What is Polar amplification?

January 12, 2016 February 26, 2024

Polar amplification refers to the phenomenon where warming due to climate change occurs faster in the Earth’s polar regions compared to lower latitude areas. This disproportionate warming can trigger reinforcing feedback loops, compounding changes in delicate polar environments.

Climate Model Predictions

Most climate models predict that rising greenhouse gases will drive faster warming in the Arctic and Antarctic. This polar amplification effect stems from factors like:

Loss of reflective snow/ice cover exposing darker surfaces that absorb more heat
Increased heat transport to poles as air/ocean circulation changes
Water vapor feedbacks that maximize warming

However, some models underestimate the extent of polar amplification seen in recent decades.

Observed Arctic Amplification

The Arctic has warmed at over twice the global average rate in the last 30 years. Impacts include:

3°C warming since 1990 versus 1°C global average
40% reduction in summer sea ice extent
Thawing permafrost releasing more heat-trapping gases

This rapid Arctic warming and shrinkage of sea ice is consistent with pronounced amplification.

Antarctic Discrepancies

In contrast, the Antarctic has not warmed as quickly as the Arctic, contrary to most model predictions. Differences that contribute to this discrepancy include:

Antarctic’s more isolated geography and ocean currents
Ozone depletion and tropical variability masking greenhouse effects
Natural variability swamping signals in short datasets

But the causes behind slower Antarctic warming remain an area of active research.

West Antarctic Warming

One part of the Antarctic, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, has experienced rapid warming in recent decades, according to a 2023 study. Findings include:

Warming rate over past 30 years twice as high as models projected
Vulnerable to instability and sea level rise if warming continues
Indicates models may be underestimating Antarctic ice melt

Implications

Faster warming in the poles, especially the Antarctic, has serious implications:

Threats to unique polar ecosystems and species
Accelerated ice sheet and glacier melt raising seas
Faster Arctic warming altering ocean circulation
Increased climate extremes at lower latitudes

Better understanding polar amplification will be key for projecting climate change damages and informing mitigation policies.

Future Monitoring

Continued monitoring of polar temperatures, sea ice, and ice sheets is critical, given the outsized role of these regions in the Earth’s climate system. International cooperation supports projects like: