The Impact of Melting Ice Caps
There is a large amount research demonstrating the impact of global warming on our planet. As the overall temperature of the Earth increases, ice and snow masses are melting. As more ice and snow is lost, the ocean’s sea levels are rising. Additionally with less ice and snow, less sun light is reflected into space and instead it is absorbed by the planet. The continual absorption of the heat in sunlight gradually warms the planet along with other factors. Therefore, the loss of ice caps, glaciers, and snow is furthering the increase in the temperature of the planet.
The polar ice caps play an enormous role in regulating the Earth’s temperature. According to Montgomery (2008), polar ice reflects close to 90 percent of rays from the sun back into space. However, our dark oceans only bounce back around 10 percent of solar radiation (Calvin, 2008). One of the most important properties of that both ice and snow share is a very high albedo. Albedo is the amount of solar radiation reflected from an object or a surface (Cousineau, 2011). As glaciers and ice caps melt due to a process called thermal expansion, the tendency of matter to change in volume as a response to a change in temperature (Archer, 2007), our ocean’s sea levels are rising at an extremely fast rate. Worldwide our sea levels have risen 4- 8 inches throughout the 20th century (Wunderground, 2013). With the loss of ice caps and the gain of more water in our oceans less and
The global mean surface temperature is projected to increase by around 0.3 to 4.8 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial values by the end of the 21th century. Therefore, if we continue to not check the anthropogenic emissions, the increase may be around 8 to 10 degrees Celsius, which is incredibly damaging to various ecosystems internationally. It is difficult to determine the possible aftereffects of the ice sheets melting because the equilibrium-response timescales of them is longer than both the atmosphere and ocean. The ice-sheet/ice-shelf model shows that if the atmospheric warming increases 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius above the present temperatures, the Antarctic ice shelves will collapse and trigger a centennial scale response –a never-ending
Global warming -- and climate change -- have long-term and short-term impacts on our environment. Caused by air pollutants such as carbon dioxide and methane, global warming is the gradual increase of air temperature across the globe. The rise in air temperatures can lead to higher extinction rates, increased risk of disease and political repercussions, such as wars over available resources. Understanding the possible short-term and long-term effects can help humans better prepare for the consequences of global warming.
We might disagree on the causes of global warming; however, we cannot ignore that it is happening. Although we still experience cold winters, average global temperatures has risen drastically for the past three decades. Polar ice caps are melting; as a result, sea levels are rising. Scientist predict more extreme weather in the coming decades, in fact, droughts will probably be more common. Also, flooding and tropical temperatures might cause large amounts of methane gases to be released, which could be disastrous for our atmosphere. Climate change may have human causes and also it might be a natural occurrence. Nevertheless, we must find ways to save our planet.
First of all, the main effect of global warming is the fact that it causes warmer temperatures. While warmer temperatures may seem beneficial and good, the ways the atmosphere is becoming warmer isn’t that great. According to the article, Global warming, it states, “Natural processes on Earth constantly create and destroy greenhouse gases.” “Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, add an extra seven billion metric tons per year” (“Global Warming”). To explain, what this shows is that nature is already creating greenhouse gasses and people are adding even more to the atmosphere. While people strive on greenhouse gasses for warmth, the amount of greenhouse gasses forming will cause numerous environmental hazards in the future.
Global warming is the warmth of Earth’s temperature by the sunlight as a main cause. 30 percent of the sunlight reflected back into space by clouds, and the remaining 70 percent is absorbed by land, air and ocean. Solar energy does not stay bound up on Earth’s environment perpetually. Global warming is a phenomenon, it has started from the last century. It impacts on Earth and that can lead to climate change in the world. A lot of scientists have approved that global warming is a fact and have approved natural changes and they discovered the reason behind that is global warming. “Understanding the cause of the Pleistocene ice ages has been a significant question in climate dynamics since they were discovered in the mid-nineteenth century. The identification of orbital frequencies in the marine record, a proxy for global ice volume, in the 1970s demonstrated that glacial cycle are ultimately paced by astronomical forcing” (Jeremy. D. 1). Therefore, we should save our planet by preventing global warming from happening.
