The arctic region of the northern hemisphere is a sparsely populated part of the world. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife that has adapted to the harsh environment, which is covered by snow and ice for the majority of the year. Throughout the year a sheet of ice several feet thick, which the wildife depend upon for food, shelter, and survival, covers the ocean.

Map of Arctic Ocean, depicting sea ice coverage

This ice sheet has shown a serious reduction in thickness that many scientists have attributed to our warming climate. The sea ice is not very thick, with many places at a couple of inches, while in some places it can grow to nearly ten feet. Recent research has suggested that the ice sheet has experienced a forty percent reduction in the past thirty years.(N) That forty percent decrease amounts to a loss of four inches a year.(N) Conducting research and data acquisition is difficult because the thickness of the ice can only be measured by submarine sonar equipment. The US navy nuclear submarines provide much of the data that is analyzed in sea ice research. This reduction leads many scientists and environmentalist to question what will beco

In the past two years there has been a substantial increase in the number of stories relating to the arctic ice sheets. This can be attributed to recent scientific discoveries and the advent of new technologies that have enabled researchers to make better assessments of changes in the ice sheets. The research of Dr. Rothrock of the University of Washington's Polar research Center generated a wave of academic and media interest when he released his findings regarding the reduction of the ice sheets. News stories relating to this publication appeared in several newspapers in United States, England, and many other newsagents worldwide.

The high latitudes of the northern hemisphere where the sea ice is located are not suitable for human habitation, but many species live on or near the sea ice. One of the most notable species would be the polar bear that dominates the food chain. The polar bear lives much of its life on the sea ice preying on the seals that make the ice their home. The bears hunt the seals in the early part of spring, but in the past twenty years warming has caused the ice to break up three weeks earlier, shortening the bear's hunting season. This early breakup has proven to be detrimental to the bears, with research suggesting that the overall health of the bears has been on the decline due to malnutrition.(N)

Some common words found in the essay are:
North Atlantic, United England, Arctic Ocean, Ice Arctic, sea ice, Washington's Polar, ice sheets, global warming, warming climate, melting sea ice, geographic location, melting sea, coverage issue, reduction ice, reduction ice sheets, media's coverage dwindling, climate sea ice, ice increase, increase amount, warming climate apparent,
Approximate Word count = 1376
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)