Benefits of Volunteering to Help with Global Sea Ice Loss

There is a global crisis happening when it comes to the loss of sea ice in our oceans. This crisis is being caused by human activity, specifically the proliferation of greenhouse gases that have been released into the atmosphere as a result of our lifestyles and economies. This crisis has left our environment vulnerable to changes in the weather and increased levels of pollutants entering the marine environment. Adding to its vulnerability is a recent phenomenon known as ‘Arctic amplification, which describes how rapid warming trends in the Arctic lead to larger effects on ice loss than would be seen elsewhere. It’s not just coastal cities that are feeling the brunt of this change either; land-based communities located further inland will also experience negative impacts as a result of higher rates of evaporation and precipitation around them, both during wetter seasons and at other times throughout the year. Read on to learn more about what can be done to help curb this crisis through volunteering activities.

What is Global Sea Ice loss?

Sea ice is a special kind of water that is frozen year-round in some parts of the Arctic. This constant presence of ice makes it easy to see how much the temperature is changing in the Arctic. Areas of open water and greener patches are signs of increased temperatures and less ice, whereas darker areas show more ice and cooler temperatures. This loss of global sea ice is considered one of the most alarming climate changes caused by human activities. It’s also a huge problem for many Arctic communities that rely on the ice for hunting, fishing and other activities. In fact, the loss of all Arctic sea ice could lead to a dramatic reduction in the populations of Arctic animals such as polar bears and some species of migratory birds.

Why is Sea Ice Loss a Global Crisis?

Global sea ice loss is happening because of two main factors: the temperature of the Arctic is rising much faster than the surrounding regions, and greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide) that have been released into the atmosphere as a result of our lifestyles and economies. This means that Arctic ice is melting much earlier in the season and much faster than it would if temperatures were to stay the same. The result is that less ice is present at the start of winter, which means less sunlight is reflected back into space as heat, less ice is present at the end of summer which means less water intake for polar bears and birds, and more nutrients for algae! This loss of ice has also been accompanied by a rapid reduction in the size of Arctic sea ice. This has led to a situation where the Arctic Ocean has been experiencing unprecedented levels of warming and has seen the loss of sea ice that occurred previously.

Benefits of Environmental Volunteering to Help with Global Sea Ice Loss

As with any form of volunteering, you’ll make friends, gain skills, and feel good about helping others while doing it. You’ll also learn a lot while you’re volunteering with organizations that work to address environmental issues. This can include learning more about the causes of the problems you’re working to address, as well as ways to help solve these issues at a larger scale. Furthermore, you’ll learn about your own community, take a break from your day-to-day commitments, and help others in need. All of these things can be great benefits of volunteering.

Ways you can help with Sea Ice Loss

- Get involved with Ecology-minded organizations - There are a lot of great ways you can get involved with organizations working to address environmental issues. You can join a local Ecology club, organize a community Ecology Day, or just get involved with a community Ecology group online.

- Educate others - If you have the chance to speak to others about the issues affecting the environment, or share your knowledge with others through writing or speaking, do it! This can help you to better understand these issues and make an impact on a larger scale.

- Buy a Sacred Groves Cluster - A Sacred Groves cluster is a pocket of natural forest land that you can buy and become the protector of. With this, the plot of natural woodland becomes inaccessible for any commercial use in the future, thereby preserving our environment and stabilizing the planet's temperature.

- Plant a tree - Planting trees can help curb your own emissions and make a big difference in the environment. You can also plant trees with your family or friends or with your local Ecology club.

- Clean up your neighbourhood - Cleaning up your neighbourhood can be a big help in addressing issues facing the environment. You can use this time to plant trees or clean up your local park to help improve the area’s appearance.

- Vote - Voting is a great way to make a difference in the world. It can help influence decision-makers at the national level, as well as help to change local laws and regulations.

Conclusion

It’s important to recognize that the current rates of Arctic Sea Ice loss are unprecedented. The sea ice has been declining dramatically for the past few decades, but it’s now almost certain that there will be no more Arctic sea ice in the summer by the middle of this century. This has a huge impact on our environment, especially for those living in the Arctic who rely on the sea ice for hunting, fishing, and other activities. Fortunately, there are ways that you can get involved to help curb this crisis and make a difference in our environment. By environmental volunteering with an Ecology-minded organization, or getting involved with planting trees, cleaning up your neighbourhood, or voting, you can make a big difference.