Mara Jade Skywalker
A00112233
What Does Melting Arctic Ice Cap Bring to Mankind?1
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.
The loss of the arctic ice cap also means warmer
Winter Sea Ice Thickness
temperatures around the globe, and this can also spell serious
Year
Thickness (m)
trouble for food crops and farmers. Winter crops may not grow
2005
3.25
if the temperature does not get cold enough, and this can be
2006
2.85
affected by a change of just two or three degrees. A four degree
2007
2.80
temperature increase in the winter could cause winter wheat
2008
2.50
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.
The melting arctic ice cap is a warning that we need to stop polluting and harming the earth. This
means conserving energy, using clean environmentally friendly energy sources instead of burning fossil
fuels, and doing our part to keep the earth in good condition for all the future generations to come. If the
melting of the arctic ice cap accelerates, the entire world could be in jeopardy, but we can take steps to
stop the melting arctic ice cap before it is too late.
1
Adapted from: http://www.bionomicfuel.com/what-does-melting-arctic-ice-cap-bring-to-mankind/
2/9/2016 6:30:45 PM - Document1