Relevance:
Arctic Report Card 2022, that provide an up-to-date environmental information on Arctic, was released by US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently.
Key highlights:
- Arctic continues to warm more than twice as fast as rest of globe.
- 2022 sea ice extent is well below long-term average which also impacts albedo of region, thereby inducing the melting.
- Mean sea surface temperatures continue to show warming trends leading to a boom in phytoplankton-driven production of organic matter in oceans.
- Persistent summer sea ice due to cooler surface waters and north winds at Chukchi Sea.
- Increasing maritime ship traffic in Arctic.
- Precipitation has increased across all seasons since 1950’s.
- Variability in Tundra greenness possibly due to wildfires and extreme weather events.
- Significance –
- An area of geo-political, geo-economic and geo-ecological interest.Climate change causing melting of ice, making region more accessible for economic exploitation (oil & gas reserves, metals and minerals).Possibilities to open Northern Sea Route as a new trade route.Helps circulate world’s ocean currents.
- Characterized as world’s climate change “barometer”.
Arctic Region:
- Region above the Arctic Circle (North of latitude 66° 34′ N) – Arctic Ocean with the North Pole at its centre.
- 8 Arctic States – Canada, Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and USA form the Arctic Council.
- Home to almost 4 million inhabitants (1/10th indigenous people)
Knowledge ‘+’
- India’s Arctic policy titled ‘India and the Arctic: building a partnership for sustainable development’.
- Himadri – India’s 1st research station located at the International Arctic Research base in Norway.
Reference: Indian Express
