Melting Polar Ice is literally warping the planet.
Melting Ice occurs every time there is a large concentration of heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Warmer temperatures and long periods of sunlight can cause melt. Melting of Ice occurs in the months just before or after a big snowfall. While melting is a natural process, the buildup of ice can aggravate global warming.
One of the biggest contributors to global warming is the retreat of the ice sheets. Without the ice sheets to reflect the sun’s rays, the planet’s temperatures would increase naturally. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is currently advancing at an accelerating rate. In fact, this rapid advance is accelerating so rapidly that it could speed up the rate of global warming considerably. A recent study by a team of Harvard scientists found a direct connection between the retreat of the ice sheets and global warming.
It was a research paper which came to the conclusion that whilst the West Antarctica Ice Sheet is melting at a rapid pace, it is also releasing larger amounts of carbon dioxide and methane as it melts.
This is alarming because the melt is releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide and methane which will be absorbed into the water, the atmosphere and the frozen land. The melt can raise sea levels by several meters and may trigger flooding and rise in sea levels which will also raise international water prices and disrupt shipping routes. Melting polar ice is physically melting the planet.
How do we stop this from happening? One way is to stop global warming from happening all together. Global warming is the result of mankind’s use of fossil fuels, which are eventually depleted. A far better solution would be to use alternative energy sources such as solar, geothermal, or hydroelectricity. These methods do not release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Melting polar ice is a symptom of global warming. Global warming is a process which causes the Earth’s temperature to increase and the poles to become ice. Melting of ice is a natural process that all ice cells undergo. When the ice melting process is sped up the consequences could be catastrophic. When there is less sea ice in the Arctic this means more open water available for other aquatic life such as fish and other forms of marine life.
The melt through melting polar ice will also create an opportunity for ocean currents to help to transport excess heat away from the Earth. Ocean currents are important for keeping the world’s temperatures stable. If the melt continues at a rapid rate the poles could become extremely cold.
Global warming may be a serious problem. But, we have the ability to stop it. In order to prevent melting polar ice, we need to develop alternative energy sources such as wind power and solar energy.
Wind power can be used to melt small icebergs. Ice icebergs are much heavier than air, so they need to be heated. You can use a large turbine to heat an iceberg and place it in the water. Then the wind will blow the melted ice into the open waters. This is similar to the ice dams, which can be melted by the wind.
Solar power does not work well in the winter months. This is because there is very little sunlight during the winter time. Solar collectors can be used during the day to collect heat for your home. This process works well. However, you cannot use the sun for cooking during the day.
How do we prevent melting polar ice?
One way to do this is to plant more trees. Another is to make our homes more efficient. This includes using energy efficient appliances, energy saving light bulbs, and reducing your carbon footprint. All of these things are having a positive impact on global warming.
If you are concerned about global warming, melting polar ice may be a factor in helping us to reduce or even eliminate this problem. Global warming is believed to be one of the reasons that could cause ice to melt.
Polar Ice Study
The latest greenhouse gas emission is the melting of polar ice. Melting of ice takes place when the surrounding temperatures increase to a critical level. It’s also known as Arctic amplification. The melt can be contributed to global warming, although the cause has not yet been established conclusively. A major issue is that a huge part of the Arctic Ocean is considered to be in a state of permanent low ice condition.
Global warming has been extensively noted as one of the most important reasons for the retreat of the polar ice. Other possible causes include natural fluctuation in temperature and other external factors. But global warming makes the melting of the ice faster and more efficient. Melting of polar ice will result to a drastic reduction in the volume of sea water, which affects the global freshwater cycle.
Currently, the melting of the ice sheets accounts for about 15% of the global sea-water volume annually. It is believed that this figure is way underestimated. With the retreat of the ice sheets, new fresh water and oxygen rich water lakes will be formed. This will result to the increased salinity of the remaining water. This situation will have a negative impact on the ecosystems and eco-systems.
In the past, the seas had sufficient amount of dissolved oxygen. With the retreat of the ice sheets, the seas will have less of them. This will consequently result to less oxygen dissolved in the oceans. This will further result in less oxygen dissolved in the seas, thereby affecting plankton and fish life, both are vital for the marine ecosystem.
There are large areas in Northern Canada and Alaska. These areas have large expanses of open water and seas. And these seas are home to many species of aquatic plants and animals. It is crucial to observe how melting ice sheets will affect these areas. If this melting trend continues, it can threaten the delicate biological balance of the Arctic environment.
The melt-off is also related to global warming. Global warming increases the atmospheric pressure and causes ocean waters to expand. This can alter the thermal environment of the Arctic seas. This change can cause rapid thawing of the land ice and raise air temperatures in the region. This warmer atmosphere will increase the evaporation of snow and ice in the Arctic regions.
Arctic environment has a sensitive nature. This environment is very sensitive to abrupt changes. This is why it is very important for scientists to observe the melting trend in the Arctic to evaluate possible effects of global warming. If the Arctic melting could disrupt the natural equilibrium, the consequences can be disastrous not only for the people living in the Arctic regions but also for the environment and the Earth itself.
This is why national agencies like WHO are conducting scientific research in the Arctic in order to monitor the melting trend and develop effective ways to save the environment from the melt down of the Arctic ice.
In a nutshell, the results of the present Arctic ice study show that the thickness is gradually reducing in the Arctic Ocean. It is believed that this thinning is caused by global warming. Global warming is one of the most serious threat to the Arctic environment. The melt down of the ice can significantly contribute to rising sea levels. Therefore, nations involved in the Arctic regional climate change should take action more effectively in order to save the environment and to save the arctic wildlife.
A thick layer of the ocean would help the sea water to hold more heat and prevent the cold air from penetrating in the atmosphere. It would in fact help reduce global warming. This means that more efforts are required by the coastal countries to protect their coast lines. In the past, polar ice was considered to be very strong and durable. Recent studies showed that the thickness of polar ice is decreasing at an alarming rate, which means that the ice is losing its resistance to global warming.
Another major effect of the melting of the ice sheets is the increased release of methane gas into the atmosphere due to the increase in thawing. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gas. Therefore, if there are large amounts of thawed methane gas being released into the atmosphere, the result will be catastrophic global warming.
One of the most important results of the Polar Ice Study is its suggestion that we should explore all natural ways of re-controlling the melt rates of the polar ice. Re-controlling the melt-rate of the ice sheets can not only save our natural environment but will also contribute a lot to our economy. If we use natural methods of stabilizing the melt-rate of the ice, we can effectively stop global warming. The global warming crisis has been greatly contributed to by our less than responsible use of things such as fossil fuels.
If you live in a region that has been affected by Global Warming, you should learn as much as possible about the effect it has had on your area. You can also take action and help. There are many organizations that have been formed to help with global warming. You can choose to help one that you feel is right for the environment.
Provided by Antonio Westley
Disclaimer: This article is meant to be seen as an overview of this subject and not a reflection of viewpoints or opinions as nothing is definitive. So, make sure to do your research and feel free to use this information at your own discretion.
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