• Question: Do you know if the moving ice affects animals?

    Asked by lucysugden to Nuala on 26 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Nuala Carson

      Nuala Carson answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      Thanks for the question lucysygden,

      Yeah moving ice affects all different types of animals. I’ll try and give you a idea about the different types….

      In the ocean you get microscopic plants called plankton. They are the basis for all live in the ocean (so are pretty important). Some of this plankton actually live in the ice. So if the ice was to move to the other side of the ocean then the plankton would be a long way from the water they are used to. If the water is too warm, or salty, or a different pH then the plankton could die.

      Lots of other types of animals also use the ice like seals, penguins and polar bears. If the ice was to all move away then they would have no where to live which would be pretty sad.

      I suppose the most important animal who uses the ice is us! In the Arctic the ice is used for all different reasons and so its important that we know where it is going to be and when! So if a ship where to sail through the Arctic carrying oil, and the ice suddenly starts to move it could trap the ship, or even cause it to sink! Also the native people who live in the Arctic camp and hunt on the ice so if it suddenly starts to move and they cant get off in time they can be dragged out to sea!

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