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Because we are leaving behind an Ice age, and as the Earth gradually warms, the glaciers formed in the Ice age begin to melt.
Most glaciers are melting, a few are adding mass. Glaciers melt when their mass budget becomes negative because there is too much melt caused by warmer temperatures, not enough precipitation to balance that, or both. The amount of precipitation over all glaciers and ice sheets is generally not changing too much, just shifting from place to place and moving through the vagaries of natural variability. However, temperature is rising, particularly in the ablation zones of glaciers, and this is what is causing them to melt more than they would. We stopped coming out of the last ice age (i.e. temperatures stopped warming as a result of orbital forcings and their feedbacks associated with this particular ice age) several thousands of years ago; this could not possibly be the cause of increased mass loss today.
The process of glaciers melting is called retreatment. As a glacier is in the process of retreating, the volume of water begins to melt. The water level had dropped by 25 m by only the terminus as of the Helm Glacier for example! Imagine how large of a decrease the water level could have had if all the water lost in total was calculated! The water than effects the regions surrounding the glaciers, as in the Helm glacier, that contain vast quantities of fresh water. Since these glaciers are made out of fresh water resources, the more water the glaciers lose, the more water we lose out on too. This will affect our water systems, the global water system, and us humans greatly. 68.7% of the earth's fresh water resources are in icecaps and glaciers, but since they are continually melting away, the water is going to have an impact on plants and animals as well (since they depend on the water we drink). The volume of ice use to be so large in the Helm Glacier, but that ice over time began to melt, resulting in serious damage to those who wait in the future.
The factor that most contributes to a glacier advancing or retreating all depends on the temperature, climate, and weather in the atmosphere. When the temperature of the atmosphere rises, the climate and weather is affected due to an indirect measure of climate change. Global temperatures have increased by 0.3-0.6*C since the last century, and in response to increasing temperatures, glaciers have generally been thinned out, loss of mass, and have been retreated over the last 100 years. The temperature of earth had been conducted by surveyors that humans have been the result to this Jurassic climate change. Also known as global warming, humans are adding large quantities of fine particles (aerosols) into our atmosphere, mainly from industrial and agriculture activities. Even though most of these particles have been circulating and renewing itself, aerosols still affect the radiation balance. This effect is adding to the nature of particles as well, and in our case, glaciers. Global warming affects the temperatures, and current climates that transfer in the atmosphere (from the atmosphere the heat is naturally moved to earth). If humans could someway stop the act of global warming (though many are choosing not to), this would result to advancement in global glaciers. Until then, glaciers will remain in the process of retreating.
Overall, retreating is the overall result of our global glaciers today. Glaciers are affecting our water systems which is our one and only water source. Water is important and is a necessity in our lives, and it is in our hands to fix this. Advancing has not been in power for a long time, but hopefully with everyone in our hands, we can fix this problem as a whole. As we have been taught, it is not only us mammals who must depend on the earth's limited supply of fresh water, but the different plants and animal species that live within it. Think back to the main contributer to retreatment on the helm glacier, what could you do to fix this problem? Therefore, that is why glaciers are in the process of melting.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoThat place is realy cold and I think it's by the ocean so it freezes the water into glaciers.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoWiki User
∙ 9y agoBecause the global climate is warming (due to human pollution of the atmosphere with CO2).
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoa lot of glaciers, it gets very cold
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Is antartika occean is full of glacier?
Yes, the Antarctica ocean is full of glaciers. However, over the years the glaciers are melting away. The cause of the melting is said to be global warming.
Did glaciers melt in ice age?
Glaciers had been melting all the time even in ice age. This is caused by the movement of the water lifting the glacier up and down creating a crack ripping the ice from the glacier. Then the iceberg flows away and when it reaches warmer waters it starts to melt. Glaciers had been melting even in ice age
Why are glaciers changing in size?
Seasonal change of glaciers size in North and South pole is due to seasonal temperature variation. In winter (earth tilted away from sun), temperature drop and ice accumulated up and vice versa when the summer come (earth tilted toward the sun) temperature increase and ice melted. Now global warming is melting glaciers all over the world, and they are getting smaller.
What is the process of glaciers when it wears away land?
The process of a glacier melting takes place over a long period of time of increased temperatures. Only increased temperatures can melt an object the size of a glacier.
How do icebergs work?
Icebergs are simply bigger or smaller chunks of glaciers or shelf ice that breaks off and drift away. Usually they drift towards the equator, melting slowly as they go, until they disappear.
Is antartika occean is full of glacier?
Yes, the Antarctica ocean is full of glaciers. However, over the years the glaciers are melting away. The cause of the melting is said to be global warming.
Did glaciers melt in ice age?
Glaciers had been melting all the time even in ice age. This is caused by the movement of the water lifting the glacier up and down creating a crack ripping the ice from the glacier. Then the iceberg flows away and when it reaches warmer waters it starts to melt. Glaciers had been melting even in ice age
What the 2 most common kinds of glaciers?
There are 2 main types of glaciers, Continental is one, they float away from central regions. The second is alpine or valley which are the glaciers that flow down the valley from the mountain.
Why are glaciers changing in size?
Seasonal change of glaciers size in North and South pole is due to seasonal temperature variation. In winter (earth tilted away from sun), temperature drop and ice accumulated up and vice versa when the summer come (earth tilted toward the sun) temperature increase and ice melted. Now global warming is melting glaciers all over the world, and they are getting smaller.
As a glacier retreats what happens to the volume of melting water?
The melted water runs away into the ocean raising sea levels. Some rivers depend on melting glaciers for their flow. If the glacier melts entirely then countries that rely on that river for water will be in trouble.
When was Today My World Slipped Away created?
Today My World Slipped Away was created on 1997-08-29.
What do you call massive chunks of the ice that breaks away from glaciers?
call a massive chunls of ice that breaks away from glaciers
What is the process of glaciers when it wears away land?
The process of a glacier melting takes place over a long period of time of increased temperatures. Only increased temperatures can melt an object the size of a glacier.
How do icebergs work?
Icebergs are simply bigger or smaller chunks of glaciers or shelf ice that breaks off and drift away. Usually they drift towards the equator, melting slowly as they go, until they disappear.
What is a glaciers that floats away in the ocean?
Icebergs are glaciers that typically break off of ice shelves.
How do glaciers form?
Glaciers form from the accumulation of snow when it exceeds the melting rate. The pressure of overlying snow causes it to change to solid ice. Eventually, gravity will cause it to move downward or outward from its own weight. Also, melting glaciers can cause glacial lakes to become too full of water and cause them to breach their natural boundaries, flooding the villages below.
Name three reasons why access to safe drinking water is going to be even more of a problem in future?
In some areas, wells are being overused and are running dry. Glaciers are melting away and cities that have depended on glacial water will have no water when the glaciers are gone. Waters are being increasingly polluted by a variety of causes.
