what is the reason for the polar ice caps melting? is it a result of normal climate changes or global warming?

Answer 1

Global warming. Scientists know that because of the data.

Very short version:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Climate_Change_Attribution.png

The best summary of the data available:

http://www.ipcc.ch/SPM2feb07.pdf

Scientists have seen much stranger things than global warming proved to be true by data. So the data, not "logical" arguments, is what they go by. The data is why why the vast majority of scientists agree that it's real and mostly caused by us. Data about that here:

http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5702/1686

Actual data shows it's not the suns radiation that's the major cause of global warming on Earth, it's us. Solar radiation is carefully measured. Climatologists include it in their analysis.

The results are in the IPCC report above, page 4. Increased solar radiation is 0.12 watts per meter squared. Man's warming is 1.6 watts per meter squared, more than ten times as much.

What scientists think. Not from the "liberal" media.

"While evidence suggests fluctuations in solar activity can affect climate on Earth, and that it has done so in the past, the majority of climate scientists and astrophysicists agree that the sun is not to blame for the current and historically sudden uptick in global temperatures on Earth, which seems to be mostly a mess created by our own species."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,258342,00.html

If you want to know more, here's the best website (warning - it's very big) with lots of data:

http://www.realclimate.org

"climate science from climate scientists"

Answer 2

It is the increase of the earth's temperature. We're still coming out of an ice age. There are glaciers everywhere. Some claim that we are the source of it. We may be but no one knows by how much. The sun's output has risen .2 % in the last 40 years and Pluto and Mars are heating up also. It could just be all natural. Read here

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/sun_output_030320.html

Answer 3

Both because global warming and global cooling are normal climate changes.

Answer 4

Both. "Global Warming" and "Normal Climate Changes" mean the same thing.

Answer 5

Don't hold your breath till it melts . It is just a normal cycle that some politician has tried to benefit from. Some has made a bunch of money .

Answer 6

the caps are not melting. the centers are getting thicker and colder which means they are not spreading as quickly toward the edges. if the edges are not replenished from the center out they break up and move away ie : calve into icebergs or melt away/evaporate