The melting of the poles is a consequence of climate change that has been talked about for many years, however, in recent years it is when it is most noticeable. Hence the urgency of acting to try to stop it.
Thawing is a concept that refers to the melting of the planet’s poles. Both poles are formed by huge blocks of ice, which fulfill vital functions for the right maintenance of the environment, however, rising temperatures cause these blocks of ice to melt and turn into water little by little.
One of the main consequences of the change in the state of the water is that the level of the seas and oceans rises. This would not be a problem if it happened naturally (it happens slowly and with enough time to restore normal levels of water and ice), as has happened before. But when it happens faster than normal because of global warming and because of human activity, problems begin for our planet.
For example, in Antarctica temperatures are rising excessively fast. It has been observed that water in this area warms faster than in other parts of the planet. At the south pole of the planet, the temperature has increased at an average rate of 0.17ºC since 1950, the rest of the planet has done so by 0.1ºC.
Arctic ice melts faster and in greater quantity than it makes itself. Since 1979, more is lost than is constantly generated. Moreover, the ice of Greenland and the ice of the other glaciers go the same way.
Another consequence of the thaw is that the Earth’s surface reflects less energy from the sun, which in turn increases global warming. Which increases the melting of the poles (but at a higher speed). When this happens, the sea level rises.
It has been shown that global warming does exist and that it has accelerated in recent years. We have to give it the importance it deserves and act to stop it.
Despite this thaw, in September 2012 the maximum extent of maritime ice was reached, of 19.44 million square kilometers. It is believed that it was thanks to the wind. When the wind blows, it pulls the ice away from the coast and the water freezes. The hole in the ozone layer in the southern hemisphere could also play a role in ice loss.
Most of the ice in Antarctica is on land, covers the land surface, and from there it spreads to the ocean. It is estimated that each year 100 cubic kilometers of this mass are lost.
However, the opposite is true in the Arctic. Most of the ice is found in the ocean. It is an ocean surrounded by land. This makes the causes of the thaw different. For example, in the Arctic the main cause is the heating of the water, the wear of the wind does not affect that much. From the record, the Arctic reached the lowest level of ice in 1979.
In Antarctica the largest glacier is called Totten and is 130 km long and 30 km wide, but it is melting due to the increase in ocean temperature. Another important glacier is the Smith, which has lost 2 km per year of its total surface. It has lost 35Km in total.
Unfortunately, NASA has warned that the Antarctic thaw is irreversible.
This situation affects the coastal regions. Kilometers of land are lost as a result of rising sea levels, which affects buildings on the seafront and in cities such as Venice. This also affects animals, as they lose their homes, and many species are disappearing, such as polar bears.