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  • Rising temperatures cause Arctic sea ice to melt earlier in the year, so polar bears are driven to go ashore without sufficient fat reserves to survive late summer and early autumn. Reduction of sea ice means they have to swim more, making them weaker. Some drown. Thinner sea ice makes it harder for them to catch seals. Poorly nourished female bears don't build suitable dens, don't produce as many cubs, and cubs that are born have a lower survival rate. The Western Hudson Bay subpopulation of polar bears are one of the best studied.
  • Warming temperatures mean that ice-floe breakup in western Hudson Bay now happens three weeks earlier than it did 30 years ago, so the bears' feeding season is similarly shortened. The average weight of single female bears was about 290 kg in 1980. In 2004 the average weight was 230 kg. Bear population is Western Hudson Bay declined 22% between 1987 and 2004. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) live only in the northern arctic region of the planet, the region many people think of as the "North Pole". While they do not actually spend their entire lives on the ice, they depend on pack ice for their survival. Pack ice, also referred to as "ice floes", is ice which forms in arctic regions of the ocean, such as the Arctic Ocean in the north and the ocean surrounding Antarctica in the south.
  • Global Warming is when Global Average Temperatures rise, causing the Earth to gradually become warmer; as the Earth warms, the pack ice begins to melt. Without pack ice Polar bears are in danger because they need pack ice to be able to feed. They travel over the sea ice looking for a tell-tale breathing hole those means that there is a seal underneath. They then jump on the ice to break through and then capture and eat the seal. Polar bears would generally be unable to catch enough food by any other hunting method. So, once the sea ice goes, then so do the polar bears in the wild.
  • It could someday affect them greatly. Climate groups predict that, as the Arctic continues to grow in temperature due to climate change (global warming), two thirds of the world's polar bears could disappear by mid-century.
  • For the best currently available scientific facts, and according to the 2011 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (a list of endangered and threatened species, which is one of the three major international endangered species lists cited officially in the Answers.com category of Endangered Species ~ for species that are listed under any status on the list ~ list version 2011.1), polar bears are listed as "Vulnerable." This is just one classification step down from "Endangered" on that listing.
  • The Red List also indicates that the population trend is "Decreasing". And it says that, "Global climate change poses a substantial threat to the habitat of polar bears."
  • The reduction in polar bear population is predicted by IUCN to be greater than 30% loss within 3 generations (45 Years), due to a decline in: area of occupancy, extent of occurrence, and habitat quality. This is related to the melting loss of sea ice, which is the hunting grounds of the bears.
  • Also see a link to the 2011 Red List entry for polar bears below in the related links section.
  • Although there are people who will contend that polar bears are not threatened because they are not in dire need of help (i.e., not even close to becoming extinct), polar bears are classified as being vulnerable. This classification means that they are threatened, just not as threatened as Giant Pandas. See above for why lack of sea ice means death -- and eventual extinction -- for polar bears, a species of bear which depends on sea ice while hunting.

Yes, they can only hunt for food on frozen sea ice and global warming is reducing the amount of sea ice and making it arive later and melt earlier - Thus polar bears are going hungry for longer in summer and having their hunting range reduced.
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How will global warming effect polar ice caps?

Global warming is causing polar ice caps to melt at an accelerated rate, leading to rising sea levels and loss of habitat for polar animals such as polar bears and penguins. The melting ice caps also contribute to further warming as the reflective surface is replaced by dark ocean water that absorbs more heat from the sun.


Is this a fact sentence Global warming might lead to melting polar caps and rising seas?

Yes, that statement is factual. Global warming is causing polar ice caps to melt, leading to rising sea levels. This poses a threat to coastal communities and ecosystems worldwide.


The effects of global warming will be most noticeable at?

The effects of global warming will be most noticeable at the Earth's polar regions, where temperatures are rising at a faster rate, leading to the rapid melting of ice caps and glaciers. This will result in rising sea levels, loss of habitat for polar animals, and disruptions to ecosystems.


What do people think is making polar ice caps melt?

because of the effect of global warming. the temperature of the earth increases therefore melts the polar caps. The Arctic has seen some ice loss, although we have also seen record growth as of late. The Antarctic is still growing in terms of ice and according to the IPCC report, it is expected to keep doing so for many decades to come.


How does global warming affect the lithosphere?

Global warming can indirectly affect the lithosphere by melting polar ice caps and glaciers, leading to changes in sea levels and potential tectonic activity due to redistribution of mass. Increased temperatures can also enhance weathering processes, which can impact the stability of landforms and rock structures on the earth's surface.

Related Questions

What could be the effect of global warming of the polar ice caps melt?

Sea levels will rise.


How will global warming effect polar ice caps?

Global warming is causing polar ice caps to melt at an accelerated rate, leading to rising sea levels and loss of habitat for polar animals such as polar bears and penguins. The melting ice caps also contribute to further warming as the reflective surface is replaced by dark ocean water that absorbs more heat from the sun.


Are polar caps melting?

yes, because of global warming.


Why are the polar ice caps being damaged?

Global warming is melting the polar ice caps and they are slowly disappearing.


What has coursed the sea level's to rise?

global warming has caused the polar ice caps to melt, this has caused sea level to rise


Is the global warming starting now?

Global warming continues to occur, as evidenced by the fact our polar ice caps are melting, and of course by global temperature records.


Why do the changes in the Arctic make it more difficult for polar bears to survive?

Global warming? Well, if it was global warming, then yes it does effect the polar bears because if the ice caps melt, that means there is less surface area for them to live in, and also less food i guess.


How did global warming affect history?

Most polar ice caps could still be arouynd and the weather wouldn't be so hot out. STOP global warming!


How does the global warming affect the poles?

It melts the polar ice caps, causing extra water in the ocean.


What is global warming explanation?

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are reflecting more and melting the polar ice caps.


Is this a fact sentence Global warming might lead to melting polar caps and rising seas?

Yes, that statement is factual. Global warming is causing polar ice caps to melt, leading to rising sea levels. This poses a threat to coastal communities and ecosystems worldwide.


Why is the worlds climate so hot?

Mostly Global Warming. The polar ice caps that are melting is a great example.