Arctic glaciers are rapidly melting, exposing the lands of ancient Daaria. Melting of Antarctica

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Modern environmental problems are becoming more serious with each new year. One of them is associated with the sensational global warming, which was caused by sharply increased volumes of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. They formed a kind of dome over the planet, trapping heat reflected from the surface; the temperature on Earth is rising, as if in a greenhouse, slowly bringing us closer to the very unpleasant consequences. Thus, the process of melting glaciers begins, the climate and the condition of the entire planet change.

Scientists are already making assumptions about what the melting of glaciers will lead to, and these forecasts, alas, cannot be called favorable.

Frightening statistics

90% of the Earth's entire ice sheet is concentrated in Antarctica, the least explored continent. This massif is so huge that the continent is constantly sagging under its weight. Today, the area of ​​the continent's glaciers is slightly more than 14 million square kilometers.

Over the past decades, scientists have observed serious changes in the landscape: large glaciers are melting and collapsing, ice areas are shrinking, and real lakes are forming on the continent. Within a few years, with further development of this situation, the area will be reduced by a full third.

All scientists unanimously attribute universal human disdain for nature to the reasons for the melting of glaciers. Deforestation, colossal volumes of emissions, soil, water and air pollution - everything that ultimately led to the development greenhouse effect. Experts make the most dire forecasts based on statistics obtained during research and observations of glaciers:

  • By 2040, that is, in a little more than 20 years, while maintaining the same rate of glacier melting, Antarctica will be completely ice-free.
  • Under the influence of the greenhouse effect, the condition of glaciers is changing not only in the Arctic and Antarctica, but also in the Himalayas. The area of ​​glaciers in Switzerland has decreased by 12% in just the last 10 years.
  • According to NASA, the region is losing about hundreds of billions of tons of continental ice every year as a result of the melting of Greenland's glaciers.
  • An increase in the average temperature on the planet by 2.5 degrees, observed in the last 50 years, and with it the destruction of glaciers, lead to an increase in the level of the World Ocean. This increase is estimated at 0.4 millimeters per year.
  • The ice sheet is melting, and thereby increasing the volume of water vapor in the atmosphere, one of the components of greenhouse gases. This leads to , which, in turn, affects the destruction of glaciers - a real vicious circle.

And these are just the main figures related to the current situation on the planet. The melting of glacial areas continues, and scientists are making more and more assumptions and predictions about what this could lead to. further development process and what are the possibilities for eliminating the consequences of melting glaciers. We will talk about them further.

Possible consequences

Since the problem of melting glaciers is global in nature, its consequences affect the state of the entire planet and its regions. The predictions made by the researchers are related to all aspects of life on the planet.

Modern ecology, already in an unstable state, will change even more. These changes relate to geological transformations, changes in flora and fauna, rising sea levels and its consequences, as well as a number of medical and human health factors.

  1. Melting ice will lead to an increase in the water level of the World Ocean by almost 60 meters. The coastlines will shift, and the current coastal zone of all continents will be under water. Thus, cities such as Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, St. Petersburg in Russia, Tallinn in Estonia, Riga in Latvia, as well as a number of European capitals - Rome, London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Stockholm will be completely flooded. In North America, dozens of cities in the east and west of the continent will disappear, including New York, Washington and Los Angeles.
  2. The destruction of glaciers will have a significant effect on the planet's climate. The strengthening of the greenhouse effect associated with an increase in the concentration of water vapor has already been discussed above. Another problem is the increased flow of fresh water into the World Ocean, which will affect the movement and direction of the main ocean currents. It is these currents that provide the current climatic conditions in most regions. It’s hard to even imagine how exactly their change will affect the climate!
  3. The World Health Organization notes that global climate change caused by melting glaciers will lead to numerous epidemics. Already today, more than 150 thousand people die every year because of them. A number of diseases common in Africa and Central Asia, in the near future they will “move” to other continents.
  4. The most dangerous forecasts include a sharp increase in the number of natural disasters. Hurricanes, tsunamis and floods will hit all areas of the planet. These disasters also include a severe shortage of fresh water. By 2030, almost 50% of the population will face a shortage. The same goes for food: severe climate change will lead to droughts and floods, wiping out a lot of agricultural land from the face of the Earth.

In other words, the consequences of the process of glacier destruction that has already begun today seem truly catastrophic. Therefore, the problem of melting ice sheets is increasingly worrying scientists and forcing them to look for ways to solve it. Unfortunately, implementing the proposed options turns out to be much more difficult than it seems.

