The Complete Idiot's Guide to Global Warming by Michael Tennesen

Author:Michael Tennesen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: DK Publishing
Published: 2010-03-01T05:00:00+00:00

The Polar Regions

Climate changes in the polar regions will be the greatest of any area on Earth and will cause major ecological, sociological, and economic impacts—especially in the Arctic and Antarctic Peninsula. The Arctic warmed as much as 9˚F (5˚C) in the twentieth century already, and sea ice has decreased by 2.9 percent per decade. The permafrost has begun to thaw in places, and this mucks up highways and slows traffic. In the Antarctic Peninsula, a marked warming trend has caused spectacular losses to some ice shelves.

Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey studying satellite evidence report that glaciers in the Antarctic Peninsula are flowing faster, further adding to sea level rise. As warmer air and ocean thins the glaciers, the weight of the ice reduces, allowing the glaciers to slide faster. The more that is lost, the less there is to hold back what’s left.

There will be some benefits, such as a reduced demand for heating fuels. With a loss of sea ice, the Arctic Ocean may be open for more ships. And more ships will bring more commerce and more tourists.

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