On Earth, most of the landscape is covered by water. 71% of the Earth is Water, of which 3% is freshwater used in all types of daily activities but of that 3%, 2.5% is locked away in glaciers, ice caps, etc.…. Now I’m not here to talk about the crisis that all of us are facing, I’m here to talk about these polar ice caps and glaciers that various species are dependent upon. It is an important part of the world’s ecology and it is important for everyone to understand its significance as a part of the Earth’s organ.
The two most prominent ice regions on the planet are the North and South pole. Both of these regions are home to a vast number of species and are important in a lot of the functions required for the survival of the planet. The south pole, also known as the continent of Antarctica, is one of the most secluded yet diverse places on the planet. We as humans have only started to discover the continent and many mysteries await to be discovered. What we do know is that many mammals and fish are dependent on the freezing desert.
Some of the species that rely on the polar regions are polar bears, humpback whales and gentoo penguins. These animals’ natural habitat needs to be freezing cold and have a certain type of food source only abundant in those regions; arctic krill. These krill are the most important food source in the arctic regions because they feed over 85 species in the region. They also help to fertilize the waters and keep them clean. These are one of if not the most important species in the region but their numbers are declining due to overfishing and increase in the waste diffused in water.
Apart from these sea creatures, prey also include penguins, seals and arctic char which feed animals like bears, wolves and whales. Through the regions in antarctica, we can see how symbiotic relationships between various species form. These relationships can range from not too significant to lifestyle changing. Apart from this, we see organisms act in ways that were never once seen before. Not only this, but the landscape of these regions is bizarre with volcanos covered in ice, places below freezing temperature with no snow and mysterious regions such as Blood Falls.
Not only this, the landscape also provides us much observational knowledge and insight for interstellar exploration. From the continent we are able to make calculated hypotheses on the composition and nature of plates like Mars, Neptune, and even moons like Enceladus. These regions help us discover and educate ourselves about our world and the galactic community we live in. All of this is possible due to the scientists who live there and it is due to them that we are able to perform experiments and make calculated observations. Not only this, but native people who live near these areas such as Eskimos or Aleuts also rely on the region to provide.
Now these regions are in threat due to climate change and global warming which has led to a decrease in the ice amounts of the regions. Not only are they the living ground for the various regional animal species and indigenous people, it also helps regulate the planet's temperature. The white color of the snow reflects the UV rays sent from the Sun and other surrounding stars back to space while he dark black water underneath, absorbs the light thus making out Earth warmer year by year.
To conclude, the frozen regions of the Earth are a vital part of the Earth’s operating system and help to regulate the Earth’s temperature. We have to save this region of our planet and we have to save the organisms who live there. Without this region, we don’t have the perfect environment to live but we have time to fix our problems. Prevention with the help of decreasing carbon emission and decreasing polluting activities will help the biome immensely. Other methods of prevention can have minimal to no influence on these regions so that the laws of nature can govern and control these icy patches on the Earth.
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