Bronte Wells
The tundra is a harsh yet delicate environment that is highly vulnerable to human disruptions and climate change. As global temperatures rise, the tundra is changing in broad and unpredictable ways. Human activity, such as the extraction of oil and gas, mining, and residential construction, has led to pollution, habitat destruction, and the displacement of native species. Climate change has also contributed to rising sea levels, the migration of tree species, and the increased presence of parasites and diseases, all of which pose significant threats to the fragile tundra ecosystem.
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What You'll Learn
Industrial activity and air pollution
Drilling for oil and gas in the tundra has resulted in toxic spills that poison animals and require rehabilitation for their recovery. The extraction of these resources has also contributed to air pollution, affecting the environment of the tundra region. As a result of this pollution, the once-pristine snow and permafrost are melting, causing the ecosystem to collapse. This melting is exacerbated by black carbon from diesel engines, fires, and other combustion sources, which settle on the snow and reduce its ability to reflect sunlight, accelerating melting.
The burning of fossil fuels and air pollution have led to the warming of the Arctic tundra, with average surface air temperatures rising by 3.5°C since 1900, significantly higher than the global average of 0.9°C. This warming has resulted in the melting of permafrost, which is essential habitat for many fauna in the biome. As the temperatures rise, animals like the Arctic fox face competition for food and territory from species typically found farther south, such as the red fox. The warming trend also increases the frequency and severity of tundra fires, further contributing to carbon emissions and exacerbating climate change.
In addition to the direct impacts on the tundra ecosystem, air pollution has indirect effects on the region's delicate balance. Lichens, a dominant life form in the tundra, are particularly vulnerable to air pollution due to their lack of roots. They rely primarily on the air for their resources, making them effective indicators of air quality. Air pollution has contributed to the persistent 'Arctic haze', leading to acid rain and faster snowmelt. The depletion of the ozone layer over the poles has also resulted in increased radiation damage, further threatening the health of both humans and animals in the region.
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Climate change and warming trends
The Arctic tundra is one of the coldest biomes on Earth, but it is also one of the most rapidly warming. The average global surface-air temperature has risen by approximately 0.9 °C since 1900, but average surface air temperatures in the Arctic have risen by 3.5 °C over the same period. Most climatologists agree that this warming trend will continue, with some models predicting that high-latitude land areas will be 7–8 °C warmer by the end of the 21st century than they were in the 1950s.
This warming is causing long-frozen ground to melt and an increase in wildfires. The tundra, which has stored carbon for thousands of years, has now become a source of planet-warming pollution. Wildfires in North American permafrost regions have increased in recent decades, and since 2003, emissions from polar wildfires have averaged 207 million tons of carbon per year. This is more than the annual carbon dioxide emissions of some industrialised countries, such as Argentina and Austria. The warming creates potential feedback loops that encourage further destabilisation of tundra ecosystems. The release of methane from deteriorating permafrost, for example, feeds the thawing cycle, while higher temperatures drive the growth of shrubs, which can change soil temperature and prevent snow from reflecting heat.
The transition from tundra to boreal forest increases the risk of wildfires, further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The changing vegetation also affects local fauna, with vulnerable Arctic species facing competition from species typically found in warmer climates. For example, the red fox, which is typically found farther south, is moving north onto the tundra and competing with the Arctic fox for food and territory. As a result of warming temperatures, about 38% of the tundra sites across Alaska, Canada, and western Eurasia showed greening between 1985 and 2016. Only 3% showed the opposite browning effect, which would mean fewer actively growing plants.
Other changes occurring in both Arctic and alpine tundras include increased shrub density, an earlier spring thaw and a later autumn freeze, diminished habitats for native animals, and an accelerated decomposition of organic matter in the soil. These processes can contribute to greater warming in the tundra than in other regions. For example, the darker surfaces of green coniferous trees and ice-free zones reduce the albedo (surface reflectance) of Earth’s surface and absorb more solar radiation than lighter-coloured snow and ice, thus increasing the rate of warming.
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Oil, gas, and mining industries
The burning of fossil fuels, facilitated by the oil and gas industry, is a major contributor to global warming, which is another significant threat to the tundra. As the planet warms, the permafrost and snow in the tundra melt, causing the ecosystem to collapse. Snow and permafrost are essential habitats for many tundra fauna, and as the snow covering melts and temperatures rise, animals lose their homes and starve.
