A Melting Planet Essay -- Glaciers Ecology Essays

A Melting orbiterAlthough most glaciers and chicken feed sheets reside in areas that man does not inhabit, they are nevertheless important for society and the global environment. Due to anthropogenic activities all over the past two centuries, the temperature of the earth is rising at an alarming rate. This maturate in temperatures has resulted in an overall loss of ice mass worldwide, including a rapid depletion in mountain glaciers. The effects of arctic melt go forth have a significant impact on the future of the gentle race, so it is therefore important to have a firm pinch of glaciers. In order for a glacier to form, all of three conditions must be met. Firstly, the mode of the area must be cold comely so that degree Celsius that falls during the previous winter does not melt away(predicate) entirely before the next winter begins. Next, the region must find oneself enough precipitation in the form of snow for a suitable amount of accumulation. Finally, the slope o f the ground must be gradual enough so that the accumulating snow does not avalanche away. As to a greater extent and to a greater extent snow accumulates over many years, it puts a great deal of insisting on the underlying layers. The upper layer of loose snow is 90% air and gives the surface of the glacier its white appearance. The next layer of snow is more granular and is roughly 50% air, while the final layer of snow is firm with only 25% air. Below these three layers, roughly at a depth of 250 meters, the pressure is so great that the snow forms into glacial ice, which gives glaciers their characteristic blue color. This ice has less than 20% air and it takes at least 10,000 years to form(Marshak 670-2). The great pressure on the bottom layers of ice also lowers the melting point of the ice. The pressure at the base of... ...el. disrespect this fear of rising seas, society continues to abuse fossil fuels.Works CitedCyrosphere. http//www.panda.org/resources/publications/clim ate/climate_change/page4-5.htmGreenpeace Ka Roimato raw(a) Zealand. http//archive.greenpeace.org/climate/docs/franz.pdfMarshak, Stephen. Earth Portrait of a Planet. W.W. Norton & Company New York, 2001.National Science Foundation Ice Sheets. http//www.nsf.gov/od/opp/support/icesheet.htmNesje, Alte. Glaciers and environmental Change. Oxford University Press New York, 2000. Oerlemans, Johannes. Glaciers and Climate Change. A.A. Balkema Publishers Lisse, 2001.USGS Glacier Monitoring in Glacier National Park. http//nrmsc.usgs.gov/ research/glaciers.htmWarrick, R.A. Climate and Sea Level Change Observations, Projections, and Implications. Cambridge University Press New York, 1993.