How important are the polar regions in understanding climate change?

The polar regions are some of the most important areas on the planet when it comes to understanding climate change, says Philippe Archambault, scientific director of ArcticNet, a network of research centres dedicated to studying the impacts of climate and socio-economic change in the Canadian North. That’s because the ice-covered surfaces of polar regions have traditionally acted as areas that reflect the sun back to itself like a mirror.“A good example I say to the general public is … if you have the sun in your face, that’s quite warm. If I put a mirror between you and the sun, you’re in the shade and the light will hit the mirror and go back. It’s not going to be as warm on your face,” Prof. Archambault says.