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The focal reason for global warming and melting of sea ice
is a simple process called the greenhouse effect. This process involves the
earth’s atmosphere absorbing and trapping radiation from the sun causing the earth surface temperature to increase. This is possible through specific atmospheric gases called
greenhouse gases. These gases are known for significantly absorbing heat and
radiation emitted from the earth and its atmosphere. These gases include water
vapor, the infamous carbon dioxide, methane and Chloral Floral Carbons (CFC's). When the sun’s
radiative heat approaches the earth, some is absorbed at the earth’s surface
and the rest is reflected back into space. These greenhouse gases help trap the
extra heat that is reflected and in a sense reflect it back to the surface so
it stays within the atmosphere. Although these gases do no make up a big
percentage of the Earth’s major atmospheric gases, without them and the greenhouse
effect, the earth’s temperature would be -17 degrees Celsius, which is far
below freezing. However, the amount of these gases in the atmosphere is increasing at a much faster rate than usual. In todays world the greenhouse effect is advancing too fast, which is causing the earth to warm up too quickly and thus causing
global warming; and humans are the reason why.

Melting of
sea ice is directly connected to global warming. For the last century global
warming has been playing a part in the Earth’s atmosphere. Since 1961 there has
been a 3.6 percent decline in sea ice per decade in northern arctic regions and
a 4.6 percent decline in areas close to Norway. This rapid decline of sea ice
is causing many problems around the world. In
July 2011, the arctic sea
ice extent has declined to its lowest levels ever recorded in human history; the
sea ice volume is now 47% lower than 1979 levels. This is devastating fact is
obviously not normal and is getting worse each year. One of the main
problems is the rise in sea level water. This in fact is oddly causing more
global warming.

The main
ocean animal influenced by sea ice melting is the arctic polar bear. These creatures are mainly land creatures that prefer to be on ice than in water. Many of
them hunt on land in the winter time, but because of global warming and the sea
ice melting, they are being forced to swim more and more. This has caused polar bears to become endangered and are in great danger of overall becoming extinct.
Prey also has become scarce due to the lack of ice so polar bears are becoming smaller and in worse cases dying. A recent study showed that in one trip, polar bears swam around 420 miles within 12 days. This is highly dangerous because of the risks of drowning due to fatigue or choppy waters. Traveling these long distances also puts their cubs in even more danger. Their smaller frame and less body fat can lead to hypothermia while swimming in the freezing cold arctic waters, which will result in death. A further study went on to show there was a 47% mortality rate on cubs that swam with their mothers these long distances. Polar bears are vastly dependent on sea ice and with climate change approaching and causing sea ice to melt, there has been a decline of these elegant animals.
References:
http://archive.greenpeace.org/climate/arctic99/reports/seaice3.html
http://www.economist.com/node/21530079
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9903-instant-expert-climate-change.html
http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2011/WWFPresitem22645.html
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/recentslc.html
Prey also has become scarce due to the lack of ice so polar bears are becoming smaller and in worse cases dying. A recent study showed that in one trip, polar bears swam around 420 miles within 12 days. This is highly dangerous because of the risks of drowning due to fatigue or choppy waters. Traveling these long distances also puts their cubs in even more danger. Their smaller frame and less body fat can lead to hypothermia while swimming in the freezing cold arctic waters, which will result in death. A further study went on to show there was a 47% mortality rate on cubs that swam with their mothers these long distances. Polar bears are vastly dependent on sea ice and with climate change approaching and causing sea ice to melt, there has been a decline of these elegant animals.
Global warming is not going away anytime soon and we must do
whatever we can to slow this process down. There are a plethora of things we
are able to do to reduce the amount of Carbon Dioxide we emit into the atmosphere.
For instance, one thing you can do is start planting trees. This may be the
most environmental friendly thing that can help prevent climate change. Trees
obtain energy through the process photosynthesis. This is when plants and trees
absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and their waste product is oxygen. The more
trees planted, the more carbon dioxide is absorbed. Another way to stop global
warming is to be energy efficient. Saving as much energy as possible will
always help reduce carbon emission. This is easily attainable by driving less,
using renewable sources, and using less energy around the house. This all may
seem like little things, but together they can make a huge effect on the
climate and help prevent the melting of sea ice.
References:
http://archive.greenpeace.org/climate/arctic99/reports/seaice3.html
http://www.economist.com/node/21530079
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn9903-instant-expert-climate-change.html
http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2011/WWFPresitem22645.html
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/recentslc.html