Kelp in a Changing Arctic Ocean

Abstract

In the northernmost part of our planet, in the icy cold coastal waters of the Arctic Ocean, you will find underwater forests filled with fish, crabs, and sea urchins. Unlike forests found on land, these underwater forests are made up of large brown marine algae called kelp. The various kelp species that make up the underwater forests are important in the Arctic Ocean. As temperatures continue to rise because of climate change, the future of Arctic kelp is unknown. In this article, we will discuss how changes in the Arctic climate, from melting ice to changes in ocean saltiness, may affect these underwater worlds.