Science Journal Blog Entry 3: What happens if the polar ice caps melt?

What happens if the polar ice caps melt?

Picture from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-26/foreign-correspondent-climate-change-geoengineering/10833878

The melting of the polar ice caps has a ripple effect on the many connected systems on Earth. The most obvious result from the melting ice is a rise in sea levels. Since 1993 global sea levels have risen 3 inches, and the rate is accelerating ( Lindsey, 2018). With 8 of the world's 10 largest cities, and 40% of the US population living in coastal areas the implications of an increase in sea levels could be devastating (Lindsey, 2018). The increase is sea level could lead to more frequent flooding, stronger storm surges, increased erosion, displacement of animals and humans. All of these things cause economic stress on a community.

There is a huge domino effect as a result of melting ice caps. Some of the effects include more solar energy being absorbed by land and water instead of reflected back out into space by the ice (UCAR Center for Science, n.d.). Absorbing more solar radiation leads to the melting of permafrost, which then releases stored greenhouse gases (CO2 and Methane), which then leads to more heat storing potential of the atmosphere, which then melts more ice. The meltwater from the ice caps enters the ocean and becomes part of an ocean current. Ocean currents help distribute heat throughout the world and influence weather patterns (Harvey, 2019). Additionally, the meltwater can slow down ocean currents which are put in motion by the "density driven thermohaline (temperature and salinity)" (Glick, 2017). This is another example of how deeply connected the systems on Earth can be. Each having a role on how well the other runs efficiently. The ripple effect continues.  

Additional questions:

1. How will students be assessed on the content in this experience?
2. How can this experience be differentiated for multiple ability levels?
3. What can humans do to slow down or help reverse the melting?
4. What role will future scientists or other occupations play in controlling the amount of melting ice and climate change?

References

“Climate and Ice.” Climate and Ice | UCAR Center for Science Education, scied.ucar.edu/longcontent/climate-and-ice.

Glick, Daniel. “Global Climate Change, Melting Glaciers.” Global Climate Change, Melting Glaciers, National Geographic, 18 Jan. 2017, www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/big-thaw/.

Harvey, Chelsea. “Melting Ice Sheets Could Worsen Extreme Weather.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 7 Feb. 2019, www.scientificamerican.com/article/melting-ice-sheets-could-worsen-extreme-weather/.

Lindsey, Rebecca. “Climate Change: Global Sea Level: NOAA Climate.gov.” Climate Change: Global Sea Level | NOAA Climate.gov, 1 Aug. 2018, www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level.