The next time you get caught in a rainstorm, you might have the Arctic to thank. It may sound strange, but it's true. The Arctic may seem very far away. But scientists say the Arctic affects people all over the world.
Weather is one way.
Cold, dry air forms over the Arctic and moves south. When this air hits warm, wet air, storms are created. These storms are part of weather patterns that travel around the globe. The Arctic might bring rainstorms to our part of the world, but what we bring to the Arctic can be much worse. Chemicals from factories in the U.S. and other countries are carried to the Arctic by wind and water.