Polar bears roam across the circumpolar Arctic, where they rely on sea ice to reach their seal prey. But not all sea ice is equal. Learn about the four sea ice ecoregions, how the quality of sea ice differs across the polar bear’s range, and how we can help ensure the bears’ future by addressing climate change.

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It’s Arctic Sea Ice Day! We created the day to draw attention to the rapidly melting Arctic ecosystem, why it matters, and how we can help slow this trend. Did You Know? The Arctic is now warming nearly four times as fast as the rest of the planet, causing the sea ice to melt. Sea ice is crucial for polar bears as well as other species like beluga whales, seals and humans. A recent study projects an ice-free Arctic in September by mid-century, with impacts beyond the Arctic to our own backyards. (Link in bio) What can you do to move the world toward action on climate change and save Arctic sea ice for polar bears? Start by talking about it. By making this a kitchen-table conversation, we can build support for meaningful action. Learn more about Arctic Sea Ice Day and find tips on how to #TalkAboutClimate in our link in bio ⬆ 📷: © BJ Kirschhoffer / polarbearsinternational.org #ArcticSeaIceDay #SaveOurSeaIce #TalkAboutClimate #wildlifeconservation #polarbear #polarbears

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Arctic Sea Ice Day is July 15th, and we’re counting down with key facts about Arctic sea ice from our chief climate scientist, Dr. Flavio Lehner. ❄️ Arctic Sea Ice Fact #2: Polar bears rely on sea ice to efficiently catch their main prey, ice seals. Although seals can out-swim polar bears underwater, bears have the edge on top of the ice, using it to sneak up on and stalk their next meal. Ice seals, and related ice-dependent species like the walrus, rely on sea ice for survival, too—they use it to rest on and as a platform for giving birth to and raising their pups. #ArcticSeaIceDay #SaveOurSeaIce #polarbear #polarbears #wildlifeconservation #polarbearsofinstagram #oceanconservation

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Arctic Sea Ice Day is July 15th, and we’re counting down with key facts about Arctic sea ice from our chief climate scientist, Dr. Flavio Lehner. ❄️ Arctic Sea Ice Fact #3: Arctic sea ice is important to people living in the North, providing a platform for transportation and increased access to food. But people around the world need sea ice too. Sea ice acts like a global air conditioner, helping to cool the planet by reflecting the sun’s light and heat back into space rather than absorbing it into the water. #ArcticSeaIceDay #SaveOurSeaIce 🎥: © Jenny Wong / @jdubcaptures #climateaction #ecosystem #ecosystems #oceanfacts #conservation #oceanconservation

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It’s Arctic Sea Ice Day! We’re counting down with key facts about Arctic sea ice from our chief climate scientist, Dr. Flavio Lehner. ❄️ Arctic Sea Ice Fact #1: Sea ice is to the Arctic ecosystem as soil is to the forest. When ocean water gets cold enough to freeze it expels its salt, causing channels to form in the ice. Algae grow within these channels and form the base of the food chain. Algae feed the tiny organisms, like zooplankton, that inhabit these waters. Arctic cod feed on them. Seals eat Arctic cod. And polar bears prey on seals. #ArcticSeaIceDay #SaveOurSeaIce #ecosystem #foodweb #oceanfacts #wildlifeconservation #wildlifeonearth

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Arctic Sea Ice Day is July 15th, and we’re counting down with key facts about Arctic sea ice from our chief climate scientist, Dr. Flavio Lehner. ❄️ Arctic Sea Ice Fact 4: Arctic sea ice is declining in both extent and thickness due to human-caused climate warming. The atmosphere is like a blanket that surrounds the earth. When we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas for energy, we release extra carbon emissions into our atmosphere. This buildup thickens this “blanket,” trapping in more heat around our earth, raising our average global temperature and disrupting the climate. Just as a warm summer’s day melts the ice in a glass of water, a warming planet causes Arctic sea ice to melt. #ArcticSeaIceDay #saveourseaice #climatechange #carbonemissions

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Arctic Sea Ice Day is July 15th, and we’re counting down with key facts about Arctic sea ice from our chief climate scientist, Dr. Flavio Lehner. ❄️ Arctic Sea Ice Fact 5: Less sea ice means the extra heat is absorbed into the ocean, which means less heat is reflected away from the Earth, which equals disrupted climates. Just as a heart circulates blood and regulates the body’s temperature, the ocean controls the world’s climate system by circulating heat, moisture, and nutrients around the planet. Disruptions in this system, such as extra heat, have global impacts and can lead to changes in weather patterns and destruction of marine ecosystems. #ArcticSeaIceDay #SaveOurSeaIce 🎥: © Jenny Wong / @jdubcaptures #climateaction #ecosystem #ecosystems #oceanfacts #conservation #oceanconservation

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Arctic Sea Ice Day is July 15th, and we’re counting down with key facts about Arctic sea ice from our chief climate scientist, Dr. Flavio Lehner. ❄️ Arctic Sea Ice Fact #6: Some sea ice still remains in the Arctic year-round, with the lowest extent occurring each summer in September. Despite year-to-year variation, satellite data show that the rate of sea ice decline for September sea ice is 82,300 square kilometers (32,000 square miles) per year, or 12.8% per decade compared to the 1981 to 2010 average. That’s like losing an area the size of South Carolina or New Brunswick every year. Cover photo & drone video: © Jenny Wong / @jdubcaptures; Charts & graphics: © NASA #ArcticSeaIceDay #SaveOurSeaIce #climateaction #ecosystem #ecosystems #oceanfacts #conservation #oceanconservation

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Arctic Sea Ice Day is July 15th, and we’re counting down with key facts about Arctic sea ice from our chief climate scientist, Dr. Flavio Lehner. ❄️ Arctic Sea Ice Fact #7: A recent study shows that if nations fail to meet the goals set at the Paris Climate Agreement, the Hudson Bay polar bears will likely become extinct during the next few decades due to sea ice loss. The study predicted that the Southern Hudson Bay polar bears in Manitoba, Canada, could become extinct if we exceed 2°C of global warming, which could happen as soon as the 2030s. The Western Hudson Bay population (the famous “Churchill bears”) would be close behind them, with the bay becoming an unsuitable habitat at 2.2°C or 2.6°C. Both populations are considered bellwethers for polar bears in other parts of the Arctic. Read the study in our link in bio ⬆️ #ArcticSeaIceDay #SaveOurSeaIce #parisclimateagreement #climateaction #ecosystem #ecosystems #wildlifeconservation #oceanfacts #conservation

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