Key learning points

1. Climate change is affecting polar regions which are experiencing warming at a faster rate than other places.
2. The Arctic ice cap is shrinking at a rate of 13% per decade
3. Permafrost is melting and habitats are shrinkingfor species that rely on cold environments.
4. There are signs of change in Antarctica due to climate change.

Keywords

• Permafrost - ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years, typically found in polar regions

• Arctic ice pack - sea ice cover of the Arctic Ocean; it has a regular seasonal cycle of spring and summer melt and accumulation in autumn and winter

• Habitat Loss - the decline of natural environments that support wildlife, often due to climate change

• Ice sheet - a continental glacier; a mass of ice that is greater than 50 000 km²

Common misconception