1. Priscilla Castillo

2. What Are Artic ices? An Artic Ice is a boulder of ice, in other terms a glacier. A majority of the Artic ice is underwater. Keeping the ice solid, is essential for maintaing a balance in the worlds natural status.

3. What is the problem? Every September, since the 1980’s, satelite observations have shown that the ice cover have been shrinking at an average of almost 8% a year. During the transition from winter to spring, the ice builds up again, compensating for its loss of ice during the spring season. However, research shows that in the past two years the artic ices have not been able to accumilate its loss of ice. This issue is due to the warmth of the current and previous winters.

4. What will the effects be?  May lead to greater coastal erosion. Coastal erosion is the removal of beach or the wearing of land which is caused by tidal currents, drainage, or wave action.  Sea levels rising  Global warming  Climate warming will come larger and faster  Threatens the life of arctic animals such as; polar bears, seals and walruses whom depend on the ice for shelter and reproductive success.  Most of the effects are negative;  If ice continues to shrink as expected tankers, cruise liners and container ships would be able to go through the ice without icebreakers.

5. The effects on the organism life in the arctic region? The loss of thousands of marine species. The loss of important sources of food for fish and higher sea creatures. Ex; Bivales-scalops,muscles and Arthropods- crabs As temperatures warmed creatures in the bottom of the sea would not be able to survive and would be threatened by competition from warmer waters. It affects animals such as seals, polar bears, and walruses whom make their homes on the ice.

7. How is the polar bear being affected? Polar bears are dependent on sea ice for their survival Pregnant female polar bears build their dens in areas where thick snow covers the land. With the ice thinning it melts away their living habitat. Are being exposed to starvation due to the fact that they are carnivorous animals and mostly feed on seals, walruses and whales whom are disappearing with the climate change The absence of ice sheets makes polar bears susceptible of drowning Can lead to becoming an endangered species; by far are classified as threatened

8. Why is the ice melting? Scientists are still debating whether the disappearing ice is the first clear sign of global warming or part of a natural cycle.

9. Work cited "Artic climate Change." Green Facts. 23 Feb. 2009. 1 Mar. 2009. Spotts, Peter N. "Shrinking Arctic Ocean sea ice signals climate change." The Christian science monitor. 4 Sept. 2008. 28 Feb. 2009. Mathias, Kevin. "Impact Of Melting Glaciers." 30 Sept. 2007. 1 Mar. 2009. "Arctic Melting Linked to Human Causes, Long-Term Review Finds." National Geographic news. 30 Mar. 2007. 1 Mar. 2009. Ganguly, Poushali. "Polar Bears and Global Warming." 15 Mar. 2008. 1 Mar. 2009.