What is Global Warming?

Polar ice caps: a high-latitude region of the planet that is covered in ice

What are the Issues?
When you think of "ice caps" you think ice, Arctic and polar bears, but usually not Global Warming and disappearing. The polar ice caps are the arctic; they sustain a variety of animals such as polar bears, seals and species of fox. They are also are one of the most astonishing things you will ever see. The glaciers are taller then sky scrapers, the water is clear, and the land is almost untouched. Along with the beauty there is an unseen horror, Global Warming. Studies show that the ice's perimeter is shrinking 9% per decade and it is already contributing negatively to native plants and animals. Scientists are predicting summers will become completely ice free by the end of the century. While the beauty is disappearing, so are various animals. Polar bears are having a harder time getting to fish, thus causing them to starve. Polar bears are not the only animals being affected, many plants are not able to adapt fast enough to live.


What areas are being effected by Global Warming?
Alaska is already experiencing the affect of warmer weather by seeing forests slowly shrink. How? Pests breed twice as fast in warm weather, doubling there species numbers, doubling the trees they kill. An example: the Spruce Bark Beetle. Alaska is not the only region being affected. Due to the ice melting, ocean levels are rising causing rising tide which could potentially comletely submerge small islands, which would kill all land animals. Scientists are able to see how much the ice coverage has decreased, and predict how much will decrease in the future by NASA Sattelite photos. They are also stating that "What is happening in the Arctic will eventually happen everywhere else with time". The melting will also affect future weather patterns. The ice already cools down the atmosphere, so when it is gone the temperature will keep rising.



What is being done and how we can we help?
Although global warming is irreversable, many are trying to slow it down. There are new technologies coming out every day, such as cars where they give out less polluting egxast. All in all the fix is simple, save energy. Don't give large factories the excuse to burn more fossil fuels, ride a bike or even buy an electric car. Global Warming is everywhere, even though you may not see a large affect from where you are living. Scientists and biologists are all trying to save the animals by collecting research, samples, tracking them to see how fast they are reproducing, and what all is factoring them to go endangered and how we can protect them from poachers.


What is "feeding" Global Warming?
Human activity is not the most plentiful in the Arctic, but it seems that the Arctic is the most affected. It only seems this way because it has been the most juristically changed. Everyone can participate in small changes that will help reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reduce, reuse, and recycle are the three R's that anyone could do. Little things will eventually lead to big things. Every day factories and power plants burn fossil fuels which are turned into toxins. Toxins, exhuast, and smoke are all pollutants which are the main cause of Global Warming,

Affects on other Ice structures:

We have all seen what the warming is doing to the Arctic ice caps, but it is also affecting almost all glaciers. Some of the worlds' largest glaciers have been slowly decreasing in size every year to the irregular occurance of rapidly increasing global tempuratures. The Global Warming has increased to twice its normal rate and up to three times near the North and South Poles. Even though the tempurature has only increased by a few degrees, only one degree can affect world weather patterns. The fact of the matter is that glaciers are slowly decreasing in size to the extent that all glaciers would completely melt, causing the water levels to spike way over the highest record.

Affects on Biodiversity:

Along with the ice melting, animals are starting to become endangered. Since the water is warming the fish are migrating into cooler water, thus leaving a wide variety of animals who depend on the fish starving. An example would be the Polar bear. Even though the polar bear doesn't only eat just fish, many of its prey do also, such as the seal. Some of the seals are leaving with the fish and some are dying of starvation and the chain continues. When there is a lack of adult animals their reproduction numbers obviously decline.

What species are being effected?

All species in the Arctic are being affected by the ice melt. If one species is suffering, then it continues down the food chain and affects all animals. An example would be if fish are migrating into cooler water, that would mean birds wouldn't be able to eat the fish and starve, then the foxes wouldn't be able to eat the birds and it continues. Animals are not the only organisms being effected, many species of plant are being completely submerge by water and being drowned out. They are also not being able to adapt fast enough to the warm weather along with not being able to grow fast enough do to the animals new needs.

Source: http://thinkingaboutchange.wikispaces.com/Ice,+Arctic,+and+Polar+Ice+Caps