Consider the following statements

1. Arctic amplification is the enhancement of near-surface air temperature change over the Arctic relative to lower latitudes.
2. Sea ice and snow have high albedo, and they are capable of reflecting most of the solar radiation as opposed to water and land.

Select the correct statement.

Arctic Amplification (AA)

• While changes are witnessed across the planet, any change in the surface air temperature and the net radiation balance tend to produce larger changes at the north and south poles.
• This phenomenon is known as polar amplification and when these changes are more pronounced at the northern latitudes, they are known as the Arctic amplification.
• Among the many global warming-driven causes for this amplification, the ice-albedo feedback, lapse rate feedback, water vapour feedback and ocean heat transport are the primary causes.
• Sea ice and snow have high albedo (measure of reflectivity of the surface), implying that they are capable of reflecting most of the solar radiation as opposed to water and land.
• In the Arctic’s case, global warming is resulting in diminishing sea ice.
• The Arctic is heating four times faster than the rest of the planet.

Hence both statements are correct.

By: Shubham Tiwari