Arctic Nutrients Lost

As the area of the Arctic covered by sea ice shrinks a complex web of life supported by nutrients that form and mature under the sea ice is disrupted.  That disruption is changing the mix of creatures that can survive in the high Arctic and has the potential to alter global weather systems.

...changes in the ocean, a warmer Arctic could disrupt ocean circulation and global weather systems, while permafrost will continue to thaw, potentially releasing greenhouse gases currently locked up in frozen soils.

A whole ecosystem, rich in specialist species – many barely studied – is changing before our eyes. The Arctic is a beautiful and harsh place, posing serious logistical challenges for scientific investigation. But even there, on the top of the world, far from centres of human population, our impact is evident.