Table of Contents
Why is it bad if the polar ice caps melt?
Rising seas endanger coastal cities and small island nations by exacerbating coastal flooding and storm surge, making dangerous weather events even more so. Glacial melt of the Greenland ice sheet is a major predictor of future sea level rise; if it melts entirely, global sea levels could rise 20 feet.
Why are polar ice caps important?
Why is Arctic sea ice important? Arctic sea ice keeps the polar regions cool and helps moderate global climate. For more on the ways sea ice interacts with other Earth systems, including global ocean circulation, people, and animals, see All About Sea Ice: Environment.
What would happen if the ice caps melted?
There is still some uncertainty about the full volume of glaciers and ice caps on Earth, but if all of them were to melt, global sea level would rise approximately 70 meters (approximately 230 feet), flooding every coastal city on the planet. National Snow and Ice Data Center: Facts about Glaciers.
How are humans affected by melting glaciers?
The melting of this Arctic sea ice will most likely lead to further climate change. This is a problem because climate change affects almost everything important to humans, like plants, animals, the weather, and commerce. All these things, in turn, affect our food supplies.
How do polar ice caps affect climate?
While sea ice exists primarily in the polar regions, it influences the global climate. This begins a cycle of warming and melting. Warmer water temperatures delay ice growth in the fall and winter, and the ice melts faster the following spring, exposing dark ocean waters for a longer period the following summer.
What are the causes of melting ice caps?
Causes of Melting Ice Glaciers
- Burning of fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels has resulted in the buildup of greenhouse gases in the environment thus influencing the warming trend because they trap heat in the atmosphere.
- Oil and gas drilling.
- Deforestation.
- Ice breaking ships.
What are the risks and benefits of melting glaciers to human populations?
Effects of Melting Ice Glaciers on Humans and the Environment
- Shortage of electricity.
- Extreme flooding.
- Biodiversity loss and animals losing homes.
- Coral Reefs will disappear.
- Recontamination of the environment.
- The economic costs of melting ice glaciers affect the whole world.
- Reduction of agricultural production.
How is global warming affecting the ice caps?
Less ice on land means sea level rises. Certain glaciers and ice sheets are particularly vulnerable. Global warming has caused them to be less stable, to move faster towards the ocean, and add more ice into the water. These areas with less stable ice include the Greenland Ice Sheet and the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.