How will the lack of reflection of Solar rays on the Antartic contribute itself to the rise of temperature?

Question

The snow reflects much of the heat sent by the Sun...

Answer 1

Well, this has been confirmed since "An Inconvenient Truth", but was noted before. I think we'll know the answer soon. This ice hasn't melted since the formation of the continents, despite all the "natural cycles". The accumulated weight of the icecap has depressed the underlying continent some 4 miles. I would expect as it is relieved of the weight we might see seismic, or even volcanic activity. We have not just individual species (as in the North) being deprived of their environment, but entire ecosystems. Many of these are being observed for the first time. We know they will soon have to move, and adapt or go extinct, but that's about all we know. If some do survive and interact with the existing ecosystem, it's interesting to wonder what will happen.

There will probably be some rise in sea level, but we can't predict how much. In the past when the North Polar ice has melted it, resulted in an inland sea, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. We can probably count on that, since it's happened before. The additional contribution by the South polar ice is unknown. Because there are some compensating factors, like changes in salinity in the sea and changes in continental elevetion, we don't know if it will be a lot, or more.

Once the ice is gone in both areas, there will be a sharp increase in the rate of warming, both from the loss of ice itself, and the loss of reflectivity. I would expect until that time we'll see a smaller rise in the rate of increase, for the same reasons.

Answer 2

Good question and spot on about reflectivity of snow.

Snow reflects almost all the sunlight straight back out into space, there is some heat absorbed by the snow but it's only a small amount. In general the lighter the surface the more sunlight it reflects. This is a good reason for wearing light coloured clothes on a hot day and dark coloured ones on a cold day.

When ice melts it exposes the ground underneath it, in the case of melting ice sheets it exposes the ocean. Both the ground and ocean are able to absorb more sunlight than the snow or ice that originally covered them and this contributes to global warming.

The biggest such contributor at the moment is the loss of polar ice sheets, these are receding quite rapidly. Some of the breakups of the ice sheets are quite spectacular. The Larsen B ice sheet is a good example, this disintegrated a few years ago (2002 I think) and was a lump of ice the size of Rhode Island and weighed in at half a trillion tons. There have been numerous other breaks but on a smaller scale.

A bit of technical stuff. The solar radiation that is absorbed by the Earth and oceans is stored within these mediums until such time as the ambient temperature drops, at this point heat is radiated outwards in the form of longer wavelength thermal radiation. Unlike solar radiatio,n the progress of thermal radiation is impeded by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is why sunlight bouncing off the ice caps doesn't contrinute to global warming but does contribute should it be absorbed.

Answer 3

solid question and notice on approximately reflectivity of snow. Snow reflects very almost each and every of the sunlight right now back out into area, there is a few warmth absorbed via the snow whether this is purely a small quantity. customarily the lighter the outdoors the greater sunlight it reflects. this could properly be a solid reason for wearing easy colored clothing on a warm day and dark colored ones on a cold day. whilst ice melts it exposes the floor below it, contained related to melting ice sheets it exposes the sea. the two the floor and ocean are waiting to soak up greater sunlight than the snow or ice that initially lined them and this contributes to international warming. the biggest such contributor on the 2d is the shortcoming of polar ice sheets, those are receding extremely right now. the assorted breakups of the ice sheets are extremely fantastic. The Larsen B ice sheet is a solid occasion, this disintegrated some years in the past (2002 i think of) and grow to be a lump of ice the size of Rhode Island and weighed in at 0.5 1000000000000 plenty. there have been assorted different breaks yet on a smaller scale. somewhat bit technical stuff. The photograph voltaic radiation this is absorbed via the Earth and oceans is saved interior of those mediums until such time because of the fact the ambient temperature drops, at this element warmth is radiated outwards interior the form of longer wavelength thermal radiation. unlike photograph voltaic radiatio,n the form of thermal radiation is impeded via greenhouse gases interior the ambience. for this reason sunlight bouncing off the ice caps does not contrinute to international warming yet does make contributions ought to this is absorbed.

Answer 4

Melting ice is one of several global warming feedbacks.

Ice reflects sunlight, while the dark oceans absorb it. As the ice melts, you therefore get less reflection and more absorption. This causes the global temperature to increase, which causes more ice to melt, which causes the temperature to increase futher, etc. etc.

Another such feedback is CO2 in the oceans. Normally the oceans absorb CO2, but it becomes less soluble in warmer water. As the planet warms, the oceans will emit more CO2, which will increase the greenhouse effect, which will increase global warming, which will warm the oceans, which will release more CO2, etc. etc.

Scientists estimate that if the planet gets about 3°C warmer, that will be the tipping point for some of these feedbacks.

Answer 5

since the sun rays are not reflected by the ice and snow - which are no longer there - the heat of the sun rays is absorbed in full by the water, causing its temperature to rise.
and, of course, if the water temperature rises, there is more melting of the ice and snow floating in it, which further diminishes the reflection of the sun rays and increases heat absorption. it is a vicious cycle, a self-feeding process.

Answer 6

What about the reflective nature of clouds too?
More water vapour, more clouds, more reflection, less heat?
There's more than one thing to consider when looking at this 'problem'.
In theory, less snow/ice to reflect, more dark to absorb, but what about the angle of sunlight at those latitudes?

Answer 7

But if the waters are rising due to global warming the ice packs and glaciers will still be melting.

This would apply if we were going into another Ice Age, but I am afraid the opposite is true.

Answer 8

First enough ice has to melt to uncover the dark ground. That isn't going to happen any time soon (not withing 100 years) because the ice is miles think in most areas of the Antarctic.

But if it did melt, that would increase heat absorption.

Answer 9

why wasn't this in the movie "inconvenient truth"?

or was he saving it for the sequel and your a spoiler?