Malcolm Jones
#503974147

Sea ice and climate change are two concepts that have a direct correlation with each other. In today’s world, our global temperature is rising at a rate that will eventually cause an end to existence on earth. Global warming is affecting the world in more ways than one can imagine. This rapid increase in temperature is causing the polar ice caps and the majority of sea ice to melt. This is highly detrimental not just for human existence, but also for marine life. If we do not find a way to stop this phenomenon, problems will develop that will become unsolvable.

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.

            Humans play a big role in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are compounds that are generally made of hydrogen and carbon atoms. The process of burning these fossil fuels causes a release of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere. Coal, oil, and natural gases are all types of fossil fuels. Humans burn fossil fuels through car emission, burning coal and deforestation. All of this is leading to a major climate chance and the rise of global warming, which in the end is melting the earth’s polar ice caps and sea ice.

 

            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.

According to scientist, Global warming is ironically known as a positive feedback system. This is defined as the enhancement of an effect that is influenced by its own process within itself. In simpler terms, one process creates an effect that in return amplifies that original process. From a climate change standpoint, global warming is in fact causing more global warming. This at first may seem confusing, but scientists have proven this concept. First, global warming causes melting of sea ice. Because the sea ice is melting, more freshwater is being added into the ocean. This causes a sea level rise along with a greater amount of ocean water evaporating into the atmosphere. Water vapor, being the top greenhouse gas, is highly efficient in absorbing infrared radiation and heat from the earth’s surface; So with more vapor in the atmosphere, more heat is trapped within it. This then causes the Earth’s temperature to rise, “global warming”, and more sea ice to melt. With more sea ice melting more water is added to the ocean and the cycle continues on and on. Although this is called a positive feedback system, it is the complete opposite of positive. Its effects are far greater than what we would expect. Sea level is globally rising at an average of .36 inches per year and is increasing with each year. This may not sound like much but in the long run can be detrimental to human society. The melting of sea ice puts us in great danger, but more important, It is endangering marine life as well.

            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.

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