[ 21st century skills library ]
12
Geography: Climate
Change at the Top of
theWorld
CH A P T E R 2
S
igns of climate change can be found all over the planet. But the
Arctic
is changing most of all. Snow and ice are melting there at
a record pace. It is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet.
Ice and snow reflect the sun’s rays back into space. This is called
the
albedo effect
. Without the snow and ice, more of the sun’s
heat is absorbed, making it even warmer.
Polar Bears
Scientists estimate that about 26,000 polar bears live in the
Arctic. These bears live on the ice while they hunt for seals to eat.
By 2080, the ice in the Arctic is expected to have completely
disappeared during the summer months. Some bears have
