Ice Is Melting Around the Artic and Antarctic
Recent news has shown us that there is a human-generated climate change taking place. The oldest, thickest ice around the North Pole is melting. An ice berg has also broken off of the Wilkins shelf in the Antarctic. This will not cause the sea levels to rise, just yet.
In the Arctic, melting of the ice contributes to global warming because when reflective white ice is replaced by dark water it will absorsb the sun's heat. The perennial ice in the arctic has also had a significant decrease, 50 percent, from February 2007 to February 2008. The oldest piece of perennial ice has decreased by 75 percent this year, losing 1.5 million sq kms which can be compared to twice the area of Texas. That is a huge amount of ice to be melting in the Arctic. Even the changes in Antarctica are found to be less dramatic. This is mostly because of the difference in the two regions. The Arctic is an ocean surrounded by land while the Antarctic is a continent surrounded by ocean. Still, the melting of ice in either region is not a very good indicator for the future and global warming.
In Antarctica, the Wilkins Ice Shelf on the Peninsula seems to now be supported merely by a thin strip of ice hanging between two islands. Recently, there was a huge berg (41 by 2.5 km) the size of the Isle of Man that broke away, and is still on the move. In 1993, Professor Vaughn predicted that the northern part of the Wilkins Ice Shelf was likely to be lost within 30 years if climate warming were to continue at the same rate. This has happened more quickly than anticipated. The Wilkins Ice Shelf is the largest ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula, one that has been around for at least a few hundred years, and it is no hanging by a thread. Fortunately, the Wilkins Ice Shelf is already floating so it wont have any impact on the sea level. It just goes to show you the impact that the change in climate is having on the region. The Antarctic Peninsula is an area of rapid climate change and has warmed faster than anywhere else in the southern hemisphere. The west coast of the peninsula has risen by nearly 3°C during the past 50 years. It is several times the global average and the only place that can match this increase is Alaska.
Fortunately, the melting of the ice is not going to affect the sea levels. Unfortunately, it will have an impact on global warming, by soaking up the sun's heat. This is not a good sign in the global perspective, yet what is this going to do to the ocean animals and those whose habitat is on the icy terrain of the antarctic region? They are saying that polar bears are going extinct, so hopefully it will be long before others begin to follow suit. We can only hope that the melting of the ice does not start to rapidly increase at either of the poles.
Posted by: Michele Kenausis (2b)
posted by PWH @ 8:36 AM
7 comments
7 Comments:
We have been hearing lots of information about global warming due, in large part, to Al Gore and his movie an "Inconvinent Truth". Still, there seems to be a constant debate over what is scientifically proven and what is liberal speculation. I wonder if political motives will ever be set aside so that the truths of global climate change may be extracted. Even if our lives aren't directly affect by the changing environmental conditions, it will surely affect future generations.
- Thomas FitzGerald
Global warming has been a huge topic in recent years. Its good to make the public aware of things like this but I feel that our generation, and the past few, have been blamed for it. I understand that the ozone layer plays into this. Did you come across on information relating global warming and the ozone? I personally feel that this is something that takes hundreds of years to do. I don't feel like it could have really been prevented. Hopefully ways to prevent animal extinction will be found.
Posted by: Christine McConville
The melting of these massive glaciers is just another warning sign of the huge impact that human beings have on the earth. It is important that we as a society begin to realize the implications of the dramatic changes taking place. It is hard to imagine that we could destroy something as big as a planet with just our everyday behavior, but if we do not change our ways soon it could happen quicker than we think.
Posted by Ben Tummino
I have heard a lot about this ice sheet falling, but I think that the way this could lead to further global warming is the most interesting part, where you talked about the further absorption of the heat from the sun. Do you know the extent of how much more this could heat the oceans and the planet than when it was just ice?
-Daniel O'Leary
I haven't done to much research but from my astronomy class he claimed that astronomers are saying global warming could be the result phase of the planets life cycle. The lava in the core around the middle spins slower than the lava around the poles and this causes a magnetic strain. Eventually this causes a snap in the magnetic forces and a pole reversal at which time the atmosphere becomes weak. This article is a popular topic and a good choice of writing material.
-John Reilly
Global warming has been a huge issue but no one seems to be taking it seriously. Maybe people are just tired of hearing about it. Hopefully something will chnage before it's too late, if it isn't already. Great Job.
Posted by: Jennifer McGrath
Global warming is always an interesting topic because it affects everyone that lives on the planet. Sadly, it's often a topic that is selectively heard. Whether or not we can scientifically support global warming, it is something that should be thoroughly researched and heard by the world - for we can learn more about our planet. From your blog, it seems as though there may be a positive feedback loop: the ice melts which causes the water to continuously absorb more heat. Did you find any information on the time line of this melting, and when it is predicted to be completely melted?
-Nate Pitcher
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