Shrinking arctic iceShrinking arctic ice

By Josh MathiesenBy Josh Mathiesen

The shrinking of polar ice The shrinking of polar ice capscaps

Rate of polar ice deterioration Rate of polar ice deterioration What could happen if the rate of What could happen if the rate of

melting ice continues on its current melting ice continues on its current pathpath

What is happening due to shrinking What is happening due to shrinking arctic ice levelsarctic ice levels

How melting arctic ice affects wild lifeHow melting arctic ice affects wild life Possible solutions to the problemPossible solutions to the problem

Rate of polar ice Rate of polar ice deteriorationdeterioration

The polar ice caps have been deteriorating at a The polar ice caps have been deteriorating at a rate of 9% per decade since 1979.rate of 9% per decade since 1979.

From 1979 to 2000 278,000 square miles of ice From 1979 to 2000 278,000 square miles of ice have been lost to warmer weather.have been lost to warmer weather.

Every year the ice melts off some in the warm Every year the ice melts off some in the warm season and refreezes in winter as it normal should. season and refreezes in winter as it normal should. but recently less and less ice is coming back after but recently less and less ice is coming back after the winter season due to milder winters. the winter season due to milder winters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMQ21p93JZc

The what ifs The what ifs

Scientist believe that if we continue on the Scientist believe that if we continue on the path we have been following we are in for a path we have been following we are in for a total global climate change. Possible affects total global climate change. Possible affects includeinclude Upper hemisphere tempter severely affectedUpper hemisphere tempter severely affected Oceanic flow disturbed or non existent Oceanic flow disturbed or non existent

This will cause the flow of warm water to the upper This will cause the flow of warm water to the upper hemisphere to be halted possibly causing a Mini ice age hemisphere to be halted possibly causing a Mini ice age

Weather will become more violent and more frequent Weather will become more violent and more frequent in the lower hemisphere in the lower hemisphere

A.K.A THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW A.K.A THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW (if you have not seen this movie please rent it)(if you have not seen this movie please rent it)

Affects of melting iceAffects of melting ice

Ice reflects sunlight Ice reflects sunlight Because of shrinking arctic ice there is less reflected Because of shrinking arctic ice there is less reflected

sunlight and more water to absorb heat from the sun.sunlight and more water to absorb heat from the sun. Therefore the less ice there is the faster it will melt.Therefore the less ice there is the faster it will melt.

With less ice there is less habitat for arctic With less ice there is less habitat for arctic animals such as polar bears for example.animals such as polar bears for example.

When the arctic ices melt it releases green house When the arctic ices melt it releases green house gases from the soil underneath ice and in the ice gases from the soil underneath ice and in the ice its self that have been trapped for millions of its self that have been trapped for millions of years. years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9732gUdEkIQ

The affects of arctic ice and its The affects of arctic ice and its

wild lifewild life The shrinking arctic ices have left polar bears The shrinking arctic ices have left polar bears

with less area to live.with less area to live. And with the shrinking ice there is less ice that And with the shrinking ice there is less ice that

connects to land.connects to land. And with the changing climate it has moved there And with the changing climate it has moved there

food supply to different areas food supply to different areas

Possible Solutions Possible Solutions

The government and other companies have been finding The government and other companies have been finding knew alternative sources of power that do not emit CO2 or knew alternative sources of power that do not emit CO2 or other green house gas. Which fit into the same category as other green house gas. Which fit into the same category as global warming issues and true solutions remain unclear global warming issues and true solutions remain unclear

Work cited

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/03/080318-arctic-ice.html

http://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/arctic_thinice.html

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Global-Warming/2008/0904/shrinking-arctic-ocean-sea-ice-signals-climate-change

http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2009-07/satellite-pictures-show-thinning-artic-ice

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2008/2008-08-28-02.asp