Coastlines affected by melting ice caps
Our Earth is a very fascinating place. The atmosphere that surrounds our Earth acts as a shield from the Sun’s massive amounts of radiant energy and heat. It is a filter of sorts, it keeps the Earth’s temperate at an approximate area, which helped spawn and sustain life. Half of the Sun’s energy is absorbed by the Earth’s surface. The rest is reflected back into the atmosphere where it is then absorbed by the gases which are present there. Nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and methane gases absorb the heat, these are called Greenhouse Gases.
Though these greenhouse gases occur naturally in our atmosphere, the human race has added much more to the equation. The more fossil fuels and wood we burn, the more greenhouse gas we produce. This means that our atmosphere can retain much more heat. And in turn, our planet’s temperature begins to rise. This “Greenhouse Effect” is commonly known as Global Warming.
Global Warming has always been a dangerous prospect. Though it is happening, the pace at which it increases isn’t enough to deter people from their dangerous consumption of woods and fossil fuels. In 1900, the average temperature of our planet was 59.8 degrees F. Scientists have predicted that over the next hundreds years, this temperature will increase by 3.6 - 6.3 degrees F. This is the highest rate of global warming our planet has seen in 10,000 years.
Our planet is completely stabilized. Scientists predict that it took upwards of millions of years for the ice caps to set, creating a consistent weather pattern and livable temperature. Unfortunately for mankind, global warming is melting these polar ice caps, and many aspects of life on this planet are already suffering their adverse effects. The ice caps melting are forcing the sea level to rise. This is known as Thermal Expansion.
The sea level is the average height of the ocean between high and low tide. Throughout the history of the Earth, sea level has fluctuated. During the Ice Age, our sea levels were much lower, due to the majority of the Earth’s surface being covered by glaciers. This rising of the sea levels if a very dangerous thing for our planet. It could mean the destruction of our very existence in the long run. The more immediate threat is with weather patterns, as already witnessed by stronger hurricanes and warmer winters. The faction of our planet which pays the price for thermal expansion, more than any, is our coastlines.
Our coastlines are ravaged by even the slightest change in sea level. For any increased amount of water, it is carried in by high tide, more than ten fold. Warmer water has a greater volume than colder water. The heating of our planet makes the water rise in temperature and swell. Over the next hundred years, it is predicted that our ocean levels will rise from 15 - 95 centimeters. For every one centimeter that our ocean rises, one meter of coastal land will be lost.
Freshwater is being contaminated by salt water, including our drinking supply. Only around 3% of all the Earth’s water is fresh. We can’t afford to lose any. Ports will be destroyed, costal cities flooded, and the economic structures for the coastal community will be devastated. We are already seeing marine life being destroyed. The coral in our oceans is being eaten by Starfish. Warmer water fish are moving closer to shore, and whales lose their sense of sonar and become beached.
We are already witnessing adverse effects from global warming. Some scientists attribute the recent mega tsunami in Indonesia to global warming. Some say that hurricane Katrina was a result of this harmful phenomenon. Whether these are true or not, our costal cities and coastlines in general are being destroyed by thermal expansion. It must be reversed or we will lose our coastlines in our own lifetime.
Tags: Coastlines, Ice Caps, melting
