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I. INTRODUCTION

Global warming, a scientifically documented phenomenon wherein the global

temperature is steadily rising, has a profound impact on species all over the world.

Polar bears and other Arctic species are particularly at risk because their habitat is

increasingly threatened by global warming. Numerous scientific agencies have

shown that polar bear numbers are on the decline, and that if action is not taken

quickly, polar bears may vanish from the Earth, deprived of habitat, food, and

shelter. The disappearance of these picturesque animals would be a great tragedy.

Polar bears live only in the northern Arctic where they spend most of their time on

ice floes. They are the largest land meat-eater in the world and the largest of the

 bear family. They are well suited to the cold Arctic ice and snow. They cling precariously to the top of what is left of the ice floe, their fragile grip the perfect

symbol of the tragedy of global warming.

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A. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH

a. Global Warming and The Arctic Ecosystem

Global warming  refers solely to the fact that the Earth's atmosphere is warming

near its surface. Simply put, it's getting hotter. The term does not imply a cause or 

speak to cause. The scientific community believes climate changes like global

warming have occurred throughout Earth's history and will continue to occur in

the future. Some evidence links global warming to solar activity; however, there

are other theories as well.

Climate change and its effects in the Arctic may be the most serious

environmental issue threatening the Arctic environment. Average annual

temperatures in the Arctic have increased by approximately double the increase inglobal average temperatures. It is beyond dispute that human activities are causing

global warming. The direct impacts of global warming include higher 

temperatures, sea-level rise, melting of sea ice and glaciers, increased pre-

cipitation in some areas and drought in others. Indirect social, environmental,

economic and health impacts will follow, including increased death and serious

illness in poor communities, decreased crop yields, heat stress in livestock and

wildlife, and damage to coastal ecosystems, forests, drinking water, fisheries,

 buildings and other resources needed for subsistence.

( Arctic Ecosystem )

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B. THE PROBLEM

a. Global Warming and Polar BearMelting sea ice affects populations of marine mammals, caribou, polar bears and

the subsistence livelihoods of people that depend on them. Because sea ice forms

a natural breakwater against storm wave action, ice melting allows larger storm

surges to develop and causes erosion, sedimentation, and coastal inundation.

Various Arctic wildlife populations already have been forced to adapt to changes

in their habitats. Increase in temperature in the Arctic regions due to global

warming has caused the ice to melt. Ice is the habitat of these polar bears, which

they use for hunting, traveling and mating. In some areas, bears spend the summer 

months on land and fast until ice is formed in the fall. They then use the ice as a

rostrum to hunt seals in the seas.

Global warming has caused other animals to die in the Arctic region, which is

why polar bears have nothing to eat. Sadly, the only food source polar bears are

left with are their own kind, which further reduces the number of polar bears. The

answer to 'why are polar bears dying so rapidly?' can also be attributed to human

 beings. Humans have been hunting polar bears for fur and other needs. Scientists

state that if the current global warming trends continue in the Arctic region, then

the consequence of it will be disappearance of two-thirds of the polar bear 

 population by 2050. On May 14, 2008, the U.S. Department of the Interior 

announced its decision about classifying polar bears as 'threatened’ under the

Endangered Species Act.

C. PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH

The Purpose of this papers include :

1. To fullfil the task subject English Language

2. To increase knowledge about the dangers of global warming and the

impact on the lives of arctic animals, especially polar bears

3. To know a little more about the ecology of polar bears

4. To know how big the influence of global warming for polar bears

The benefits gained from this papers is :

1. Students can learn the dangers of global warming

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2. Students can get more closer and care about polar bears

3. Broaden the horizon of all who read this paper 

D. METHOD OF THE RESEARCH

The method used in this study are:

► Qualitative Methods:

• Theoretical backgrounds as a guiding focus : the foundation of the theory

used as a guide for the focus of research in accordance with the facts on

the ground. Taken from various media sources:

1. Study literature such as books, scientific journals that are related to global

warming and polar bears.

2. Study electronic media, example : browsing to internet, e-book that are

related etc.

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II. THEORETICAL BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH

A. The Definition of Global Warming

Global is the increase in the average temperature of Earth's near-surface air and

oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation caused by the

greenhouse effect, if there gets to be too many gases, the earth can get unusually

warmer, and many plants, animals, and people will die. They would die because

there would be less food, water, and all life supporting system.

B. The Greenhouse Effect As Major Cause of Global Warming

The greenhouse effect is when the temperature rises because the sun’s heat andlight is trapped in the earth’s atmosphere.  It happens when greenhouse gases

(carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane) trap heat and light from

the sun in the earth’s atmosphere, which increases the temperature.

C. Climate Change As The Real Impact of Global Warming

Many people in the media (and elsewhere) use the terms "climate change" and

"global warming" interchangeably, as if they were the same thing. But there aredifferences between the meanings of the two terms. Getting a better handle on the

definitions of and differences between "global warming" and "climate change"

will help us understand why the threat caused by continued warming of the planet

is so serious.

Global Warming — An overall warming of the planet, based on average

temperature over the entire surface.

Climate Change — Changes in regional climate characteristics, including

temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind, and severe weather events.

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(symbolic cartoon of climate change)

D. The Polar Bear and Arctic Ecology (The Most Obvious Area Affected by

Global Warming)

Polar Bears, also known as 'sea bears', are the closest relative of the  brown bear . 

