How do feedbacks in the polar regions Affect climate change?
The polar regions, particularly the Arctic, are especially sensitive to changes in climate, and models consistently predict future warming to be much more significant in these regions than elsewhere. This sensitivity arises primarily from the positive albedo (how much radiation is reflected by the surface) feedbacks associated with melting of snow and ice that blanket most of the region, which can as much as triple the amount of absorbed solar radiation. Compounding this sensitivity is the fact that sea ice cover modulates the exchange of heat and moisture between the ocean and atmosphere. The disappearance of insulating sea ice increases the transfer of energy and water vapor from the ocean to the atmosphere, enhancing atmospheric warming. Furthermore, Arctic soils serve as significant reservoirs of CO2 and CH4, and warming of the region could result in increased emission of these greenhouse gases, contributing to the carbon cycle in ways that are not yet clear. In addition to high-la