Solving the problem

It is possible to prevent the irreversible consequences of melting glaciers in the Arctic, Antarctic and other regions of the planet only if the necessary measures are taken everywhere and at all levels, from the global level to the actions of each person.

Already today, scientists are developing ways to protect melting glaciers from the destructive effects of temperatures: projects are being proposed to install protective mirrors in the planet’s orbit and shutters in glacier territories. Plants bred through complex selection that are capable of absorbing carbon dioxide more efficiently are being studied.

Very important aspect solution to the problem lies in finding alternative sources energy, allowing you to stop burning carbon raw materials.

  1. Installed solar panels, wind turbines and tidal power plants.
  2. The most unconventional methods of obtaining energy are being developed, for example, using human thermal energy to heat rooms.
  3. Are improving technical specifications cars, hybrid models are produced.
  4. At the state level, strict control is exercised over enterprises, which does not allow them to exceed the level of hazardous and toxic emissions.

Every person can contribute to the preservation of glaciers and the prosperous state of their native planet in their daily activities. So, scientists recommend abandoning overuse all kinds of aerosols, which contain chlorofluorocarbons that destroy ozone layer. Avoiding frequent driving and using bicycles or public transport for short distances can help reduce emissions. If possible, it is recommended to plant areas near the house with green spaces.

One of the most relevant environmental problems modernity - the ever-accelerating process of melting the planet’s ice sheets. These giant ice masses contain the main reserves of fresh water, and in addition, their prosperity allows them to maintain appropriate climatic conditions. The destruction of glaciers negatively affects the planet's climate, the state of flora and fauna, and human health. To solve the problem, serious measures must be taken at all levels of society. At the global level, the preservation of glaciers depends on scientists and government officials; at the individual level, it depends on each of us.

The glaciers of Greenland and Antarctica are melting at a catastrophic rate. Despite numerous studies, scientists still cannot accurately answer the question of how melting glaciers and global warming will affect the level of seas and oceans.

Pedicels in Greenland and West Antarctica are melting faster than scientists expected. And in some places they are melting too quickly. British scientists came to these conclusions after analyzing 50 million images of ice sheets taken by NASA satellites. New data was obtained using high-precision laser scanning, reports Associated Press.

British scientists first focused on special attention only the melting of ice on the tops of thick ice sheets, but later it turned out that the ice was rapidly melting at the edges as well. According to data published in the journal Nature, since 2003, glaciers in some areas of Antarctica have become thinner by 915 cm.

Every year the glaciers are melting faster and faster. In the period from 2003 to 2007, in some areas of Antarctica, the rate of glacier melting is 50% higher than in the period from 1995 to 2003. The ice is becoming thinner, and the impressive glacial mountains are now replaced by hills. The more glaciers melt, the more water appears around, which, in turn, also erodes the ice. reference

According to Hamish Pritchard, an employee of the British Antarctic Survey and the author of the study, the main question is how quickly the glaciers will melt in the future. “They are melting much faster than we expected,” he said. Thus, 81 out of 111 glaciers in Greenland are disappearing at a catastrophic rate. According to Pritchard, the main problem is “not climate warming, but meltwater.” At the same time, the study does not answer the question of how melting glaciers and global warming will affect the level of seas and oceans. Some scientists have argued that the melting of the two ice sheets will lead to a sea level rise of 92 cm, perhaps more, by the end of the century. But the layers of ice are still quite thick, and it may take hundreds of years for them to completely melt.

Some scientists believed that the melting of glaciers could slow down. However, University of Pennsylvania professor Richard Alley emphasizes that recent measurements have completely refuted these optimistic forecasts.

The only subglacial lake in the world is located in Antarctica. Polar explorers are gradually drilling into the ice towards this lake. Main problem The point is that this lake has been under ice for millions of years and it is unclear how it will react to the sudden burst of fresh air.

Scientists report an alarming rate of melting of Antarctica's ice shelves

West Antarctica's ice shelves have melted 70 percent faster over the past ten years. Scientists fear that in the very near future these objects, which keep continental ice masses from sliding into the ocean, may completely disappear. Such processes will seriously accelerate the rate of sea level rise. A new study on this topic is presented in the journal Science.

Fernando Paolo of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography examined satellite radar data collected from 1994 to 2012. During this time, ice shelves in the Bellingshausen and Amundsen seas decreased by an average of 737-1920 centimeters per decade. Moreover, the melting has accelerated sharply since 2003.

