Climate of Our Future

Polar Regions and Climate Change
is an article worth reading. I thought I would look up the Eskimos the native Inupiat to see if the climate was changing before their eyes… Now much of the ice they called home is melting. The polar bears that once called this home are turning and heading towards land. Here is an excerpt from Phoenix Mars Mission: Polar Regions and Climate Change:

In the past 30 years, both the Arctic and Antarctica have shown signs of rapid change. Satellite data have revealed a dramatic reduction in Arctic sea ice extent in recent years. In September 2005, the mean sea ice extent dropped to about 5.3 million square km (2.1 million square miles) - the lowest recorded since satellites began taking measurements in 1978.

Thawing permafrost is creating yet another problem. The thawing ice is creating havoc on roadways, buildings and altering the ecosystem. In addition carbon and methane is stored in permafrost, so it is being released back into the atmosphere. The Inupiat will eventually have to follow the polar bear, and head towards land. Leaving a home they have had for thousands of years.