Elements
Growth and Disintegration

Arctic Polar Ice Mass
Climate Stabilizer

Melting Polar Ice Mass
Recent Observations

References

Isolation was once synonymous when describing Canada’s gargantuan Arctic landscape.  A virtually impregnable region dominated by large expanses of sea ice chocked the islands of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

Image illustrates minimum sea ice during September, 2009
Image Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Visualization Studio

Today, diminishing sea ice coverage is opening up the Canadian Arctic to increased forms of economic prosperity.  Described as one of the world’s last frontiers, the Arctic is relatively untapped in terms of commercializing its natural resources.  Optimistic in the economic sense, the environment is at a downfall.  Melting sea ice creates a cascading effect that changes the terrain, alters ecosystems and ultimately impacts its inhabitants (humans and wildlife).

This section will explore the causes associated with sea ice reduction.