The drastic change in Antarctica presents a worrying threat to the commonly perceived, flawless, and obscure continent, considered an ice-bound wilderness. The most recent research and findings highlight the alarming increase in floods in the frozen terrain, primarily due to climate change. The numerous causes of the floods are primarily associated with rising global temperatures, climate change, the collapse of ice shelves, and surface melting due to the warming of the oceans.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Although natural factors such as volcanic eruptions and solar radiation play their roles in affecting the climate, human activities have dominated over the last few decades. Among human causes, however, burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which release huge amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, has been the leading cause. These gases can absorb heat from the sun, which, as a result, leads to warming effects, also known as global warming.
SURFACE MELTING
Surface melting can be due to both natural and anthropogenic reasons. Naturally, an increase in insolation leads to a rise in surrounding temperatures and changes in atmospheric circulation patterns. Consequently, it causes the ice and snow on the surface to melt. Seasonal adjustments, like warmer summers, also play a vital role. Some human activities, such as greenhouse gas discharge and deforestation, contribute to surface melting.
OCEAN WARMING
The main reason for ocean warming is the increase of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere. Human activities result in increased releases through the burning of fossil fuels and industrial processes. These gases capture heat and raise temperatures. Excess heat from these temperatures gets transferred to the oceans.
CONCLUSION
Climate change, shelf collapse, surface melting, and ocean warming combined to break this fine balance of the ice cover over Antarctica, increasing the melting rate of glaciers and ice sheets. This not only raises the sea level across the globe but also causes a lot of flooding inside Antarctica itself. Human activities, the discharge of greenhouse gases through burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes are drivers of this rapid change.
About the Author
Kassielle is a 12-year-old grade 7 student. Her interests are drawing, reading, and playing instruments. She desires to be an architect someday.