Chapter 19, Problem 1CR

To determine

Definitions of climate changes and discuss the possible effects and story of the melting of glaciers in Greenland. Also, explain this Melting glaciers story fits into projections regarding climate change.

Answer to Problem 1CR

The change in average weather conditions over a certain period is called climate. When variations are observed in the weather conditions for longer periods, it is known as climate change. The primary reasons for this abrupt climate change are human activities such as clearing the forests for their use, burning of fossil fuels, and emission of greenhouse gases. Glaciers store an enormous amount of water in the frozen state. Due to atmospheric warming, these glaciers have started melting at a faster rate leading to the destructive consequences. Melting of these glaciers will increase the sea level and will cause the loss of species. Observing the situation of climate change, scientists have upgraded the IPCC projections.

Explanation of Solution

The average weather conditions of a particular area or earth observed for at least the last 30 years is termed as climate. Significant abnormal variations in the pattern of average weather conditions of the area or whole earth over a notable period is called climate change.

One of the largest islands, Greenland, is covered with ice slabs. Most of the area is covered glaciers that are around 2 miles deep. The Greenland ice sheet accelerates melting during summers and replaced by snow during winters. In recent years the annual net loss of ice has risen because of atmospheric warming. The overall rise in the last three decades in the average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere near the surface of the earth is termed as atmospheric warming. Due to this, quantifiable changes are observed in regular global weather patterns.

Greenland’s glaciers contain frozen water in an enormous amount. The amount of water stored in the form of ice can raise the level of the sea by 7 meters. Scientists have concluded that this climate change is happening now at a rapid rate. It is mainly due to increased human activities like deforestation and excessive burning of fossil fuels. The acceleration in the melting of glaciers will cause many harmful effects such as acidification of oceans, a rise in sea levels, loss in biodiversity, and extreme weather conditions.

Global climate change is projected to continue over the upcoming decades. The magnitude of warming effects and change depends on the amount of greenhouse gas emission rate. The temperature of the earth will rise and not be smooth over time across the place. Change in average precipitation pattern, lengthening of growing seasons, more heat waves, and rise in sea levels are observed during the decades and will accelerate in the upcoming centuries. Rising in average sea level globally and Greenland contributions have led scientists to revise some IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) projections upwards.