Melting Of Sea Ice In The Arctic Case Study

Climate change is a fact. Humans are causing it, and it is perhaps the most serious issue that humankind is facing today. Starting from the Industrial Revolution the amount of carbon dioxide in the air is increasing constantly. Consequently, the continuous increase in earth’s temperature is a clear indicator of how carbon dioxide effects the earth. One of the major problem that global warming is causing is the melting of sea ice in the arctic. Due to the melting of the sea ice, global temperature suffers. In order to stop the global climate change, the congressional committee on environment must pass a legislation to regulate the use of fossil fuels, because climate change in the arctic is causing all the ice to melt, the permafrost to thaw, and it has huge impact on the vegetation and the wildlife.

Over the years the loss of extensive amount of ice serves as the evidence that, arctic is in fact warming faster than any other region on the earth. According to NSIDC, March 2015 ice extension is recorded at average 14.39 million square kilometers. This is the lowest recorded ice extension compared to average of 15.52 million square

There are three factors that contribute into sea level rise in the arctic. Primarily, the water expansion due to higher temperatures causing sea level to rise. Higher temperature causes thermal expansion which causes less dense water that takes up more space in the ocean. Secondly, melting of the glaciers that can contribute to sea level rise. And finally, the most serious cause is the melting of the ice sheets in the Antarctica which can contribute to 7 meters rise in sea level in coming years. Also statistically, “during the 20th century, the sea level has rose about 15 to 20 centimeters (roughly 1.5 to 2.0 mm/year)” (Climate Institute). In that case, it will be soon when sea erosion causes a destruction that will cause global