Melting sea ice greatly affects North Pole ecosystem
Melting ice greatly affects North Pole ecosystem
Door Rob Siebelink
By Rob Siebelink
The growth of algae, which are crucial to the local ecosystems, is particularly impacted. The research was published in scientific journal Nature Climate Change.
Earlier this year, Stefels spent four months on a research vessel that was stuck in the ice on the North Pole, where she saw for herself the changes the melting sea ice is causing.
Some of the effects are positive. With less ice in the environment, algae have more room to grow, which means there’s more food for organisms that eat algae, like zooplankton. This in turn benefits animals that eat this plankton.
The drawback is that the increase in algae can lead to a shortage of certain nutrients and limited biodiversity, says Maria van Leeuwe.
Carbon dioxide
The growth of algae also impacts the absorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere in the Arctic Ocean. It was discovered not long ago that algae form a carpet-like layer beneath the ice, which slowly sinks to the bottom of the ocean in thick clumps. Because the algae bind carbon dioxide to their body mass, the CO2 also disappears. This process can counteract climate change.
On the other hand, the increased production of algae means zooplankton has access to it when it is still near the surface. Consumption of the algae releases the CO2, which contributes to climate change.
Clouds
The research outlines various potential consequences. Jacqueline Stefels specifically studied the production of dimethyl sulphide, a substance created by algae that naturally emits sulphur.
Dimethyl sulphide is important for the creation of clouds, says Stefels: ‘That means it’s important in the fight against climate change, since clouds block sunlight and help cool the earth.’ According to Stefels, the algae growth can lead to more emissions of dimethyl sulphide. However, premature melting of sea ice can also have a negative impact, since that process releases the substance into the air.
In order to fully figure out the consequences, more research is needed, the group of scientists says.
The ‘weather kitchen’ for the Northern hemisphere
The North Pole is considered the ‘weather kitchen’ for the weather in North America, Europe, and Asia. Extreme weather conditions, such as extra cold winters or heat waves during the summer, are directly linked to changes in the Arctic.
The North Pole has been warming up very quickly over the past few decades. The climate processes in this area could be a piece of the puzzle needed to create better prognoses about world-wide climate change.