Consider that Arctic ice contains around 10 percent of the world’s fresh water and covers 5.4 million square miles. 1. It covers about 20% of Earth's surface. The North Pole is a place in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, almost permanently covered The Arctic Ocean has the coldest temperatures of all five major oceans. During the short polar summer, plants use the long hours of sunlight to quickly develop and produce flowers and seeds. Due to global warming, however, permafrost layers are beginning to thaw all over the globe, and more rapidly than previously thought at the Arctic. The total volume of the Arctic Ocean is 160.7 million mi. Two of the three research themes supported by Antarctica New Zealand involve protection, conservation and management of Antarctic ecosystems. The Arctic is located at the northernmost part of Earth; The name ‘Arctic’ comes from a Greek word meaning ‘bear’. Carbon also cycles through the web from atmosphere to seawater and back. Winter temperatures can drop below −50 °C; Polar bears live in the Arctic, near the North Pole; In total, only about 4 million people live in the arctic; The Arctic region is home to the North Pole … Terrestrial Ecosystems. The Arctic, with true seasonal changes brings to life animals that are nonexistent anywhere else on earth, along with … Sea water cools currents as they move north towards the Arctic, and the cold fresh water there adds to the great ocean “conveyer belt” that affects the climate on land as well as at sea. In the summer, it is light for 24 hours a day (right at the north and south Poles, the sun doesn’t set for six whole months when it is summer) and in the winter it is dark … Polar ecosystem - Polar ecosystem - Development and structure of populations and communities: The low species diversity of both plants and animals in polar regions contributes to the lack of complexity that characterizes Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems. The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of all five oceans. The first nautical crossing of the Arctic Ocean was by Norwegian explorer Fridtjof Nansen in 1896. Sign up for our weekly facts e-mail. Arctic Ecosystem Coloring Page. Tundras are most common in the Low Arctic, and polar barrens are dominant in the High Arctic. The region is cold, dry, and windy. Can those future changes in the Arctic climate be prevented? Here are 10 fascinating facts about the ecosystem of this remarkable place. Despite its unique landscapes and marine … The average depth of the Arctic Ocean is 3,953 feet. The Arctic includes the peaks of the Brooks mountain range in western North America, the enormous Greenland ice sheet, the isolated islands of the Svalbard archipelago, … It is a keystone species in Arctic marine ecosystems. Meanwhile, the skin underneath is black, which helps them better absorb the sun's intense rays. The Arctic Ocean contains 1.4% of all the world’s ocean water. Snow covers the ground for nine months of the year when plants cannot grow. The infamous sinking of the RMS Titanic was caused by an iceberg from the Arctic Ocean. Subjects. Plankton As in most marine environments, phytoplankton (microscopic animals that live in the oceans) are the key food source for many Arctic species, including krill and fish, species that then become food sources for animals further up the chain. The Arctic is located at the northernmost part of our planet. is the Arctic Ecosystem - the Cryosphere. Without urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the world will continue to feel the effects of a warming Arctic: rising sea levels, changes in climate and precipitation patterns, increasing severe weather events, and loss of fish stocks, birds and marine mammals. These amazing sea creatures can hit weights of up to 4200 pounds and grow to lengths around 17 feet. The Arctic is a harsh and fragile ecosystem populated by some of the most adaptable creatures on the planet. Grades. From enormous musk oxen and caribou to lemmings, Arctic hares and snowy owls, wildlife teems throughout the region. 2. The arctic tundra is a harsh environment that only the toughest plants and animals can survive in. You’ll find the Arctic at the northernmost part of our planet, consisting of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, Russia, the USA, Greenland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland. A picture of two orca whales swimming in the Arctic Ocean. Tundra, a major zone of treeless level or rolling ground found in cold regions, mostly north of the Arctic Circle (Arctic tundra) or above the timberline on high mountains (alpine tundra). Border along the Arctic Ocean is 18,210 feet in the region is the highest whitest... Megafauna like seals is … RRS James Clark Ross is the shallowest Ocean in the Arctic is home to animals... 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