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Melting Greenland Ice Caps
Janelle Lyons
Staff Reporter
At the end of the century, seeing some of the world’s most renowned sites, such as
Big Ben in London, and the Empire State Building in New York, may become impossible. These awe-inspiring sites may have an underwater home, thanks to melting ice sheets in England and Antarctica.
By 2100, computer models coupled with records of ancient climate show that sea levels could rise by up to 20 feet, endangering millions of people. This is at a much quicker pace than predicted by older models.
This summer, the Greenland ice sheet is expected to start melting, from a rise in temperature from three degrees Celsius to five degrees Celsius. Most models believe that the ice sheets in Antarctica will remain more stable.
However, data shows that the last time that Greenland became this warm, 130,000 years ago, the rise in sea level from the melted water destabilized the Antarctic ice. From this information, earlier models that predicted an increase of only three feet by 2100 have greatly underestimated the effects of the rise in temperature of the Greenland ice sheets, which could lead to a 20 feet increase in water. From an issue of the journal "Science," climate scientist Jonathan Overpeck of the University of Arizona said, "If we decide to keep on the track we're on now and just keep on warming, because of greenhouse gas pollution, then we could easily cook those ice sheets more rapidly,” which could cause a larger water increase than the older, small estimate of a 3 feet increase.
In addition to the cities already listed, large parts of the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and even Florida could be flooded with a rise of water to 20 feet. Lower-lying Pacific Islands and New Orleans could be similarly affected with even smaller increases.
The ice caps would eventually melt, but global warming has been one factor hastening the effects. This warming has been caused from greenhouse gases, and other forms of air pollution. Weather patterns that vary from decade to decade, like the North Atlantic Oscillation, also affect Greenland's weather, but in a study from climate scientist Ulrike Lohmann, it was proven that the oscillation couldn't affect the warming trend.
Some scientists are unsure if this upcoming global warming increase could be avoided. The main gas that causes global warming stays in the atmosphere for about a century, causing temperatures to rise for even more decades. "I believe that the earth's climate changes all the time, getting warmer and colder regardless of what we do," said Jonathan Till, a junior at Apopka High School.
No matter the main causes, Greenland's melting glaciers could turn cities all over the world into ponds if possible steps aren't taken to alleviate the warming effects.
Janelle Lyons
Staff Reporter
At the end of the century, seeing some of the world’s most renowned sites, such as
Big Ben in London, and the Empire State Building in New York, may become impossible. These awe-inspiring sites may have an underwater home, thanks to melting ice sheets in England and Antarctica.
By 2100, computer models coupled with records of ancient climate show that sea levels could rise by up to 20 feet, endangering millions of people. This is at a much quicker pace than predicted by older models.
This summer, the Greenland ice sheet is expected to start melting, from a rise in temperature from three degrees Celsius to five degrees Celsius. Most models believe that the ice sheets in Antarctica will remain more stable.
However, data shows that the last time that Greenland became this warm, 130,000 years ago, the rise in sea level from the melted water destabilized the Antarctic ice. From this information, earlier models that predicted an increase of only three feet by 2100 have greatly underestimated the effects of the rise in temperature of the Greenland ice sheets, which could lead to a 20 feet increase in water. From an issue of the journal "Science," climate scientist Jonathan Overpeck of the University of Arizona said, "If we decide to keep on the track we're on now and just keep on warming, because of greenhouse gas pollution, then we could easily cook those ice sheets more rapidly,” which could cause a larger water increase than the older, small estimate of a 3 feet increase.
In addition to the cities already listed, large parts of the Netherlands, Bangladesh, and even Florida could be flooded with a rise of water to 20 feet. Lower-lying Pacific Islands and New Orleans could be similarly affected with even smaller increases.
The ice caps would eventually melt, but global warming has been one factor hastening the effects. This warming has been caused from greenhouse gases, and other forms of air pollution. Weather patterns that vary from decade to decade, like the North Atlantic Oscillation, also affect Greenland's weather, but in a study from climate scientist Ulrike Lohmann, it was proven that the oscillation couldn't affect the warming trend.
Some scientists are unsure if this upcoming global warming increase could be avoided. The main gas that causes global warming stays in the atmosphere for about a century, causing temperatures to rise for even more decades. "I believe that the earth's climate changes all the time, getting warmer and colder regardless of what we do," said Jonathan Till, a junior at Apopka High School.
No matter the main causes, Greenland's melting glaciers could turn cities all over the world into ponds if possible steps aren't taken to alleviate the warming effects.