The Venable Glacier has shrunk by almost four meters - at this rate of melting it will disappear within a hundred years. The same fate could befall the Crosson Ice Shelf. According to scientists, these processes in the west of Antarctica will lead to an increase in global sea level by 120-450 centimeters, which will create an immediate threat to many cities located on the coast.

In the westernmost points of the continent, masses of ice are undermined by warm waters flowing around the so-called abutment line - the boundary separating the stationary and floating parts of glaciers. As a result, it moves several kilometers deeper into Antarctica. In areas where continental glaciers are located on a surface inclined towards the sea, these processes accelerate their slide into the ocean. Cause of water influx high temperature Researchers believe changes in the wind rose are associated with global warming.

An abnormally hot summer has arrived in western Antarctica

Western Antarctica is warming twice as fast as scientists predicted. Some researchers believe that this is due to intense greenhouse gas emissions.

“The weather in this place is very changeable - some of the changes are associated with human activity, but some don’t. For now, we cannot make hasty conclusions. The fact that temperatures are rising summer period, may indicate that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is not only melting from below, as is commonly believed, but may also begin to melt at the surface,” explained researcher Andrew Monaghan.

If the ice melts at an even faster rate, it could threaten a catastrophic rise in sea levels. Previously, scientists found that over the past two decades, sea levels have risen 60% faster than predicted. Every year the ocean added 3.2 millimeters instead of the two millimeters expected by scientists.

Melting of Antarctica

When people talk about the dangers of global warming, they usually mean two extremely harmful factors for humanity. Firstly, this itself is an increase in average annual air temperature. Which can lead to droughts in many regions of the planet, especially those close to the Equator. Secondly, this is a rise in the level of the World Ocean, fraught not only with the flooding of many coastal areas, but also with climate change. Climate change: can it be combated? And rising sea levels are associated, first of all, with the melting of glaciers, including in Antarctica.

On the Antarctic Peninsula of three large glaciers left alone. Over the past seventeen years, due to global warming, the Antarctic Peninsula ice shelf has shrunk in size by 85%.

This is evidenced by data obtained from the Envisat satellite, owned by the European Space Agency. Images from space show that the area of ​​the ice shelf called Larsen B has shrunk from 11,512 thousand square kilometers to 1,670 square kilometers in 2012.

The Larsen B Ice Shelf is one of three such features that lie along the eastern portion of the world's largest peninsula. During 1995-2002, Larsen B experienced the calving of huge icebergs from glaciers that faced the sea. The largest such event occurred in 2002. You can find out more by visiting our website, school of speed reading. Then almost half of the ice broke off from the glacier. After floating into the open ocean, the iceberg melted. The Larsen A glacier melted even earlier - in 1995.

Thus, the process of melting of the Antarctic ice shelves is intensifying, during which the level of the world's oceans is rising.

Larsen C, the third glacier of the peninsula, remained in a stable state for quite a long time, but it is also becoming thinner with each passing year. Ice shelves are peculiar blankets of ice that descend from the shore into the sea. They are very sensitive to any changes temperature regime and can be washed away by warm ocean currents.

Over the past 50 years, temperatures in the Antarctic Peninsula region have increased by two and a half degrees, which is several times higher than the global average. Therefore, massive melting of ice will inevitably lead to a rise in sea levels. Thus, small island states will be at risk of extinction or drowning. True, the largest glaciers in Antarctica still remain stable and their massive collapse does not yet threaten us. Still, the melting of glaciers in Antarctica is causing concern among experts.

Sources: www.antarktis.ru, lenta.ru, wowjoy.ru, www.chuchotezvous.ru, news-mining.ru

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News regularly appears about the catastrophic consequences of melting glaciers in West Antarctica, as well as other information related to the fact that the melting of Arctic glaciers is caused by global warming, caused by the greenhouse effect provoked by excessive industrial activity. What is this really, propaganda or misinterpretation of facts? According to an explanation posted on the LiveScience website, some facts about the great changes in Antarctica have been misinterpreted.

