reduction in Arctic sea ice is causing significant changes to the

balance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Supporting Details:
1. the melting of sea ice in the Arctic has a tangible impact
2. Changes in the balance of greenhouse gases can have major consequences
3. The researchers observed that a vicious circle is formed when the sea ice melts.
4. that there are a number of uncertainties surrounding the effects of the melting
ice.
Conclusion: The melting of sea ice in the Arctic could thread existence of this mother
earth

Summary

At some point, the melting ice on Artic sea causes several impacts that disturb
the balance of greenhouse gasses. The disturbed condition could lead to increasing
carbon dioxide and methane in some regions.
The increasing number of carbon dioxide and methane could lead to changing
climates which means dangerous for mother earth. Nevertheless, the rising
temperatures make vegetation grow more vigorously which means the carbon dioxide
that are released to the air can be absorbed by plants that growing vigorously.
After all, some scientist needs to do more research to find out futher effect of
melting of sea ice in the Arctic in creating this world as a better place for living.

By: Clarence 19812033