Arctic marine mammals such as seals, whales, and polar bears depend on sea ice for habitat and are at increased risk as sea ice diminishes due to human-caused climate change.
high
causal
Relationship between sea ice loss from human-caused climate change and habitat risk for Arctic marine mammals
Loss of floating ice or ice-shelf buttressing—for example, through removal of protective sea ice by storms or inhibited sea-ice formation due to warmer ocean temperatures—can expose glacier margins to wave action and lead to accelerated glacier retreat.
high
causal
Describes how changes in sea ice, ocean temperature, and ice-shelf integrity influence glacier stability and retreat rates.