by Panayiotis Christodoulou

Created on: May 21, 2010   Last Updated: May 22, 2010

Last message from Arctic

It looks like the Arctic is sending us one last message. One last warning about the effects that mankind would face because of the external abuse of the ecosystem and the arrogance that humans show regarding such an important issue.

Arctic storms could worsen due to climate change, putting fisheries, oil and gas explorations, and sea lanes at risk, warn researchers writing in the journal Climate Dynamics.

Arctic sea ice, fell to the lowest volume and second lowest extent on record, according to the annual World Meteorological Organization (WMO) statement on the Status of the Global Climate. Sea levels could rise between 7 and 23 inches by the century's end.

Arctic’s future is now unsafe. With more than 200,000 years that humans and earth co-exist in harmony, it’s pretty obvious that the development of technology and the consequences it has on the climate cannot be ignored any more.

Since the Industrial Revolution 200 years ago, nature has started to be unable to tolerate the intensive abuse and pollution by humans and as a result, animals like polar bears are now considered endangered animals.

The future of the Arctic is in immediate threat. The combination of deadly factors brought about by global warming put animals like polar bears at a very high rate of risk.

Drops in birth and survival rates have already been documented, and biologists are growing concerned about erratic behavior exhibited by polar bears as a result of the loss of their natural habitat.

With the disappearance of the sea ice, polar bears have begun to show up around inhabited areas looking for food and shelter. They contend with hunters for their kills and often end up being slaughtered because they supposedly pose a threat to human communities.

The shrinkage of the ice has other repercussions for polar bears. They are losing their natural prey, which are also affected by the shrinkage in habitat. Polar bears are not very adept at catching land animals and also must contend with other species for these food sources.

Land animals also do not provide the high fat diet that polar bears need, which will lead to starvation. Starving mothers such as the one in the photo will not be able to provide their cubs with the nutrition they need, which will further contribute to the decline in polar bear numbers. Illegal killing (poaching) of bears also remains another factor causing their decline.

Younger, thinner ice has become the dominant type in the Arctic

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