How will cryospheric changes at the poles impact polar terrestrial and marine ecosystems and the Earth’s climate?

Global climate change is heavily noticed at the poles. Sea ice diminishes, ice shelves collapse and ice sheets shrinking as ice melts and glaciers accelerate. Consequences are manifold:

A large subglacial hydrological system exists beneath the Greenland and Antarctic Ice Sheet. Across this system the ice and water interacts with the underlying lithosphere and biochemical processes mobilizing nutrients which are subsequently transported to the ocean. Hidden beneath kilometer thick ice these interactions are not yet studied, neither the flux quantified nor the faith of nutrients in the ocean is known. Yet processes, like mobilization of iron from fine glacial flower, could play a role in fertility of the polar ocean.

Changes in the extent of polar ice coverage exposes large areas of ocean floor to an open ocean or to semi perennial ice coverage as well as large continental areas. This exposes large areas to sun light and allows photosynthesis. Changes in the availability of light will change the food web and nutrient supply. Photosynthetic communities will likely replace chemotrophic communities. Unknown are the effect on the marine food web, global chemical cycles and feedback to the Earth Climate system. Especially understudied in this regard is the ecosystem of the polar oceans. To detect and quantify change here, a base line needs first to be established.

Glaciers and sea-ice at the poles also play a crucial role for the global circulation of the ocean. Increased melting at the poles will freshen the ocean impacting thermo hyaline circulation. A similar effect will have shrinking sea-ice extend and collapse of ice shelves. Yet many of these processes are not yet well understood. (see Global Water Cycle question)

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