The larger creatures who have evolved
to live in these remote climes include
polar bears – with paddle-like paws
and thick white fur that disguises them
against a snowy backdrop. Walruses
too can be found here, with large tusks
that help propel their vast bodies along
the ice. Other creatures you might find
roaming the landscape include Arctic
foxes, seals, orcas and reindeer, while
the narwhal is one fascinating species
found only in the northern
hemisphere, often referred to as the
'unicorn of the sea' because of its
straight tusk projecting from its head
that can grow to over 3 metres in
length.
CLIMATE WARMING
Though it is the smallest of the world's
oceans, spanning a meagre 9.8 million
square km, the Arctic Ocean is one of
the most significant areas on our
planet. The ice of the Arctic contains
around 10 percent of the world's fresh
water, and it's the white frozen land
mass reflected under sunlight that
helps keep the region cool, and in turn
the seasons and weather systems across
the world. The waters are warming
faster than anywhere else on Earth,
and scientists are constantly looking to
make sense of why this is, and how
warming sea temperatures will change
the Arctic Ocean waters
and the world.
Studies have predicted all sorts of
outcomes, from colder and more
extreme winters to one 2016 study
even predicting that ships would be
able to sail through open water to
the North Pole by 2040. The loss of
ice and changes in weather caused by
climate change are raising new
challenges for wildlife – forcing
animals that rely on ice, like polar
bears and seals, to traverse the
landscape in search of food. Climate
change in the Arctic also raises
important questions for those who
live there, with local populations
seeking new ways of living in
harmony with their changing
environment.
Above:
Orca whales
patrol the
Arctic waters
hunting for
food
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