Why is Polar Science Linked to Climate Change?
Polar science is linked to climate change because it provides us with answers to the questions we are asking today. Thanks to the Polar Regions - and to the ice cores in particular - we know that the rise in temperature is directly proportionate to the increase in CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. Consequently, this is just about the most fundamental reason why we seek out information on the Polar Regions, so that we can find answers to the questions being asked here back home.
It doesn't matter where you are on Earth because greenhouse gases are increasing significantly everywhere and, also, because gases take about three months to circle the planet. This means that wherever we live on Earth, in 10 or 20 years' time, if greenhouse gases continue to increase, the temperature will rise and produce consequences to our climate in our own backyard. This is why we absolutely need to better understand what is going on, what might happen 10, 20 or 50 years' from now, and even 100 years from now by the end of the 21st century. If we can understand this, we can take the necessary steps now to adjust our way of living in accordance to these predicted changes.
