Why was the U.S. suddenly so interested in Greenland? The Arctic is warming nearly four times faster than the rest of the world, and the recent cold snap across North America is a warning sign of that. The polar vortex, which normally keeps extreme cold locked in the Arctic, is weakening. Think of it like opening the door of a fridge. As Arctic ice melts, the foundation of life in the region goes with it. Sea ice loss destabilizes entire food webs, from plankton all the way to polar bears, and makes travel and hunting increasingly dangerous for Inuit communities who depend on the ice to survive. But while ecosystems collapse and cultures are diminished, a small group stands to benefit. Who benefits from a warming Arctic, and at what cost? Sign up for Ripple Effect with katiecouricmedia at the link in our bio to get paulnicklen and mitty’s full essay sent to your inbox next week! Photos by mitty #Arctic #Greenland #ClimateChange #ColdSnap #Explore