> What's the smallest ocean in the world?And the answer: the Arctic. From largest to smallest, the world's five oceans are the Pacific, Atlantic,Indian, Southern, and Arctic. Centering on the North Pole, the Arctic Ocean isthe smallest and most shallow ocean on Earth. The Arctic Ocean comprises much of what is considered to be the Arctic Circle.Without any firm boundaries, this polar region is home to some of the coldestwaters and extreme conditions on the planet. We often imagine the Arctic coveredin snow and ice, but if we define the Arctic Circle as the southern boundary,the Arctic habitats range from snowy glades to green tundra, and from lushforests to high mountains. The climate is strongly influenced by sea currents.Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the Nordic climate is milder than on similarlatitudes, such as in Siberia.Around 60% of the Arctic is sea, much of which is covered by year-round sea ice.However, recent changes in our climate's temperature threaten to upset thisprecarious and necessary ecosystem. Once magnificent ice shelves are beginningto fracture and break, melting to raise water across the globe. Summers, usuallytepid, have begun to rise in temperature, in some places rising to the milestoneof 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The melting of the Arctic has the potential to threaten every walk of life onour planet. Rising waters could destabilize major infrastructure, dischargemercury levels dangerous to human health, and release billions of metric tons ofcarbon. Even more alarming is that the Arctic is warming at nearly three timesthe rate of the global average.But, not all hope is lost. In order to preserve our planet's ecosystem, we muststay diligent in the fight to protect and sustain its natural landscape. The World Wildlife Foundation[https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/5-ways-to-help-the-arctic-as-the-planet-warms] suggests five ways we can help save the Arctic:> 1. We need to fund research to help us all better understand what the Arcticmight look like in the near future. That research should prepare us for multiplescenarios.> 2. We need to develop technology to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in theatmosphere. Once we find out what works, that technology should be put to workimmediately and on a large-scale.> 3. We need to immediately help people who live in the Arctic to adapt, which mayinclude relocating communities. Right now there’s little policy andinfrastructure to help these people adapt so they’re going it alone.> 4. We need to give scientists the tools to help us effectively understand andadapt to a changing Arctic. We should support an emerging pan-Arctic observingsystem, along with early warning components and development of Arctic systemmodels to track Arctic change.> 5. We need to create a unified voice for Arctic action with continued globaltalks and decision-making, especially when that work is forward-looking.And check out the video for a taste of life this frosty tundra: