Loss of Arctic sea ice has implications for U.S. national security, continued global warming

Arctic sea ice is often referred to as the ‘planet’s air conditioner’ because of its ability to help regulate the earth’s temperature. The impacts and implications of rising temperatures and melting ice in the Arctic extend beyond just the Arctic itself. Changes in the Arctic led by sea ice loss are affecting weather patterns farther south, such as in the lower United States. The loss of Arctic summer sea ice and the rapid warming of the continent are altering the jet stream—and thus weather patterns—over North America, Europe and Russia, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events and driving winter storms south.

The loss of Arctic sea ice poses serious risks for the United States specifically. An ice-free Arctic Ocean increases national security concerns as potential new international disputes can occur with increased military and commercial marine traffic between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Even more, the loss of Arctic sea ice increased the warming effect that is altering our climate. As the earth’s natural air conditioner, white sea ice moderates solar heating by increasing the reflectivity of Earth’s surface and decreasing the amount of heat that would otherwise by absorbed by darker ice-free Arctic seas. The loss of the air-conditioner effect creates a feedback loop that accelerates global warming. Melting sea ice also releases greenhouse gases from thawing permafrost and frozen methane from the ocean bottom. These feedback loops could have catastrophic consequences for our climate if triggered.

Regardless of approach, all projections indicate an eventual sea ice free Arctic with continued emissions of greenhouses gasses, threatening the invaluable ecosystem service the Arctic sea ice provides while simultaneously exacerbating global warming.