Polar Ice Caps Melting May Change the Map of the World
The Polar ice caps melting may change our world maps, as a result of the flooding that is caused. It really is that serious.
A combination of an increase in rainfall, and sea levels rising may threaten to change the existing land.
The increasing temperatures which cause the polar ice caps to melt, may also cause record rainfall. The water from glaciers and land ice melting in addition to more rainfall could cause sea levels to rise dramatically. Flooding of island nations, and coastal states, could be a very real possibility.
Rising Sea Level
The sea level is affected by floating ice which melts. Melting glaciers, ice caps, mountain ice, and land-based ice sheets are all contributing to rising sea levels.
Snow and ice forms a cool, protective, and reflective layer over the earth. When this layer melts, the earth absorbs heat, and temperatures rise. When temperatures rise, more moisture is retained in the warmer atmosphere, creating heavy rain. This cycle perpetuates itself, and the additional water cause the sea level to rise further.
Flooding May Change the World Map
If global warming continues areas less than 30 feet above sea level will be vulnerable to flooding.
Those areas most at risk of flooding, due to the rising sea level would be island nations like the Maldives.
Major cities such as Shanghai, and Lagos would also be affected. The Atlantic Gulf Coasts of the United States could be flooded as well. Relocation would be an issue, since approximately ten percent of the world’s population live in these vulnerable areas.
The geographical regions of the globe would change drastically, as the Gulf Coast states and island nations disappear into the sea. The United States map would most probably lose Louisiana, Texas, Florida, New York City, Long Island, Los Angeles and North Carolina to flooding.
The rise of atmospheric temperature is causing the polar ice caps to melt. The polar ice caps melting is accelerating global warming. Because of this cycle, scientists project as much as a three-foot sea level rise, by the year 2100. Only 15 meters more than the projected sea level rise, would threaten Holland, Belgium, Denmark, and parts of China and India.
Cause And Effect Changes
Arctic areas of permanent ice cover is shrinking by nine percent each decade, and temperatures are continuing to rise.
Sea levels are rising due to higher temperatures which are melting ice, and creating accelerated rainfall and flooding.
Distinguishing between natural variability, and global warming as the cause of change, is not black and white. The process is slow to start, and even slower to stop. The point is to help to alleviate the problem before we arrive at the critical stage.
Scientific predictions show that the sea level could rise an average of three to six feet by the end of the century.
Global land changes from flooding could change the world map drastically.
Many coastal states, islands, and countries would be non-existent, resting below sea level. The past ten years have been the warmest on record globally. Scientists expect the amount of heaviest rainfall to increase more than forty percent by the end of the century due to the increased temperature.
Will the Polar Ice caps Disappear?
It is predicted that these factors will result in the loss of the ice-covered Polar seas by the year 2020.
This melting of reflective ice will only accelerate the effects from temperatures rising. Flooding due to the rising sea level will be inevitable, and the coastal landscapes will disappear.
Whether greenhouse gases are to blame or not, it would seem to be better to err on the side of caution. Protecting the cryosphere is important to the Earth’s energy balance. Incorporating lifestyles changes to save the planet seems essential, otherwise, polar ice caps melting may change our maps drastically.