Increased emissions of greenhouse gases around the world reportedly cause global warming, which has a significant impact on the tundra. With the increase of temperatures, the ice cap is melting and ocean levels are rising. Since 1961, minimum ice extent in the Arctic autumn has declined 3.6 percent per decade, reports the University of Colorado at Boulder. Industrial activity in the tundra can also contribute to global warming. As dust and grime make the ice darker, less heat is reflected from the ice, increasing average temperatures. This is also linked to the occurrence of fires in the tundra vegetation, according to Science News.
The tundra is the most remote of all biomes, but it is also affected by pollution. Oil-extraction complexes, such as Prudhoe Bay on Alaska's North Slope, help not only to generate waste, but increase the chances of oil spillage. Oil persists for longer periods in low-temperature biomes -- especially on lichens, the main source of food for reindeer. Minor discharges from marine vessels operating in northern waters are also a source of pollution. During the Cold War, tundra ecosystems received nuclear waste and served as a stage for several nuclear tests.
Ozone, a gas found in the upper atmosphere, helps to filter ultraviolet radiation from the sun, which is linked to mutations in vegetation and skin cancer. Scientists found a hole in the ozone layer over the Arctic and Antarctic areas. One of the main causes of ozone depletion is the emission of chloroflourocarbons -- or CFC -- gases used in refrigerators and aerosols.
