Global Sea-Level Rising: Polar Ice Caps

The impact humans are having on mother Earth is increasing its effects with the rising of sea levels. Global warming is causing polar ice sheets to melt, which is a major cause of adding volume to our oceans. Furthermore, the troposphere thickens, due to greenhouse gases, increasing the amount of radioactive waves that causes the seawater to warm up, resulting in ocean expansion. Most climatologists are expecting a rise in oceans around the world to be between 1.5 and 5 ft by the end of this century.(Harkinson) Some members of our society feel that because climate change is not certain, they are not willing to make a difference to help. Many people are unaware of how rapidly we have impacted mother Earth. The melting of the polar ice sheets resulting in rising sea levels should not be taken lightly. NASA satellites show a 9% decrease in the ice cap each decade. Every six years an assessment report is conducted by scientists, who have noted the need to make a difference before it’s too late. The problem is uncontrolled human activity that takes for granted the resources Earth provides us with. Through this we are facing extinction of many types of flora and fauna, as natural habitats disappear. The IPCC has very high confidence that humans have created much of the global problem. The hottest years have peaked within the last 10 years.

The temperatures in the Artic regions are being raised twice as fast as they are anywhere else. The biggest ice block in the artic, the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, had been around for 3000 years when it suffered from a crack in 2000 and has split entirely causing it to break into little pieces. (NRDC) The artic regions are most vulnerable because it reflects the solar energy off of its surface. However, as ...

... middle of paper ...

...Also, reducing any energy containing fossil fuels, reusing products, and recycling will help Earth.

Bibliography

Gardiner, Lisa. "Warming of the Polar Regions." Windows to the Universe. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2011.

Greenpeace. "The Threat of Sea Level Rise." Site has moved. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2011.

Harkinson, Josh. "Print." Slate Magazine. Mother Jones, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.

http://fray.slate.com/toolbar.aspx?action=print&id=2252063.

"NRDC: Global Warming Basics." NRDC: Natural Resources Defense Council - The Earth's Best Defense. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Apr. 2011.

http://www.nrdc.org/globalwarming.

"Report 1: Physical Evidence." Hinkle Charitable Foundation: Advocating for Environmental and Musical Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.