Climate Fact: Atlantification of the Arctic
The sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is at its lowest extent in recorded history. This means that sunlight is now able to penetrate and warm ocean waters that were covered with ice only a few decades ago. As a result, these warmer surface waters are producing more Algae. Although this means that there is more biomass in these waters than there was several decades ago, it also means that some species that are specifically adapted to the unique environment of the Arctic Ocean are becoming rarer. For example, the tiny Arctic Zooplanktons, which eat the algae, are being pushed out of their former range by the Atlantic Zooplanktons, which can now survive in the formerly frigid arctic waters. For the same reason, Arctic Cod are being out-competed by Atlantic Cod.
Seasons: Spring, Summer
(Source: Schiermeier, Quirin. “Polar research: The new face of the Arctic.” News@Nature 7 March 2007. Accessed Online 17 March 2007 http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070305/full/446133a.html)