2007-08-26 13:25:56 · 8 answers · asked by swetistdream 2 in Environment ➔ Global Warming
you mean "polar" caps, not "solar" caps - don't you?
Yep - they are melting along with the ice in Greenland and snow on mountain ranges throughout the world. Look at Yosemite National Park and see all the granite at the peaks. All the snow there is vanishing. The snow line is going up. When all the ice and snow is gone, there will be a big problem because the melting itself (going from solid to liquid) is soaking up the heat while holding temperatures down. Without the snow and ice melting/soaking up the heat energy - the temperature should rise rapidly instead of being held down. This should cook the surface of the Earth and kill plenty of life - both plant and animal including humans.
2007-08-30 08:12:16 · answer #1 · answered by merc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the North polar cap is melting some as it normally does every Summer, meanwhile, since it is Winter in the Southern hemisphere, the South polar cap is adding ice as it usually does. But there is so much more ice at the South pole that it gives the Earth a slight "pear" shape. It is so cold at the South pole that when they add that information to computer models, it shows that man is not the cause of global warming.
2007-08-27 01:26:00 · answer #2 · answered by 3DM 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The Arctic is. And it is most definitely not a "usual" thing. The latest melt is the largest since they starting measuring it:
"This is the least sea ice we've ever seen in the satellite record, and we have another month left to go in the melt season this year."
But, Serreze said in a telephone interview, while some natural variability is involved in the melting, "We simply can't explain everything through natural processes."
"It is very strong evidence that we are starting to see an effect of greenhouse warming," he said.
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/08/17/america/NA-GEN-US-Low-Ice.php
2007-08-27 02:19:22 · answer #3 · answered by Bob 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Polar Ice Caps are constantly changing. They swell and shrink every year, and they come and go with the earth's normal warming and cooling cycles about every 10,000 to 12,000 years.
There are studies that show they are melting faster than expected this time. There are other studies that show they are not. I don't think anyone really knows for sure.
To answer your question directly, since it is summer now and we are in a warming cycle, yes they are melting.
2007-08-27 00:30:05 · answer #4 · answered by GABY 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The ice caps once were over 5,000 feet thick over New York City. Now the ice caps are thousands of miles north. So yes, the ice has been melting for some time.
2007-08-26 20:38:35 · answer #5 · answered by Dr Jello 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋
according to the melankavich cycle, they're supposed to be building up more ice overall instead they are melting yes...and we're discovering that there is no such as "perma"frost.
2007-08-26 20:39:28 · answer #6 · answered by T-monster 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you mean polar, then yes. Google it; there's a tons of information. Expand your mind.
2007-08-26 20:38:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
Yes, and have been for the past 12,000 years.
2007-08-26 20:31:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