What does the melting of the polar ice caps cause?

Answer 1

Glaciers and ice caps are melting because of the warmer temperatures of global warming. The last ten years have been the warmest since temperature records began.

For links to additional scientific information, see the related question: At what rate are the polar ice caps melting?

Answer 2

Global warming, caused by deforestation and by the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) in industry, transport and the generation of electricity, is the reason the ice caps are melting.

As the ice melts the darker land and water below absorb the sun's heat faster, speeding up the whole process.

Answer 3

Initial effects of polar ice cap melting include:

• Breaking off of large ice plates and icebergs.
• Lessened environments for animals which depend on ice caps to survive, such as polar bears.
• Increased death of such animals, and decreased sustainability of their species.
• Colder temperatures in areas where the colder melted water flows. Weather changes including more rain or blizzards can also result.
• Warmer temperatures in polar regions due to less reflective snow.
• Decrease in salinization (salt levels) of ocean in these cold water areas.

Long term effects include:

• Extinction of many polar species.
• Complete melt of ice caps.
• Unknown affects to the global climate. Scientists do not have enough information to conclude at this point.

Answer 4

The melting of the polar ice caps leads to rising sea levels, which can result in coastal flooding, loss of habitat for wildlife, and increased erosion of Coastlines. It also contributes to global climate change by releasing stored greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Answer 5

Melting of the ice caps

Global warming causes the ice caps to melt. As they melt, the moving water corrodes at the remaining ice, speeding up the process.

Answer 6

As the temperature rises, ice melts, like an ice cube in a glass of hot water.

Answer 7

The increasing sun temperature of Global warming. This makes the sea rise because the ice caps have melted, melting more ice caps

Answer 8

sun