> Which parts of the Earth are experiencing the effects of climate change at afaster rate?> And the answer: Northern Latitudes. Photo credit: Shutterstock/Bernhard-Staehli[https://physicsworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/glacier-melting-Antarctic-324590741-Shutterstock_Bernhard-Staehli.jpg]As the sea ice melts, the open ocean absorbs more heat from the sun, causingeven more ice to melt. This phenomenon is called Arctic amplification, which iscausing the faster rate of climate change in higher latitudes.With sea ice in our Arctic waters, the Sun's harsh rays are easily reflectedback into the atmosphere— effectively keeping the Earth cool. However, astemperatures rise and sea ice melts, that warmth is absorbed into the ocean,which causes a cascade of effects on its environment. While warmer ocean watersmight make for a nice swim, it actually is a condition that is less hospitablefor life: warm waters are less productive, hold less oxygen, and are moreconducive to algal blooms.Glaciers are one of the most recognizable features of the Northern climate.Climate change, however, diminishes the stature and integrity of these ancientnatural creations every day. Alaska's glaciers are steadily decreasing in areaand volume at a rate of 50 gigatons of ice per year, which causes 0.14 mm/yr sealevel rise and contributes about 5.5% of the total sea level rise. 5.5% percentof total sea level rise might not sound like a whole lot, but becomes much moreimpressive when you consider that Alaska's glaciers are only about a half of 1%of all the glacier/ice sheet cover on the planet, while contributing to about 9%of the total ice melt globally.The Northern Hemisphere has led the Southern Hemisphere in its rate of warmingsince about 1980, largely due to the fact that the Northern Hemisphere has moreland and less ocean than the Southern Hemisphere (not to mention that oceanswarm relatively slowly). Prior to 1980, the long-term increase in greenhousegases during the 20th century was essentially cancelled out by man-made aerosolemissions, which mostly cooled the Northern Hemisphere. It has never been more important to remain conscious and careful whenconsidering travel or other factors that contribute to the rise in temperatureson our planet. Learn more about the effects of climate change on the NorthernHemisphere here[https://www.nps.gov/subjects/aknatureandscience/hi-latclimatechange.htm].