The polar sea ice cap partially melts and re-freezes seasonally, however there h

Question

The polar sea ice cap partially melts and re-freezes seasonally, however there have been some predictions that sometime this century it is possible that the North polar sea ice may melt completely. There are several threats here including: reduced local salinity affecting thermal transfer mechanisms in ocean currents; water being less reflective than ice leading to more solar energy being absorbed; meltwater increasing sea-level. Calculate the contribution that the melting of the entire North Polar sea ice cap would make to rise in sea-level, if it were to finally reach the present global average surface temperature. You do not have to consider your target year, how long this would take to occur, salinity, reflectivity effects, or re-freezing in the southern hemisphere.

Explanation / Answer

ANSWER-PART 1-Climate change is warming the arctic ocean more than twice as fast as anywhere else on the planet. .One of the most serious consequences is sea level rise .seas are rising an average of 3.2 millimeters per year globally ,and are predicted to climb a total of 0.2 to 2.0 meters by 2100.Main threat is greenland ice sheet for ocean levels because melting land ice is the main cause of rising seas If the entire Greenland Ice sheet thawed ,Dutton says,it would raise sea levels by an average of 7 meters.That would significantly flood coastal megacities such as Mumbai and Hongkong.

Part 2-

Antarctica has an exception to the understanding of global climatic change.Antarctica is colder than the Arctic.But it also has a much higher ice cover,thousands of feet thick in some areas,compared to Arctic sea ice .thats why the high land surface area could be why the melting in Antarctica is less dramatic ,also higher elevation of Antarctica allows less room for carbon dioxide and water vapor.

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