Can all ice at earth's north and south poles melt to sea..? When and what willl be the consequences?

Question

The movies can come true?

Answer 1

Can it happen? Sure. In fact, it has happened at various times in the long history of the Earth. It is part of a cyclical pattern, which causes the Ice Ages and the Interglacial periods between them.

No one can say for certain when it could happen. Current climate study claims that the natural pattern of warming is accelerated. (Claims are also made that this is solely the result of human factors, although that excludes research which indicates that the sun is getting hotter as well as other factors). The fact is that the last Ice Age ended about 10,000 years ago, and "Predicted changes in orbital forcing suggest that the next ice age will begin about 50,000 years from now, regardless of man-made global warming."

Given this time frame, it is possible to posit that polar ice could melt on a seasonal basis in the near future, and that the temperature might keep polar ice from reforming within the next 10,000 years.

Consequences range from cataclysmic to benign. The melting of the polar ice could alter coastal waters, and might result in flooding in lower lying coastal cities. Like any geological change, it is possible that rainfall will change in any area.

Research has shown that the Sahara Desert may become more temperate as increasing ocean levels create lake-like conditions in the lower areas. Cave paintings found there indicate marshy terrain, where the inhabitants swam, farmed, and lived more traditional lives.

Humans have a limited view of the adaptability of animals. Most species have been surviving climatic changes for longer than civilization has been around. While many species fall prey to human factors, and there have been species that have succumb to climate changes, most will adapt.

Take, for example, the polar bear. We are told that the polar bear is losing the ice on which it lives and hunts. If polar bears live and hunt on the ice, why are they always coming into the towns? Are the human towns located on the ice. No. The fact is, less ice makes it easier for the bears. Since polar bears hunt animals that come through the ice to breathe, and those animals come through at the edges, where the ice is thinner, the polar bears have less distance to travel to hunt.

Consequences will be greater for humans, but most animals will adapt.

Answer 2

It can all melt into the sea. It depends on the average temperature of the earth. The Earth is currently heating up so the caps are going to continue melting for awhile. A lot of people blame the greenhouse effect for it, which could be contributing to a lot of it, but what most people don't realize is that we are currently in an ice age. This is one of the few times in Earth's history that both of the poles have been frozen. If the poles completely melted, most of the south of the United States would be underwater. This would include all of Florida, Louisiana, most of Alabama, Mississippi, and quite a bit of Texas. Most of the East coast would also be flooded including New York city. Any place that is currently somewhat close to sea level would be under water.

Answer 3

It has happened many times in the past. The earth is currently experiencing a cool period. Ask a palieo climatologist. Ecological speaking "change brings diversity". Changes in climate is a driving factor in evolution. Without changes in the environment, evolution would not have occurred and we would still be single celled organisms in a pond. Don't let the global warmers pull the wool over your eyes. The climate is never static but rather dynamic. Changes in climate will always occur. The only difference now is we can measure it and bring it to peoples attention.

Answer 4

If the Antarctic Ice Cap melted, it would be catastrophic to coastal populated areas. The entire state of Florida would be submerged. New York City would also be submerged, but the Freedom Tower would still poke above the surface, an enduring symbol of freedom and the greatness of America.

Answer 5

Best easy to follow informative site to look into. I used it on my research paper.http://www.spacedaily.com/news/oceans-05i.html

http://www.livescience.com/environment/050630_oceans_acid.html

if you want to look further and indepth into this matter then Elizabeth Kolbert is the best scientist in this field.
http://www.wesjones.com/climate1.htm it is a long artical but if you read this you will have full understanding inside and out on our oceans and global warming.