Arctic Ice And Climate Change Essay
The melting of the Arctic and Antarctic ice is a result of climate change. This climate change includes the decline of sea ice, rising temperatures and the melting of the Greenland ice sheet and the Antarctic ice sheet. The Antarctic Ice Sheet covers around ninety-eight percent of the Antarctic continent and is the largest body of ice on earth. The Greenland Ice Sheet is the second largest body of ice; it covers more than eighty percent of Greenland.
The Ward-Hunt Ice Shelf is the largest single block of ice in the Arctic. The melting of the Arctic Ice is compared from 1979 to present day in order to see the drastic effects that have occurred in the past thirty-five years. Climate change is effecting the melting of the Arctic Ice. The climate change not only effects the Arctic ice but also the communities and marine ecosystems that rely on the areas abundant resources. The Arctic region is warming at almost twice the rate as the rest of the world. The ice is melting more rapidly than scientists had predicted as the water temperatures continue to rise. Marine mammals such as the polar bear, walrus, seal, and whale are all subject to extinction if the ice continues to melt at this rapid rate. Indigenous …show more content…
In contrast, the Arctic region north of the Atlantic Ocean is open to the warmer waters from the south, because of the way the ocean currents flow.” As warm waters flow into the Arctic they can prevent sea ice from forming in the North Atlantic. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been effected by the climate change and is likely unstoppable. Geothermal heat is contributing to the melting of Thwaites Glacier. If the Thwaites Glacier was to collapse it could cause a significant rise in sea level between three to six
The Ward-Hunt Ice Shelf is the largest single block of ice in the Arctic. The melting of the Arctic Ice is compared from 1979 to present day in order to see the drastic effects that have occurred in the past thirty-five years. Climate change is effecting the melting of the Arctic Ice. The climate change not only effects the Arctic ice but also the communities and marine ecosystems that rely on the areas abundant resources. The Arctic region is warming at almost twice the rate as the rest of the world. The ice is melting more rapidly than scientists had predicted as the water temperatures continue to rise. Marine mammals such as the polar bear, walrus, seal, and whale are all subject to extinction if the ice continues to melt at this rapid rate. Indigenous …show more content…
In contrast, the Arctic region north of the Atlantic Ocean is open to the warmer waters from the south, because of the way the ocean currents flow.” As warm waters flow into the Arctic they can prevent sea ice from forming in the North Atlantic. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet has been effected by the climate change and is likely unstoppable. Geothermal heat is contributing to the melting of Thwaites Glacier. If the Thwaites Glacier was to collapse it could cause a significant rise in sea level between three to six