Arctic Carbon Sinks: Present and Future.
Abstract
Surface air temperatures of the Arctic rose 1.2 deg -1.5 deg C from 1880 to 1980, in contrast to a global warming of only 0.4 deg -0.5 deg C; since 1980, six of the warmest years in the past century have been observed. Polar enhancement of a temperature rise, induced possibly by anthropogenic release of greenhouse gases, C02, N20, CH4, and freons, to the atmosphere, is attributed to altered ice/ snow albedo at sea level, i.e., melting of sea ice. A 5% decline of sea ice extent in the Arctic and Antarctic from 1979 to 1987 may have resulted in increased light availability within previously ice-covered polar regions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA258313
Entities
People
- John J. Walsh
Organizations
- University of South Florida St. Petersburg