Global Warming Greenland

Benefits of Recycling.com is presenting this series of pages on global warming becaue we believe there is evidence to support it is real. Even so, we are open to be proven wrong, which is why there are pages on why it is not real. Fair is fair.

The truth is we just want people to be aware that human activities (as well as natural causes) have the possibility of creating adverse effects in the US, Antarctica, Greenland, and throughout the world.

Global warming can also be detrimental to wildlife such as polar bears, creatures like sea turtles, and sea life like coral reefs,not to mention human health, due to the spread of disease.

So is global warming a myth or are there facts to support it as a reality of our times? Is there really such a thing as the greenhouse effect? And if so, what is that?

Whether you believe global warming is real or not, we invite you to read what we have uncovered on the many pages of this site... and beyond. Remember, knowledge is power.

Global Warming Greenland / Scientists Speak Out

The term global warming has entered the widely-used lexicon of humans at the end of the 20th century. It denotes a gradual increase in the average temperature of air near the Earth surface and that of oceanic waters.

Though this increase may look tiny (scientists say the temperature has already increased 0.74°C during the last century and expect it to rise another 1.1 to 6.4°C by the year 2100), the climate changes it has caused are impressive and terrifying at the same time: extreme weather conditions, unexpected tornadoes, ice melting in the Arctic and rise of the sea levels.

Speaking about global warming, scientists often mention Greenland as one of the key factors influencing the changes in the global climate and even geography. The point is that global warming affects the northern territories the most, and Greenland located not far from the North Pole is, perhaps, the most vivid demonstration that the global warming is real and its consequences may be much more serious that people supposed earlier.

Global Warming Greenland / It's Melting

Greenland is not only the word’s largest island, but it is also a place (like Antarctica), where huge amounts of ice are accumulated. Actually, the majority of Greenland is covered with ice shield, which thickness is approximately 1.6 miles.

And here is where the problem starts: in recent years global warming started to melt that huge mass of ice - yet slowly but quickly enough to reduce the time frame before expected global catastrophe from thousands to hundreds of years.

Scientists say that Greenland accumulates so much ice, that if all of it melts down at some time – this will raise the sea and ocean level for about 20 feet worldwide, changing drastically the way how planet Earth looks these days.

If this pretty apocalyptical scientists’ forecast comes true, people may face the disaster, known previously only from Hollywood blockbusters, where California and Florida go deep down below the water…

Global Warming Greenland / Disappearing Lakes

There is another issue involving Greenland ice that has been discovered recently, which unfortunately does not increase the chances of California remaining where it is now. Scientists noted that many lakes, which appear at the surface of glaciers in Greenland during summer, then mysteriously disappear somewhere and somehow. After several experiments and investigations, this puzzle was solved.

It appeared that during summers, which get warmer and warmer these days in Greenland because of global warming, the ice melts, forming large lakes at the surface of ice glaciers.

When the amount of water reaches some critical point, its pressure cracks the ice sheet and the water drains down beneath the ice with the speed of water at Niagara Falls. The velocity of water is so high that the huge lake disappears in a couple of hours.

Such disappearing lakes phenomenon does not only puzzle scientists, it results in more rapid Greenland glacier ice melting.

The water from such lakes after cracking the ice sheet goes beneath the massive ice sheet and lifts it, at the same time acting like lubricant, making it easier for the glacier to slide into the ocean. When in the water, ice travels to the warmer areas and melts quickly, raising the level of the ocean bit by bit.

Global Warming Greenland / The New Island

Finally, one more fact to illustrate how global warming affects Greenland is the following. In 2007 scientists discovered a new island near Greenland.

As a matter of fact, this island has always existed, but earlier it was completely covered by ice and was joined with Greenland by ice cap only. When the ice melted away, this revealed the new island, which was called the Warming Island.

There is even a suggestion that with the progress of global warming and ice melting in Greenland, it may appear that Greenland consists of three islands, which are currently covered by a huge ice cap. If that theory comes true, Greenland may have all the chances to loose its title of the world’s largest island. And that will be the fault of global warming…

Global Warming Greenland / Sources

http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/apr2008/db20080417_425304.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/magazine/27wwln-phenom-t.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland

For more information on Global Warming follow these links:

Definition for Global Warming

When Did Global Warming Start

How To Stop Global Warming

More Ways to Prevent Global Warming

Global Warming is Real

Facts on Global Warming

Global Warming Evidence

Global Warming is Not Real

More Global Warming Myths

Global Warming Predictions

Global Warming Trends

Global Warming Hurricanes

Global Warming Antarctica

Human Effects of Global Warming

Natural Causes of Global Warming

Global Warming and Wildlife

Global Warming Polar Bears

Global Warming Green House Effect

Methane and Global Warming

Global Warming and Fossil Fuels