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Article: Observations and predictions of Arctic climate change: potential effects on marine mammals.
- Article from:
- Arctic
- Article date:
- December 1, 1997
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1997 Arctic Institute of North America of the University of Calgary. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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ABSTRACT: Recent analyses have revealed trends over the past 20-30 years of decreasing sea ice extent in the Arctic Ocean coincident with warming trends. Such trends may be indicative of the polar amplification of warming predicted for the next several decades in response to increasing atmospheric C[O.sub.2]. We have summarized these predictions and nonuniform patterns of arctic climate change in order to address their potential effects on marine mammals. Since recent trends in sea ice extent are nonuniform, the direct and indirect effects on marine mammals are expected to vary geographically. Changes in the extent and concentration of sea ice may alter the seasonal ...