The Arctic is Melting faster Than We Expected

We all are aware that Global Warming and Climate change are matters of grave concern. Scientists are closely watching the temperature changes that are taking place around the glove, especially at the poles. Among the various drawbacks of climate change, one of the biggest concern is of rising water levels, which if becomes reality, could make major coastal cities around the world a danger zone. Flooding of the cities combined with rapid rising of sea water levels will force these mega centres to basically get extinct. So how fast is this change going to occur ? Well, for sure it is highly unlikely that a mass exodus of population will take place, reason being that the water level is expected to rise slowly. Maybe at the rate of a few centimetres per decades. A recent presentation by Thomas Homer Dixon, author of "The Downside of Up" at a conference in St Johns, Newfoundland, revealed a number of interesting facts about global climate change. For starters, climate change will be the biggest challenge that mankind has ever faced. Ice sheets at the North Pole appear to be melting at a far faster rate than expected. This is partially being attributed to dynamic natural prcesses. Another reason for the rapid warming at the poles is being attributed to the Ice-Albedo feedback effect. The Ice Albedo effect takes place because of a low reflective surface area of snow and ice at the poles. Light from the sun is able to penetrate the atmosphere and reach the surface of the earth where ice, sea ice and polar ice is melted. This primarily happens because the atmosphere no longer contains adequate amounts of reflective particles that block the suns rays from reaching the earths surface. A major reason for the Ice-Abedo effect is increased usage of carbon intensive fuels. Fossil fuels such as crude oil and coal release significant amounts of Carbon in the atmosphere, which in turns changes its chemical composition. Advocates around the globe are discussing the effect of carbon on the atmosphere and this is a very hot topic of discussion at the moment worldwide. What needs to be seen is how industry worldwide is able to reduce its carbon footprint over the next coming years. The effects of carbon emission have already shown strains in the natural balance of the earth and weather and temperature dynamics worldwide are changing. For now perhaps what our major worry should be is if investing in that beach house is really worth it or not ?