The Melting Arctic

Climate change is literally bipolar, impacting both the northernmost and southernmost parts of the globe. But the pace and effects of warming differ at the two poles.

At the northern end of the world, impacts are already dramatic. The Economist has a special feature on the Arctic, which provides an especially clear explanation of why the Arctic is so vulnerable to climate change.   The  lands surrounding the Arctic keep water from circulating around it, so the ocean currents bring up warmer water from the south and as a result the Arctic is closer to the melting point of water than the Antarctic. When melting does occur, there’s a major feedback effect — melting snow exposes darker land or sea, which absorb more heat, which melts more ice and snow.  The Arctic Sea could be ice-free within thirty years.  In the meantime, coastlands are exposed to erosion, and some parts of Alaska are losing 45  feet of land per year. 

Warming in West Antarctica

At the other end of the world, climate change is also impacting Antarctica, though more slowly.  As the map to the left shows, the impact is especially pronounced in West Antarctica. ...

Link to original article / Continue Reading...

Legal Planet , a collaboration between UC Berkeley School of Law and UCLA School of Law, provides insight and analysis on energy and environmental law and policy. The blog draws upon the individual research strengths and vast expertise of the law schools’ legal scholars and think tanks.