Kudos
Kunnskapsdokumenter i offentlig sektor

Kartlegging

Melting snow and ice - A call for action

Snow and ice are important components of the Earth´s climate system and are particularly vulnerable to global warming. Significant changes have been observed over the last decades and it appears that these changes are occurring at an accelerating pace. Melting of snow and ice severely impacts the global climate. As snow and ice diminish, the Earth’s surface reflectivity is reduced and more solar radiation is absorbed, accelerating global warming. Key components of the snow and ice system that contribute to such feedback processes are expected to continue to change and thereby enhance further change towards a warmer climate. There are issues directly related to melting snow and ice that may significantly impact the wellbeing of millions of people, and threaten communities, cities, and nation states. In this document we provide a brief overview of the response of snow and ice to a warming climate. Significant changes in sea ice cover, snow cover, lake and river ice cover, permafrost temperatures, glacier and ice sheet mass have been observed over the last decades. It appears that the changes are occurring at an accelerating pace.