What is the effect of warming of the earth on the arctic and glaciers and what are the consequences of it?

Question

Glaciers melt away worldwide just as do the masses of ice of the Arctic and Antarctic.

The world's climate rapidly warms which leads to monstrous revolutions in the climate which bring with them great waves of heat and cold, blasts of fire as well as droughts, floods, snowstorms and hailstorms.
"The climate warms ever faster, whereby the snowfall is also absent ever more frequently in the deeper sites, while the Earth's polar ice masses, as well as the glaciers melt ever faster, which leads to this: that by the year 2100, in some cases, the water of the seas will rise up to 160 centimeters (5'3"). Forceful natural changes have become unstoppable..."It is not only the climbing sea level, as a consequence of the melting poles and glaciers, which again and again drives entire groups of humans and even entire peoples to seek refuge – especially those who live on the oceans' islands which are increasingly, and ultimately completely, flooded by the climbing water – but it is likewise also the increasing demolition of the oceans' shores, and the loss of ground.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Not only do sea levels rise, making less land available and people living near the coasts more vulnerable, the major problem -- which we are seeing is that it changes the temperature of the major ocean currents, which has a radical impact on climate. Which is why some areas have been extra cold, extra dry, extra warm etc.

If you don't see any of this, google some places that are near the ocean and look at local newspapers to see what people in US are dealing with. Forget about people in third-world countries. That is one reason why floods are getting worse.

And, BTW, polar ice is melting. Do you live in a cave?  Chunks of antarctic ice the size of US states have been falling in, and in the arctic, polar bears are having trouble surviving because there is life.  It may not be as bad as you think, but it is a harbinger of what is to come.  Take your head out of the sand.  Minor impacts to temperature of global ocean currents impact the weather around the world.  Fact.

paul h · Answer

Global warming does not necessarily equate to ever-increasing amounts of glaciers melting and rising sea levels. The problem is that warmer oceans will evaporate more moisture which leads to more rain/snowfall. Another issue is that some research indicates that global warming/ice melting alters the ocean current conveyor belt and leads to more extreme weather and cooling in some areas like Europe or North America....warming leads to cooling and may increase glaciers. So it's unclear whether warming will indeed have the dire effects of droughts and sea level rise as some predict.

"A Chilling Possibility
By disturbing a massive ocean current, melting Arctic sea ice might trigger colder weather in Europe and North America"
http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2004/05mar_arctic/

"Expect more extreme winters thanks to global warming, say scientists

By Steve Connor, Science Editor

Scientists have established a link between the cold, snowy winters in Britain and melting sea ice in the Arctic and have warned that long periods of freezing weather are likely to become more frequent in years to come."
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/expect-more-extreme-winters-thanks-to-global-warming-say-scientists-2168418.html

? · Answer

I think the biggest problem is going to be running out of water in deset or highly populated places that rely on rivers. These rivers normally come from the melting of glaciers and ice capped mountains, but once they dissapear, there will be sever droughts from China to the US. I think that there are a number of rivers in the Midwest that this could be a problem with. Also, China and India, expecially the poor regions in India, will be in trouble.

Anonymous · Answer

Joe is wrong. The polar ice hasn't yet melted to disrupt the world wide weather cycle. I have no idea where Joe got that from. But, the main problem that will happen is droughts and times will a lot lot lot lot lot of rain!

tim k · Answer

i ca not tell you the exact effects as they have not happened entirely yet but i doubt i will be here to see the worst of it

What is the effect of warming of the earth on the arctic and glaciers and what are the consequences of it?

5 Answers