discussion and student replies
anjzrujillhx4
capspowerpoint.pptxThe PolAr Ice Caps
Case Study:
What is an ice cap?
Ice Caps are sheets of ice that are found around the North and South Poles as well as many mountain tops
Many Ice Caps have a rich ecosystem that thrives around and below them
Are the ice caps melting? how that effects the ecosystem around them?
There is ample evidence that the ice caps are shrinking and that is making an impact on the animals that use them to rest and birth animals or find food and nutrients below them causing potential extinction or permanent migration
Warmer ocean water and air temperatures around the ice caps are bringing new warm climate fish, mammals and bugs north to the caps
The shrinking caps no longer are providing a buffer to the coastal areas from powerful storms changing the coastline and destroying plant life
The opposition
The biggest opposition to the ice caps melting comes from some level of confusion on the issue. Opposition to this concept will say “but the sea levels are not rising that much!” The fact is that if the ice caps in the oceans (which I am primarily discussing) it will not dramatically change the sea levels. That change would come from land caps.
Solutions
Greenpeace has put forth many solutions to protect the caps in our oceans and the species that rely on them
Reduce the amount of industrial traffic and shipping lanes
Make the areas around the ice caps a sanctuary so they are preserved and protected
No oil drilling and no military activity
It is important we educate ourselves to protect our planet. These are images from NASA from 1979 to 2011. Clearly there has been a shift, and we must find a solution before it is too late.
Questions
What else can we do to protect our natural resources like the ice caps?
How will the destruction of ecosystems around the caps effect others over the long term?
Greenpeace. Protect The Arctic. https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/issues/protect-the-arctic/
Reiss, Bob. Barrow, Alaska: Ground Zero For Climate Change. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/barrow-alaska-ground-zero-for-climate-change-7553696/. (2010).
Schaffer, Jim. Climate Changes Threaten Alaska Indigenous Way of life. https://nonprofitquarterly.org/climate-change-threatens-indigenous-alaskans-way-life/. (2016).
Milman, Oliver. Alaska Indigenous People See Culture Slipping Away As Ice Melts. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/dec/19/alaska-sea-ice-vanishing-climate-change-indigenous-people. (2016).
Evers, Jeannie. Ice Cap. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ice-cap/. (2012).
Harnish, Corey. The Arctic is Not Doomed: 8 Easy Ways You Can Stop the Arctic Ice From Melting. https://www.betterworldinternational.org/planet/8-easy-ways-stop-arctic-ice-melting/. (2016).
Santiago, Jose. 15 Quotes On Climate Change By World Leaders. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/11/15-quotes-on-climate-change-by-world-leaders/. (2015).
Nasa and vims staff. Smith helps announce nasa discovery of unprecedented blooms of life.https://www.vims.edu/newsandevents/topstories/archives/2012/icescape_nasa_smith.php. (2012).
Peter Eastway Image. Walrus.https://photopxl.com/walrus-at-storoya-svalbard/
