CAESAR

Today, many of the more visible examples of changing climate patterns are found in the northern polar regions.

In its 2007 Fourth Assessment, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that "The Arctic is very likely to warm during this century in most areas, and the annual mean warming is very likely to exceed the global mean warming." Scientists at the National Snow and Ice Data Center have been providing strong correlative evidence supporting the warming Arctic expectations of the IPCC. An October 2007 report on Arctic Sea Ice, for example, shows sea ice declines ranging between thirty-nine and fifty per cent in that past couple of decades, depending on which measurement tools are used.

As a large land mass surrounded by the world's oceans, Antarctic geography often is described as the polar opposite of Arctic geography. Because approximately ninety per cent of the world's ice is found on and around Antarctica, global concern about climate change and Antarctica deal with potential sea level rise associated with glacial melt.

The IPCC reports some weaknesses in the GCMs abilities to adequately forecast long term Antarctic climate trends. "A serious problem is the lack of observations against which to assess models, and for developing process knowledge, particularly over Antarctica."

Currently scientists have only an adequate understanding of the regional factors historically influencing Antarctic climate conditions. Most regional Antarctic climate studies are organized with both an ocean and an atmospheric element.

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the strong ocean current that encircles the continent, moving in a clockwise direction, serves as the primary ocean explanation influencing Antarctic weather patterns.