Adult male polar bears weigh between 550-1700 pounds, and can measure from

8-10 feet in height. On the other hand, the females are smaller, weighing between

200-700 pounds. They measure from 6-8 feet in height. Polar bears can live up to

15-18 years on average in the wild, and up to 30 years in captivity. Scientists have

recognized 19 distinct populations of polar bears; however, no sub species have

 been found. The scientific name of the polar bear is Ursus maritimus, and its

scientific classification is as follows:

Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum : Chordata

Class : Mammalia

Order : Carnivora

Family : Ursidae

Genus : Ursus

Species : Ursus maritimus

The polar bear has many unique adaptations for dealing with the Arctic cold. The

 polar bear's skin is actually black, which allows it to soak up as much heat as

 possible from the sun. They are also great swimmers and will swim from ice floe

to ice floe. They have been seen swimming 50 miles away from any ice or land.

The breeding : Sexually mature at 4-8 years. Breed polygamously, April through

June, with 1-3 cubs every 28 months. Pregnant females dig a den in October 

through December where cubs are born December to January and stay until March

or April. Lactation lasts 28 months. May live 25-30 years.

Eats mostly ringed and bearded seals. They will occasionally eat other mammals,

eggs, vegetation and beach-cast carrion. Polar bears don't drink water. They get all

the liquids that they need from the animals that they eat. Polar bears have fur that

is made up of "hollow guard hairs." These hollow hairs also keep their hair from

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matting down when they swim in water Polar bearsare usually solitary except for 

female-cub groups, during mating season and at abundant food sources.

D. Global Warming Could Starve The Polar Bears

The study, by Ian Stirling and colleagues is published in the journal Arctic. It

finds that :

“The polar bears' main food source, ringed seals, are becoming less accessible.

The seals live on the ice of Hudson Bay but this ice is breaking up earlier and 

earlier. The polar bears therefore have less time to hunt and are returning to land 

in poorer condition. Weight for both male and female polar bears is declining and 

 female bears are having fewer cubs. However, significant population decline has

not yet begun”.

Stephanie Tunmore, climate campaigner with green pressure group Greenpeace

said:

"The plight of the Hudson Bay polar bears is a warning that that climate change

is not something that will happen far off in the future, it's happening now,"

"World governments must intensify negotiations to cut greenhouse gas emissions

while simultaneously beginning the phase-out of fossil fuels and switch to

renewables."

On May 14, 2008, the U.S. Interior Department listed the polar bear as a

threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The listing should havegiven the species important new protections, but, unfortunately, the agency

included huge loopholes that undermined those protections.

 

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III. ANALYSIS

In the wild, polar bears spend much of their lives wandering pack ice in search of 

food, which presents itself in the form of other Arctic animals like seals. Polar 

 bears have adapted to a high fat diet from ocean-going animals like seals: polar 

 bears are rapid and aggressive swimmers, allowing them to readily capture their 

 prey. Each summer, as the pack ice starts to shrink, polar bears draw closer to land

to give birth to and nurse cubs. Many polar bears forgo food during this period,

hunting again when the ice returns and living on stored fat.

Pack ice overall is decreasing globally. When pack ice does form, it melts more

quickly, and tends to be thinner as well. In 2004, several polar bear deaths by

drowning were recorded, something which was hitherto unheard of. The polar  bears had been trapped on isolated areas of floating ice, and had tried to swim for 

land. Due to the shrinkage of the ice, the polar bears tired and drowned before

reaching shore and safety. This problem will only grow as the pack ice shrinks.

The shrinkage of the ice has other repercussions for polar bears. They are losing

their natural prey, who are also affected by the shrinkage in habitat. Polar bears

are not very adept at catching land animals such as caribou, and also must contend

with other species for these food sources. Land animals also do not provide the

high fat diet that polar bears need, which will lead to starvation. Starving mothers

will not be able to provide their cubs with the nutrition they need, which will

further contribute to the decline in polar bear numbers.

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IV. CONCLUSION

The combination of deadly factors brought about by global warming put polar 

 bears at a very high rate of risk. Drops in birth and survival rates have already

 been documented, and biologists are growing concerned about erratic behavior 

exhibited by polar bears as a result of the loss of their natural habitat.

Organizations dedicated to the welfare of the environment believe that a global

effort is needed to counteract global warming before it is too late for polar bears,

as well as many other species that call Earth home.

The scientific evidence is overwhelming that rising temperatures could cause two-

thirds of the world's polar bear populations, including all of Alaska's polar bears,

to go extinct by 2050. Polar bears are already drowning and starving. In the faceof this unfolding disaster, it is too late for half-measures and polluter exemptions.

Please act now to close polluter loopholes and give the polar bear full-fledged

endangered species protection to safeguard its habitat from global warming

 pollution, oil and gas development, and other threats. The plight of the polar bear 

is urgent. We can still save this magnificent species, but the window for action is

closing rapidly. Please act immediately to pull polar bears back from the brink of 

extinction.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

www.worldwildlife.org

[Accessed on 1th April 2011]

www.news.bbc.co.uk 

[Accessed on 3th April 2011]

www.dailymail.co.uk 

[Accessed on 3th April 2011]

www.wikipedia.com

[Accessed on 3th April 2011]

Mulyanto, H.R. 2007. Ilmu Lingkungan. Jakarta: Graha Ilmu

Effendi., 2001. Pemanasan Global. Jakarta : Erlangga

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Paper Task 

To Fullfil Subject English Language

GLOBAL WARMING AND THE IMPACT

TO THE LIVES OF POLAR BEARS

“Their Fragile Grip As The Perfect Symbol Tragedy Of 

Global Warming”

Compiled by :

Molly Mollyna InjaniNIM : 103112620150010

Biology Faculty of National University Jakarta

2011

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