The oil, gas, and mining industries have also led to increased human settlement in the tundra, with people moving to the region to work in mines and on oil rigs. This has resulted in the creation of new towns and roads, which disrupt the feeding patterns of animals. The animals are either shot at or scared away, causing them to starve as they can no longer reach their food sources.
Additionally, the extraction of oil and gas has contributed to air pollution in the tundra. Toxic chemicals released into the atmosphere during the extraction process can accumulate in the region, posing a threat to the health of local human and animal populations.
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Invasive and migrating species
The Arctic tundra is a very fragile environment. As global temperatures rise, the tundra is becoming warmer and facing the risk of increased human activity. Climate change is driving down populations of some Arctic tundra natives, such as caribou (reindeer), by fostering an increase in parasites and disease while damaging food sources. However, species such as shrubs and the wolf spider are thriving in the changing environment.
The red fox, which is typically found farther south, is moving north onto the tundra and competing with the Arctic fox for food and territory. The Arctic fox population is slowly declining as a result. Snow geese have also learned to feed on farmlands during their migration instead of in the wild, and their exploding numbers have threatened to degrade their tundra nesting sites.
Climate change increases the risk of invasive species taking root in the Arctic. As the tundra warms, human activity is also increasing, with the potential for more recreational and industrial activities. This places additional stress on tundra plants and animals and compromises the resilience of the tundra ecosystem.
The underlying base of frozen soil and plant matter in the tundra, called permafrost, is thawing due to rising temperatures. This thawing releases carbon into the atmosphere in the form of CO2 and methane (CH4). The release of methane from deteriorating permafrost creates a feedback loop that encourages further destabilization of tundra ecosystems.
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Human activity and settlement
The presence of large reserves of natural resources, such as oil, natural gas, diamonds, and other minerals, beneath the tundra has intensified human activity in these regions. The construction of roads, mines, and drilling operations has led to the disruption of migration routes, the choking of plants and lichens by road dust, and the risk of oil spills. These activities have impacted the integrity and sustainability of tundra ecosystems, affecting both plants and animals.
Human settlement in the tundra, including the establishment of permanent communities and the construction of residences, ski resorts, and other structures, has also altered the natural landscape. The expansion of human settlements into tundra regions can lead to habitat loss and fragmentation for native species, further contributing to the decline of populations already vulnerable due to climate change.
In addition to direct habitat loss, human activities have also indirectly affected the tundra through atmospheric emissions. Black carbon fumes from diesel engines, fires, and other forms of combustion can settle on snow, causing it to absorb more solar energy and melt at a faster rate. This phenomenon particularly affects animals that rely on snow cover for shelter or camouflage, such as polar bears, Arctic foxes, and Arctic hares. Aerosols, coolants, and other gases released into the atmosphere can deplete the ozone layer, leading to increased localized warming and faster snowmelt.
The combination of human activities, including settlement, industry, and pollution, has made the tundra increasingly vulnerable to the global warming crisis. The permafrost, which is the underlying base of frozen soil and plant matter, is thawing due to rising temperatures. This thawing turns the tundra into a source of greenhouse gas emissions as soil microbes convert carbon into carbon dioxide and methane. The tundra's slow recovery from physical disturbances, such as tire tracks from heavy vehicles, further exacerbates the impact of human activities in these fragile ecosystems.
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Frequently asked questions
Human activity has led to the construction of residences, ski resorts, roads, and drilling operations in the tundra. This has resulted in the displacement of native animals, the destruction of their habitats, and the pollution of the air and water.
Climate change has led to the warming of the tundra, causing the melting of snow and permafrost. This has resulted in the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and the disruption of the tundra's delicate balance, making it more vulnerable to wildfires and drought.
Industrial activities such as oil, gas, and mining have polluted the air and water in the tundra. Drilling and heavy vehicles have damaged the soil and prevented vegetation from returning. Oil spills have also poisoned animals and destroyed their environments.
Air pollution has led to the formation of Arctic clouds, causing faster melting of snow. It has also contributed to ozone depletion, resulting in stronger ultraviolet rays reaching the tundra. Additionally, toxic mercury from industrial activity has accumulated in the tundra, threatening both humans and animals.
