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Polar regions. Two Regions Arctic Circle About 66 N of equator Ocean surrounded by land Regions of North America, Greenland, Iceland, Siberia, N. Europe.

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Presentation on theme: "Polar regions. Two Regions Arctic Circle About 66 N of equator Ocean surrounded by land Regions of North America, Greenland, Iceland, Siberia, N. Europe."— Presentation transcript:

1 Polar regions

2 Two Regions Arctic Circle About 66 N of equator Ocean surrounded by land Regions of North America, Greenland, Iceland, Siberia, N. Europe Marine ice Also has larger diversity of flora and fauna d/t unique geography Antarctica 66 S of equator Composed only of antarctica continent entirely surrounded by the Southern ocean Has both marine and land ice Also has more diverse fauna than expected for such a harsh environment

3 Arctic Circle

4 Antarctica

5 Arctic Circle Marine environment loss of sea ice -Albedo effect (positive feedback on warming) -Thermohaline circulation (increasing freshwater into ocean) -Polar amplification Terrestrial environment Permafrost -Melting causes sea level rise -Co2, CH4 release (Positive feedback)

6 Arctic permafrost Layer of permanently frozen soil, sediment, or rock (sometimes underneath an active layer)

7 Arctic Marine diversity and food web

8 Arctic Ponds and Lakes Rests on permafrost Disappearance or significant by ~11% over past 25 years http://post.queensu.ca/~pearl/CapeHerschelp ics.htm http://post.queensu.ca/~pearl/CapeHerschelp ics.htm Causes of disappearance

9 Antarctica

10 -Large continent twice size of Australia -98% of it is frozen -Divided by Transantarctic Mountains -Ecological diversity under threat

11 Antarctic Biodiversity Isolated continent (geography and temperature) Regional variations (Western, Southern Peninsula, Eastern)with highest diversity in the North Examples

12 Notothenioid fishes http://www.fishbase.org

13 Other species

14 Effects of temperature Stenothermal Direct effects versus indirect effects


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