Climate change is evident throughout the world and is a major issue. It is no secret that our planet is getting warmer. Global warming is now recognized in the scientific community as a real problem. There are multiple aspects that are causing this issue. Majority of the warming is caused by greenhouse gases. Volcanic eruptions and changes in the intensity of solar radiation have offset the warming partially. It is estimated that average annual temperatures will increase 3.5°F-9.5°F by the century’s end.
Climate change is speeding up the process of global warming. The polar ice caps have been melting at an excessive rate over the years causing dramatic changes in sea levels, salt contents, and storm patterns.
Climate change will cause the air in the arctic to get warmer which melts the permafrost in the ground. The Sea ice will melt due to higher temperatures of the air and ocean, ending in rising sea levels and the melting of glaciers. You might think we have lots of time before this happens but in reality each year we lose about twice the size
Economic growth is vital to sustain human life; however, the unsustainable consumption of natural resources to attain this demand is leading to self-destruction. The Earth is facing environmental changes, including climate changes, which are altering the Earth system. Significantly higher thermal expansion is inescapable if the increasing pollution by carbon dioxide emission continues relentlessly. One evidence of this change is global warming and its impact in the Arctic Ice. The critical role of the Arctic in the global climate system implies that Arctic Ice changes will have far-reaching connotations for, and feedbacks to, the entire Earth. Currently, the warning signs include: rapid diminishing of sea ice, increased mass
The change the Artic will have an impact on the earth. Temperatures in the Arctic are rising at twice the rate of the rest of the world on average, and melting glaciers and land-based ice sheets are contributing to rising sea levels. Rising ocean temperatures are affecting ocean ecosystems. In turn having an affect on the communities and economies that depend on them. The changing Arctic could lead to global changes in ocean-based food security that will place additional burdens on economies, societies, and institutions around the world.
One effect of global warming is sea level rise. Water expands when it is warmer. Because of the overall temperature increase on Earth, the oceans are expanding and therefore causing the sea levels to rise.
Last but not least, global warming has caused the polar ice caps to melt. The melting of the polar ice caps will cause the sea levels to rise all over the world. If the sea levels rise just a metre
The first thing I want to start off with is telling you what global warming is and give you an idea of what it can do to our planet. Global warming increases temperature all around the world. It also put a lot more carbon dioxide in the air by us humans. Pollution of Carbon dioxide is one is the most common one and is mostly caused by running vehicles exhaust, burning of fossil fuels such as coal,and factory smoke.when we let carbon dioxide in the air it has nowhere to go except in our atmosphere. therefore is causes rising temperature to build up in our atmosphere over time slowly.
One of the effects of global warming is the polar ice caps’ melting. Scientists have been researching and examining the polar ice caps for a long time and they have come to the conclusion that the thin ice sheets are slowly wasting away. They have also found out that Greenland’s glaciers are getting smaller and smaller. Places around the globe that use to be covered in ice and snow are now showing more green terrain as the years go on and as the winter months grow warmer. The polar ice caps are melting more and more due to higher global temperatures. This is really bad because the ice caps “reflect and help regulate the Earth’s temperatures.”
Global climate change is real, it has noticeable effects on the environment. Climate change in the earth is caused by numerous activities. When climate change happens; temperatures can rise tremendously. Rapid warming notice nowadays is uncommon in the history of our planet. The rising temperatures will have great effects on the plant’s climate patterns and on all living things. When temperatures increase, different adjustments can occur on earth. For example, it can cause droughts, floods, air pollution, as well as extreme heat waves. Oceans are also experiencing changes: oceans are warming and becoming more acidic, glaciers are melting, and sea levels are rising. As these adjustments will occur in the future, it will cause challenges to our society and environment.