Melting Ice Glaciers 

Why are glaciers and sea ice melting? 

Why are glaciers important?

Ice acts like a protective cover over the Earth and our oceans. These bright white
spots reflect excess heat back into space and keep the planet cooler. In theory,
the Arctic remains colder than the equator because more of the heat from the
sun is reflected off the ice, back into space. Glaciers around the world can range
from ice that is several hundred to several thousand years old and provide a
scientific record of how climate has changed over time. Through their study, we
gain valuable information about the extent to which the planet is rapidly warming.
They provide scientists a record of how climate has changed over time.

Today, about 10% of land area on Earth is covered with glacial ice. Almost 90%
is in Antarctica, while the remaining 10% is in the Greenland ice cap. Rapid
glacial​ ​melt in Antarctica and Greenland also influences ocean currents, as
massive amounts of very cold glacial-melt water entering warmer ocean waters is
slowing ocean currents. And as ice on land melts, sea levels will continue to rise.

 
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Why are glaciers melting? 

Since the early 1900s, many glaciers around the world have been rapidly
melting. Human activities are at the root of this phenomenon. Specifically, since
the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions
have raised temperatures, even higher in the poles, and as a result, glaciers are
rapidly melting, calving off into the sea and retreating on land.

Even if we significantly curb emissions in the coming decades, more than a third
of the world’s remaining glaciers will melt before the year 2100. When it comes to
sea ice, ​95% of the oldest and thickest ice in the Arctic is​ already gone.
Scientists project that if emissions continue to rise unchecked, the Arctic could be
ice free in the summer as soon as the year 2040 as ocean and air temperatures
continue to rise rapidly.

 
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What are the effects of melting glaciers on humans 

and wildlife? 
What happens in these places has consequences across the entire globe. As
sea ice and glaciers melt and oceans warm, ocean currents will continue to
disrupt weather patterns worldwide. Industries that thrive on vibrant fisheries will
be affected as warmer waters change where and when fish spawn. Coastal
communities will continue to face billion-dollar disaster recovery bills as flooding
becomes more frequent and storms become more intense. People are not the
only ones impacted. In the Arctic, as sea ice melts, wildlife like walrus and polar
bears are losing their home.

 
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Experiment: 

How melting ice causes sea levels to rise.

Make a prediction about what each type of ice (land & sea) will do to the level of
water in a container. Then build a model to compare what you predicted to what you
observe.

Materials: 
● 2 Identical, Clear, Plastic Containers
● Clay
● Tray of Ice Cubes
● Ruler
● Cold Water
● Permanent Marker

1. Press equal amounts of clay into one side of both plastic containers, making a
smooth, flat surface representing land rising out of the ocean. If you don’t
have clay, try using some rocks to create a “land” surface on which you can
place several ice cubes.
2. In one container, place as many ice cubes as possible on the flat clay or rock
surface. This represents land ice.
3. In the other container, place the same number of ice cubes on the bottom of
the container, next to the clay. This represents sea ice.
4. Pour cold water into the sea-ice container until the ice floats. Be sure no ice is
resting on the bottom of the container and that the water isn't higher than the
land level.

 
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5. Without disturbing the ice cubes, pour water into the land-ice container until
the water level is about equal to the water level in the sea-ice container.

Begin your observations

1. Using the ruler, measure the water level (in millimeters) in each container
and record the data on your data sheet or piece of paper.
2. You can mark the water level with a marker on the outside of the container,
but remember the ink might not come off. Another way to mark the water
level is to make a line in the clay using a pencil or other object.
3. At regular intervals – maybe every minute or five minutes – measure the
water level in each container again and record it on the data sheet.
Compare the water level with the marked line on the side of the container
or in the clay. Allow the ice in both tubs to melt completely.
4. Use the measurements recorded on the data sheet to create a line graph
representing the water level in each tub. You can do this using paper or on
a computer with spreadsheet software.

 
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Draw a conclusion. 

Think about what your observations mean for melting ice around the planet and how
it contributes to sea level rise. Try to answer these questions:

● In which container did the water level rise more?

● How does this compare to your prediction?
● Why do you think this occurred?
● Does the melting of Earth’s glaciers on land contribute to sea level rise?
● How about the melting of icebergs at sea?