Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 10/22/2009 - 08:49
Forums
Polar Bear Response to Sea Ice Loss

Hello Christina, I am Parker from New Start Middle School, and I have two questions. What would happen to the polar bears if all the ice melted? How do the polar bears effect us in Arizona? Thank you for your time.

                                                                                Sincerely,    Parker
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 10:45

Cristina Galvan

Hi Parker,Thanks for your two questions.
If all the ice melted, this would greatly affect the polar bears because
they live mostly on the ice. They live on the ice because they hunt for
seals as they come up for air through holes in the ice. If they loose
their home and their hunting grounds, then they will be less likely to
survive.
If all the ice melted, this would also affect ocean currents and
precipitation around the earth. For example, some hot, dry places might
not get enough rain leading to droughts. Other places might get too
much rain, leading to floods and mudslides.
Your second question is a great one, but also challenging question.
Polar bears will likely not going to directly affect your life in
Arizona - but your life in Arizona does affect the polar bears. Choices
that we make around the world could be part of what is affecting climate
changes in other parts of the world.
Although, polar bears are not directly related to your home in Arizona -
it's important to remember that polar bears have a huge effect on their
whole ecosystem in the Arctic since they are the top predator. The
health of the polar bears is a indication of how well the whole Arctic
ecosystem is doing.
Changes in polar bear population could affect many other organisms in
the Arctic - including the humans that live in that region. There are
several villages that rely on polar bears for food and for their fur to
make clothing. They have been hunting polar bears in a sustainable way
for thousands of years.
Another thing to think about is that what is happening to polar bears is
directly connected to climate change - the worse climate change gets,
the more they loose their habitat (place to live and hunt). We can look
to what is happening to the bears as a model of what is also happening
to other species. Most scientist believe that climate change is being
affected by human actions. The more greenhouse gases (like carbon
dioxide)that are released by doing things like burning fossil fuels, the
more climate changes happens. We need to be thoughtful about how our
actions affect other species on this planet.
I hope that helps you to start thinking about what is happen in the
Arctic.
Thanks,
Ms Galvan