Greenland and Iceland experienced a record heat wave in May.
Experts are concerned and have warned about the impacts of this rare weather event on the rest of the world.
What's happening?
As The Washington Post reported, rising global temperatures due to human activity contributed to the heat wave. In certain regions, temperatures were more than 18 degrees Fahrenheit above average.
A World Weather Attribution analysis revealed that the heat wave caused the Greenland ice sheet to melt much faster than normal. This type of ice melt releases large amounts of fresh water into the ocean's salt water.
Ocean currents that move water among the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, and Arctic Ocean slow down because of the influx of fresh water from ice melt. Scientists say this disturbs global weather patterns and can have impacts far beyond the Arctic.
"The nature of weather in the Northern Hemisphere is directly tied to what's happening in the Arctic, because that ice floor basically at the bottom of the atmosphere helps determine the weather patterns that we get," said Waleed Abdalati of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.
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Why are Arctic heat waves significant?
Scientific studies reveal the interconnectedness of the different regions of the planet.
Extreme weather phenomena in remote places have widespread impacts on local communities. While extreme weather events have always happened, scientists have discovered that the human-caused climate crisis is making them more frequent, intense, and dangerous.
Heat waves and ice melt in the Arctic influence precipitation, wind, and other weather patterns many miles away. Excessive ice melt due to heat waves causes sea levels to rise, threatening coastal communities with floods, public health risks, and property damage.
Meanwhile, Arctic Indigenous populations face safety threats as they lose traditional hunting spots and travel routes with thawing sea ice that used to be consistently frozen.
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What's being done about Arctic climate shifts?
Many scientific groups have focused on the connection between Arctic ice melt and extreme weather patterns worldwide. For example, some are working on ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere to help preserve Arctic sea ice.
Evolving climate conditions such as record temperatures are becoming public knowledge as people outside the scientific community realize the global impacts of the rapidly warming Arctic.
Environmental groups are encouraging people to help lower Earth's temperature by reducing harmful pollution to address these shifts.
You can join the fight to prevent rapid sea ice melt with personal actions such as taking public transportation, driving an electric vehicle, supporting sustainable businesses, and installing solar panels to power your home.
Combining a solar setup with battery storage saves money on monthly utility bills while making your home more resilient to extreme storms. EnergySage's free quote comparison tool makes finding a trusted local installer easy and can help you save $10,000 on the upfront cost.
You can also contribute to a cleaner, cooler future by learning more about critical climate issues and sharing your knowledge with others. Personal efforts and conservation policy advocacy complement the larger movement to reduce climate shifts in the Arctic and beyond.
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