We all remember learning in school about Antarctica and the importance of a steady, cool climate in order for animals to thrive in their environments, but as the years pass, another problem is slowly destroying our habitats. Climate change is the long term shift in weather and temperature changes. As technology advances, carbon emissions rapidly rise, and as a result warm our planet. The annual temperatures of Earth are rising to concerning levels, with our surface temperature rising approximately two degrees every year.
Unfortunately, the rise of temperature causes the rapid loss of habitat. Our ice poles are rapidly degrading due to the increase in annual heat. This can cause a variety of problems such as loss of habitat for penguins, seals, and polar bears. As well as impacting the ocean’s volume and ecosystems. With the ice sheets of Antarctica rapidly melting, the once cold, frosty habitat is being reduced to wet mud and warming waters.
The melting of the ice sheets also contributes to the rising sea levels. Ice loss from glaciers and ice caps melt and flood the ocean, causing a rise in water mass. This contributes to the dangerously rising sea levels that threaten to swallow smaller islands in its wake. Islands such as the Maldives, Hawaii, and Greenland are at risk of losing beaches, shores, and land to this ascending threat.
The total devastation of the ice shelves would rapidly raise sea levels, and risk damage and land loss to coastal cities such as New York, Mumbai, Shanghai, and any other cities that are located within a 62 mile radius of the coast.
The ice melts in Western Antarctica have accelerated, and it is now inevitable to fully prevent the disappearance of habitat due to rising carbon emissions being released into our atmosphere. These ice sheets would contribute to an extra five meter rise in the ocean if completely melted. The rate of thawing has already become three times faster than the previous century.
Even though it may seem hopeless, scientists are working around the clock to monitor these habitat changes, as well as continuing to study possible ways to prevent the complete destruction of the Antarctic ice sheets. Scientists are now advocating to lower carbon emissions for large companies in order to lessen the burden of global warming.
The melting of the Western Antarctica sheets is hard to completely predict when it will happen. This could occur within mere decades of our lives, or centuries into the future. It is imperative that we are aware of the carbon footprint we leave in the environment around us. Doing simple tasks such as riding a bike to school, carpooling for commuting, and being aware of the gas we burn is enough to make a difference.
Climate change studies should be taken into account for future policy makers in relation to carbon emissions. Large production factories like Coca-Cola should to be aware of the carbon that they are releasing due to their factories, as well as finding an alternative solution to burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation.
If you can, support, donate, or volunteer to nonprofit organizations like the Arctic Ice Project to help prevent and spread awareness about climate change and rapid loss of frigid habitats.
For more information visit https://animalsurvival.org/climate-change/rapid-ice-melt-in-west-antarctica-now-inevitable-research-shows/?gad=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgK2qBhCHARIsAGACuzkSVzk45O-m35lonWVjlJldPzuBpkEUnd0FUC8EgKPD2j10VLehS5UaAmG4EALw_wcB.
To visit the Arctic Ice Project, visit https://www.arcticiceproject.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgK2qBhCHARIsAGACuzmfWIUUbCAZdRdv9w1JBkVJ81DlCft0WjBPXWmWYn0je2wxX35XmYEaAqlrEALw_wcB.
