The ice has already been effected by the temperature change that has already happened, like melting different glaciers and ice shelves, that then can change sea levels. If the temperature continues to rise, even just slightly, it will gradually continue to melt some of the ice and change the environment. With the increase of temperature, Antarctica is becoming greener, and there are even parallels seen to what it used to be like in earlier periods, which was warmer, ice free, and greener. Moss growth has continued to increase with the temperature change and will continue to grow as temperatures increase. Many animals in Antarctica are dependent on ice, but as temperatures increase and ice melts, their populations decrease.
Effects of Global Warming on Walruses When people talk about global warming, they think of the polar ice caps being melted and humans causing too much pollution in the air from various activities. It is actually an overall increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s surface caused by gases being trapped in the atmosphere by the “greenhouse effect” [3]. From the North down to the South Pole temperatures are rising and the world is heating up fast. This has caused many changes in the nature of things. One such victim of the change in our climate is a pinniped most commonly known as the walrus.
The colder cycles are referred to as glacial periods and the warmer cycles are referred to as interglacial periods. These periods occur on intervals of 40,000 and 100,000 years. During these cycles ice sheets and glaciers advance and retreat with respect to the climatic conditions. The last glacial period, the Wisconsin Glaciation, ended approximately 11,000 years ago. The deglaciation of ice sheets and glaciers, which happens when we enter a interglacial warming period, are important because they have an immense impact on the land structure and vegetation throughout our continent, as well as the rest of the world.
Due to the increase in greenhouse gases less solar energy is reflected back into space and more solar radiation is absorbed by the Earth causing the increase in ice and snow melting (Main & Ahlenius, 2011). With this background information the change of climate conditions such as, snow, rain, winds, and temperature is continuously happening all around the world and will continue to worsen in the future. A good indication of climate change is to look at the melting of glaciers and the Polar Regions as the Arctic is one of the fastest warming regions of the world. However, since the Polar Regions are so big and cold it would be impracticable for humans to live and carry out research there. Therefore, by using applications of remote sensing we can easily observe inaccessible areas from satellites to effectively monitor and map snow and ice cover in Polar
However, with a global rise in temperatures, the storage of water is shifting, especially for the water locked in permafrost, and other glaciers. (greenfieldgeography, 2014). Much of the water locked in ice is from icebergs, and shelves, which are already part of the ocean in terms of volume, and so their melting actually does nothing to the overall volume of water, although ice is less dense than water is, hence, as the ice melts it does not take up larger volumes of space. The main reason for this change in water storage is the shift in global temperatures, due to climate change. A huge issue is the rising of sea levels, due to the increase in global temperatures.
Endangered Polar Bear Envision a world with an increased water and food scarcity, stronger hurricanes, melting glaciers, wildfires, rising sea levels, heat waves, and catastrophic effects on wildlife. Global warming is when the earth’s temperature heats up which is caused by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor that traps heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere making it hotter than usual. The effect of the high temperatures leads to a decrease in the existence of plants, animals, and humans. Polar bears were listed as endangered species under the United States endangered species act (ESA) in May 2008. Why are polar bears endangered?
Global warming not only affects the darker suntan you get each summer, but the winters, the sea level, and the natural environment delicately teetering on the current balance of temperature. One of the largest concerns, the rapid mass loss of Greenland’s icecap, points to faster flow of glaciers and surface melting that will inevitably lead to warmer oceans, less salty oceans, a raise in sea level, and potential climate changes. Greenland is reported to be melting at double the speed it was only some years back. The slow yet steady flow of glaciers towards the sea has transformed into a sudden surge forward, alarming researchers who predicted a slower shrinkage. An increase in precipitation on the inside, along with continual high temperatures has cause the snow to melt, and serving as a run off that not only adds to the ocean level, but acts as a lubricant for glaciers to slide faster.
Since the temperatures have started to rise, the ice that they once lived on has melted and they are having a very difficult time surviving. People have increased the temperature of the Earth by contributing their pollution. Burning fossil fuels and forests has been the biggest issue amongst us all. Simple changes could help in simple ways but the fact is that since it is a global issue, the world has to be involved in order to make a difference. The United Nations has contributed in this way by holding meetings to discuss the climate changes throughout the world and what can be done to help.
Some people think the melting of the glaciers are results of global warming. However, living here on Earth there have been warmer winters than usually, so in my own personal opinion I would agree with this theory. Although snow which is accumulated during the winter months is sure to melt and continue to add to the nation’s water. However, the warmer winter is a huge involvement in melting of glaciers which
The planet has become much warmer everywhere. Ice has been melting worldwide so that the sea level has risen rapidly. Thus, global warming may cause numerous disasters such as hurricanes and tsunamis. The situation of global warming is severe right now, and it leads to public and animal endangerment. Polar bears may disappear as the sea ice continues to melt.