Pollution, ocean acidification and global warming are all major threats to Arctic ecosystems and are all inextricably linked. Major global air and ocean currents bring pollutants north to the “Arctic sink” where they accumulate over time, affecting ecosystems and wildlife. Meanwhile, carbon pollution from fossil fuels is causing widespread ocean acidification and global warming, which is happening two to three times faster in the Arctic than other regions. While climate change is having direct effects on Arctic ecosystems, the dynamics of pollutants within Arctic ecosystems are also being affected, enhancing pollutant mobility and effects in some cases.
Gamberg M., 2019. Threats to Arctic ecosystems. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences. Article (subscription required).
