What Does Melting Arctic Ice Cap Bring to Mankind?
By Michael Stern
The melting Arctic ice cap brings many different things to mankind, and very few of these
are beneficial. For the first time since man has been to the North Pole, this area has become
an island because of the ice that has melted away. NASA satellite images taken from space
show that melting ice has caused the passages to the northeast and the northwest to open
up. The melting arctic ice cap has a profound effect on the entire planet, not just the arctic
area. When this ice melts, it flows into the oceans, doing two things.
First the ice raises the sea level because of the increase in water, and the cold water can
lower the temperature of the seas around the world. Our environment and entire global
ecosystem has a very delicate balance, and both of these factors upset the natural balance
of the earth. When sea levels rise, coastal areas and their populations can become flooded,
causing acres of farmlands and homes to be completely destroyed and covered by water.
This can lead to a severe food shortage, and this shortage may affect much more than just
local populations. A large percentage of food crops are grown in coastal areas, and if these
crops are not available then many food prices will rise and these foods will be harder to
find.
Another effect that the melting arctic ice cap causes that has a big connection to mankind is
the decrease and even elimination of species that the whole local ecosystem depends on.
The krill populations have decreased significantly in the last twenty years in the arctic
areas, and this is caused in a large part because there is less sea ice, which provides a home
and rich feeding ground for Krill. Less Krill means fewer fish and other marine life that
feed on Krill. Commercial fishing in the area, which is a major revenue and food source for
both individuals and businesses, will see a decline in the number and types of fish caught.
The loss of Krill can lead to a decrease in the population of a large number of other marine
species, and may cause some marine life to leave the area, including whales and many
species of fish.
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The loss of the arctic ice cap also means warmer temperatures around the globe, and this
can also spell serious trouble for food crops and farmers. Winter crops may not grow if the
temperature does not get cold enough, and this can be affected by a change of just two or
three degrees. A four degree temperature increase in the winter could cause winter wheat
crops to fail all across the Midwest in America, leading to a global food shortage. Summer
temperatures will also be higher, and the moisture will be less. This means drier soil, which
requires more water to grow the same amount of crops. This could cause a global water
crisis, like those seen at times in the southwestern area of America, where water is in short
supply and must be rationed. This can lead to the failure of crops to grow in warmer
months, also causing the global food supply to drop dramatically.
2/9/2016 12:15:01 PM - Document1
2/9/2016 12:15:01 PM - Document1