Polar Ice Caps Melting Statistics

The polar ice caps are located at the high latitude region of the planet. Actually, this is composed of water that becomes ice due to the low temperature. The term “Polar” was formed because it is only form in the Polar Region and “Ice Caps” is used due to the comprehensive studies that also use in the some bodies that can be found over land. There are times that it is formed for about 50,000 kilometers, which is larger than the ice sheets. In this case, these polar ice caps are truly huge primarily when it continuously forms for longer years.

The polar ice caps are formed due to the regions in high latitude gained a small amount of energy that come from the sun. That’s why they have a very low surface temperature. It actually changes every year or after 2 to 3 years. It is getting bigger when this region didn’t get high level of energy from the sun. And there are also some seasonal variations that these polar ice caps appear when the solar absorption of the moon or planet around the sun happens.

Based on eHow, there are possible effects that might happen when these polar ice caps melt. It is stated above that it has huge size. That’s why when it melts, there are many things that will surely happen. And it might give huge effect to both animals and people who are living in the polar region. The possible effects include:

Climate

Based on the studies of NASA, melting of these polar ice caps will give great alterations on the climate of the Earth. Actually, it covers the top and bottom of the earth which reflect the sunlight in the space. That’s why when it melts, the sunlight will absorb by land and ocean. This only means that the planet will have a warmer climate which can also melt some polar ice caps. And when it continuously happens, the acidity level will surely increase for about 40 to 50 percent that might mix in the greenhouse gases.

Ocean

NRDC shows that melting of polar ice caps can affect the sea level of the earth for about 40 to 60 percent. Immediate increase of sea level might affect on the contamination of fresh water, beach erosion, and flood. It also has a great impact on the island of cities or nations. In the United States, the sea there is having an increase of sea water levels for about 3 foot, and it might get higher when 2020 come.

Ecosystem

There are many animals that live in the polar region. They actually gain a lot of benefits from polar ice caps primarily in searching for food. The animals that live here are polar bears, penguins, seals, and a lot more. These animals can actually live in cold temperature that’s why when these ice caps melt, 50 to 80 percent trees that live in this region will absorb that sunlight that can release warm temperature.

These polar ice caps melting statistics truly provides great information to people. And it can also give them awareness about the effect of greenhouse gases in the environment.