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The Polar Ice Caps are disappearing
What can we do about it?
Whats the Problem??
Polar ice caps are melting because of a climate change and global warming. Arctic ice is declining at a pace of practically 13% each ten years, and the most established and thickest ice in the arctic has declined by 95% throughout the course of recent years. The arctic is warming two times as quick as anyplace on the planet, and the ocean ice there is declining by over 10% at regular intervals. As this ice melts, more obscure patches of sea begin to arise, taking out the impact that recently cooled the poles, making hotter air temperatures and thus it messes up the oceans patterns and circulation.
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What are Major issues with this problem
1.
Rising sea levels As ice caps melt, they contribute to rising sea levels, which can lead to flooding and erosion of coastal areas. The loss of ice from Greenland and Antarctica alone has caused sea levels to rise by about 7-8 inches since 1900 1 . If all the ice in Greenland were to melt, it could cause a 20-foot rise in sea levels
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2.
Extreme weather events:
Melting ice caps can cause changes in weather patterns, leading to more frequent and severe weather events such as hurricanes, typhoons, and heatwaves
3.
Loss of biodiversity: Melting ice caps can lead to the loss of habitats for many species, including polar bears, walruses, and arctic foxes. The melting of permafrost can also release methane, a potent greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere, contributing to further global warming.
Climate Change: Arctic sea ice summer minimum
Climate Change: Arctic sea ice summer minimum
In the article above we read from research done by Rebecca Lindsey and Michon Scott, on how our Arctic cap is moving and shrinking as time progresses. Diagrams and Graphs used in this article showcase how fast the shrinking is happening, bringing awareness to the problem at hand.
Six ways loss of Arctic ice impacts everyone
In the source above, written by Lorin Hancock, goes into detail on how the melting of the ice caps will effect everyone. This source brings awareness to the fact that climate change cannot be ignored, and everyone needs to do something to fix this problem.
How much has Arctic ice declined, and how does that compare to past periods in the Earth's history?
In the source above, written by Gianluca Meneghello on April 10, 2023, he goes in to detail on how not only where we are now in terms of climate change, but also where we have been and how it compares. This source is an outlook to show how fast and real climate change is happening, and shows that we need to start doing something about this problem as soon as we can.
Climate Change Indicators: Arctic Sea Ice
In the source above, written by the National Snow and Ice Data Center on October 2, 2023, we get data on the change of size of the ice as time progresses.
Climate Change and the Arctic - Marine Mammal Commission
Climate Change and the Arctic
In the article above, written by the Marine Mammal Commission, we see the data and impacts that climate change has on all of the Arctic's biodiversity. For example, the increased population of sea lions, due to the decreased population of polar bears.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many problems caused by melting ice caps. It is essential to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the rate of global warming to mitigate these effects. We only have one chance at taking care of our planet, so we need to do something now. The effect climate change has on our earth only gets worse as it progresses. The research I've done has completely opened my eyes to that. It may not seem like it, but it makes a difference if you use a reusable bag, or recycle your plastic.