Global Warming, Climate Change, Global climate change, are all terms describing the strange trends in our Climate seen lately and observed as Global temperatures rising in concert with increased greenhouse gas emissions. We are seeing a lot of changes as in global temperatures rises, It snowed in Washington, but rained in Vancouver at the Olympics, Australia is suffering from water droughts for the last 15 years.
How is it called doesn’t really concern me what concerns me are the manifestations that have been discernible as:
1- Glaciers melting
2- Economic Consequences as result of hurricanes and cyclones
3- Water drought and increased heat waves
4- Famine
5- Endangered species
6- Vanishing tropical forests
7- Spread of diseases
8- Ocean acidification& Oxygen depletion in oceans
I will be discussing these effects one by one in successive posts, to today in my first post of the series, I will start by the Glaciers Melting process and where they are happening.
Please watch this video from NASA about global warming, melting ice and raising sea levels
http://bit.ly/globalwarmingsigns
Melting of the Polar Ice Caps has been observed closely as with it an avalanche of dangers will be triggered.
1- If the glaciers melted now, the sea water will rise about 230 feet (National Snow and Ice Data Center). There is almost 6 million cubic miles of water in glaciers, snow and ice caps. The rising oceans could swallow some coastal areas and low-lying islands.
2- Ice caps are formed from fresh water that can desalinate the ocean thus throwing the global eco system out of rack. Where organisms like fish, coral reefs and all other presence in ocean can vanish. Fisheries will be affected, including of wild salmon, trout and ocean fish as many rely on the cold water for breeding and food. On top of that desalinization can affect the ocean currents that regulate temperatures. It is a blessing in disguise though as it can slow some of the other effects of global warming in that area.
3- Several species of animals will be endangered in the Arctic circle as the temperature rises and the landscape changes
4- Currently, the sunlight rays are reflected by the white color of the icecaps to the space hence adding to the cooling of the Earth, if the ice caps are melted the only reflecting surface left will be the Ocean which is darker in color. Darker colors absorb the sunrays and do not reflect them adding to the warmth of the Earth.
5- Global glacier surface has shrunk by half, less melting water from glaciers in the summer means more drying of rivers and streams, needed for irrigation, and drinking water.
It is unclear of the melting of the glaciers has reached a point on no return. A positive feedback effect occurs where Glaciers are supplying oceans with their fresh water, and in the process, methane gas (Huge deposits of methane gas are trapped in ice crystals under the ocean) is released in the atmosphere which can further speed up global warming or climate change.
In my series we will discuss the effects of melting glaciers by geographical region and its effect on the surrounding areas.
Till next time,
Sahar Andrade
www.linkedin.com/in/saharandrade
www.twitter.com/saharconsulting
www.facebook.com/saharconsulting
