If Global Warming Melted The Entire Polar Ice Caps, What would happen to the World?

Answer 1

Well if only the western side of the antarctic ice shelf melted then sea level would rise 20 feet. Same for greenland. So if the Polar ice caps are melted then we have to assume all other ice is melted as well. I don't actually know that value (A LOT more I am sure... the ice cap are huge) but the 40 feet sea level rise alone would be enough to wreak havoc on land masses everywhere. Florida, Louisiana, Manhattan, London, Netherlands, and most of Cali... all underwater. Not to mention temperature and salinity drive currents in the ocean. With a warmer ocean and a lower salinity level due to all the freshwater ice that has been added... those stop. Also the ice caps reflect 90% of the suns radiation and water absorbs 90% of it. So without these "mirrors" global warming would e veryvery accelerated.

You should rent the movie "An Inconvenient Truth". Its a new movie (May 2006) documenting a talk about global warming... I watched it like 3 times. It gives you all the information you will need. I hope your brain is a sponge because its a lot to take in!

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 2

You really need to watch "Inconvenient Truth" I can't remember exactly, but the oceans would rise some 20 feet (because if it's warm enough to melt the polar ice caps, all other glaciers would be melted too...and if the N.polar cap was ice free sunlight would be more absorbed) and that would flood half of New York City. All Cities along the coasts world wide would be likewise affected and a large percentage of people live in these cities....a billion people would be affected and maybe 1/2 billion refugees. The frozen tundra would also melt releasing methane that would further raise the temperature (probably more than any other factor, this would raise temp.)

Let's put it this way, you don't want it to happen, but it looks like it's happening right now, I am very frustrated when I hear people put down Al Gore for doing what he is doing...the man isn't likely to run for president again...why do people fear him...is it "kill the messenger"? Mr. Bush has refused until recently the facts of global warming, choosing partisanship and not realism.

It really amazes me to get thunbs down when I support Al Gore's Inconvenient Truth, some people are morons

Answer 3

Sea levels will rise, causing floods. This is resulting from melting the South Pole (unlike the North Pole, where the ice floats thus will not affect sea levels). But there's more. The polar ice caps are a reflector for sunlight. Water will not reflect as much sunlight, thus it will heat up ("only" a couple degrees). This will affect the entire planet, causing higher average temperatures, resulting in melting other ice as well. Think about permafrost in Canada and the former Soviet Union. Think about your favorite ski resort.

Mountains, formerly protected by a layer of ice and snow, will erode sooner and faster. You don't want to live in the valley below, on the receiving end of mud slides, stone avalanches and so on.

Vegetation will change, animals depending on the vegetation will have to adapt or they become extinct. Humans living in such areas will also have to adapt, or they will move away. Cities all over the world will be invaded by people seeking a better life.

Higher temperature, thus more energy for hurricanes and alike. Forget about tornado alley, bigger is better! (is it really?)

Last but not least: more water vapor in the sky, acting as a blanket, holding more heat. Eventually it will block enough sunlight to undo its own effect, but this will mean less light -> less plants -> less oxygen.

Don't make the mistake of thinking all of this is due to humans. Earth has experienced many periods like this. It is the rate of change that is caused by humans, we act like an accelerator.

Earth will also experience another ice age. We (not you and me, but the human species) may even still be around by then.

Answer 4

I'd recommend watching ABC News' Last Days on Earth, and expository type film on the seven deadliest threats to humanity. One of them, is human induced climate change. The scenario painted is quite scary, for what is generally accepted as fact by the scientiific community but down-played by the greedy. The real eye-opener is the runaway warming that will take place once a certain threshold is reach, a point where no matter what we do, if still around, temperature will continue to rise.

Answer 5

The scientists are predicting that each and all of us of Florida, ny city and Washington, DC would be completely below water via the top of the century. even inspite of the shown fact that, that assumes we do not something regarding the difficulty interior the subsequent ninety 3 years which i think of is extremely not likely. I are anticipating we are going to decide for Al Gore for President in 2008 and he will emphasize new potential suggestions to the difficulty of global warming.

Answer 6

besides the obvious flooding of coastal area and the resulting hysteria that would go hand in hand with that, what you are talking about is a major change in climate that would have to happen in a very short time. This temperature change would have catastrophic effects on every ecosystem in the world, which of course would snowball(no pun intended) into the extinction of a great percentage of the worlds plant and animal species. New bacterias would start to form and develop, leading to new diseases. The human race would be hard pressed to survive. Hope this doesnt hjappen any time soon!!!


happy new year!!!

Answer 7

Flooding.

Polar ice acts as a mirror reflecting direct sunlight out of the atmosphere. So As the Ice melts, the Earth temperature increases, water level rises, etc.etc.

Try watching the documentary 'An Inconvenient Truth' by Al Gore, it has everything you need

Answer 8

well if you watched The day after Tomorrow, it shows that there would be a lot of fresh water in the ocean. Adding more water to the ocean, raises the sea lvl making some major cities under water such as new york and san francisco, scary huh? Also adding fresh water to the ocean would cause the currents to go out of control, creating some type of storm. But don't listen to Al Gore saying that all cities would be covered under water from 10 years, that's absolutely absurd.

Answer 9

Lowland flooding, well, lots of other flooding as well. Salinization of the oceans. Possible extreme climate shifts and losses of ocean life. Maybe even a change in the polar axis, tides. Good question.

Answer 10

Floodings on coastal cities. Species dying because of higher temperatures. Cars being boycotted. Pollution being taken alot more seriously.