Temperature trends in the Arctic. Image credit: NASA
The North Polar Basin is divided into two oceanic basins, the Eurasian and the Amerasian, by the Lomonosov Ridge. The Lomonosov Ridge, which is about 1800 km long, stretches from the New Siberian Islands, over the central part of the Arctic Ocean, and ending in an island in the Canadian Arctic Islands.
The Eurasian Basin and the Amerasian Basin, which have maximum depths of about 4.5 km and 4 km respectively, are further subdivided by underwater ridges into the Canada, Makarov, Fram, and Nansen basins. A large part of the Arctic Ocean is shallower than the maximum depths mentioned earlier. In fact, the average depth of the Arctic Ocean is only about 1.04 km.
Not only is the Arctic Ocean the shallowest and smallest of the five major oceans, it also has the lowest salinity. This is because of the influx of freshwater from rivers and streams in the surrounding land masses. This rate of influx is believed to be increasing due to global warming and may eventually result in the ocean being ice free between 2013 and 2040.
If a substantial amount of fresh meltwater is introduced into the North Atlantic, which is connected to the Arctic Ocean via the Greenland Sea and Labrador Sea, it may cause unpredictable changes in the global ocean current.
The area covered by and within the vicinity of the Arctic Ocean is the natural habitat of polar bears, the largest land-based carnivore species. It specifically dwells along the Arctic ring of life, where seals, the polar bear’s main prey, are abundant. Due to global warming, which can melt the sea ice on which the polar bears hunt, these giant creatures are under threat.
Another area in the Arctic Ocean of major concern is Greenland, the world’s largest island (excluding continental islands). Greenland is covered by colossal ice sheets, which when melted, can cause water levels around the world to rise. It is predicted that the melting of the Greenland ice sheet can submerge major cities like New York, Shanghai, London and Tokyo.
Want to learn more about the Arctic Sea Ice? Read about it here in Universe Today. Did you know that the Arctic Sea Ice extent is the third lowest on record?
NASA has an article talking about the Arctic warming and its effect on worldwide climate. Here’s a more recent article, also from NASA, talking about Arctic sea ice changes that have led to record lows in 2007.
Tired eyes? Listen to some episodes at Astronomy Cast. Here’s what we recommend:
The Sun, Spots and all
Comets, Our Icy Friends From the Outer Solar System
Sources:
Wikipedia
Encyclopedia of Earth
CIA World Factbook
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