1) In recent decades, Antarctica has not been shrinking, but growing. This is true. But what is overlooked is the fact that sea ice is not the same as land ice. When scientists talk about the Antarctic ice sheet melting, they mean continental ice. Unlike the mainland arctic ice, which persists throughout the year, almost all sea ice melts in the summer. Interestingly, the increase in volume sea ​​ice associated with shrinking glaciers. Stronger winds, temperature fluctuations and changes in ocean salinity levels are all leading to more sea ice, creating large areas, on which ice forms. The same conditions occur when glaciers retreat. Strong winds cause changes in the circulation of currents, bringing more warm water, which erodes the base of glaciers.

2) Can we talk about the power of volcanoes? Western, that is, the place where the ice melts faster, is also an area with a significant number active volcanoes. Some researchers take their activities into account. But could they be responsible for melting ice? Some facts lead us to categorical denial. Let's take Iceland for example. There are many active land volcanoes here, however, glaciers still cover their surface. Iceland is one of many examples that show us that fire and ice can coexist without causing mass melting.

There are also Tuya volcanoes, which are formed when lava erupts from beneath a glacier or ice cap. We know that they were formed during the Ice Age and there is still no evidence that the eruptions caused the rapid and catastrophic melting of the ice. Thirdly, volcanic activity in West Antarctica has not changed significantly over the past few decades, that is, when the accelerated melting of glaciers began. Finally, the researchers calculated that it would take a major eruption like Yellowstone (which occurred over a million years ago in the US) to melt the kilometers of ice that lie above the volcanoes.

5) The ice is melting, the sea is rising. The Antarctic ice crust is on land, not floating in the ocean. She washes bottom part in the sea, but most of the ice is on land. Thus, most of the ice that melts and floats in the ocean does not replace water to cause sea level rise. The ground in West Antarctica is rising as the ice crust retreats. This natural phenomenon, called ice retreat, is currently occurring in North America, where the land, freed from the weight of the ice sheet that has covered the continent since the last Ice Age, is rising.

The Arctic has its own history

If until recently it was said on all channels that global warming caused by industrial activity is leading to the melting of the Greenland ice cap, now researchers have come to the conclusion that the melting of ice is not due to atmospheric pollution greenhouse gases. "The phenomenon of global warming, caused by rising levels of greenhouse gases due to human activities, cannot explain why this region is warming so quickly," said Qinghua Ding, a climate scientist at the University of Washington and coordinator of a study published recently in the journal Nature. Dean and his colleagues established a connection between temperatures surface waters in tropical zones and the North Atlantic Oscillation, a similar climate pattern prevails in the Arctic climate.

Since the 90s, warm surface of the western part and cold waters of the eastern part Pacific Ocean have caused the North Atlantic Oscillation to generate a high pressure front over Greenland and the Canadian Arctic. A front of high atmospheric pressure leads to elevated temperatures. Tropical ocean temperatures have been studied since the first satellites were launched in 1979, so scientists do not know whether current temperatures in the tropical Pacific are the result of a short climate cycle or whether they will continue for decades. "We don't have the data yet, so we can't know the real reason phenomena," the researcher admits in LiveScience. But not everyone agrees with these observations.

Thus, Jürgen Bader, a climatologist at the Max Planck Institute for Meteorology in Germany, believes that “if the trends in the evolution of Pacific Ocean temperatures change, then the process climate warming in the Arctic may slow down in the coming decades, but it seems that the phenomenon of global warming, which arose for anthropological reasons, will overcome the natural evolution towards cooling in the coming years. It is only a matter of time until the anthropological process of global warming becomes the main cause of warming in the Arctic,” says Jürgen Bader. As we see, science puts forward only incredible hypotheses based on partial observations.

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Antarctica is the least studied continent located in the south of the globe. Most of its surface has ice cover up to 4.8 km thick. The Antarctic ice sheet contains 90% (!) of all the ice on our planet. It is so heavy that the continent beneath it has sunk almost 500 m. Today the world is seeing the first signs of global warming in Antarctica: large glaciers are collapsing, new lakes are appearing, and the soil is losing its ice cover. Let's simulate the situation of what will happen if Antarctica loses its ice.

How will Antarctica itself change?

Today the area of ​​Antarctica is 14,107,000 km². If the glaciers melt, these numbers will be reduced by a third. The mainland will become almost unrecognizable. Under the ice there are numerous mountain ranges and massifs. The western part will definitely become an archipelago, and the eastern part will remain a continent, although given the rise of ocean waters, it will not retain this status for long.


This is what Antarctica will look like. The current territory is outlined

On at the moment on the Antarctic Peninsula, islands and coastal oases there are many representatives flora: flowers, ferns, lichens, algae, and lately their diversity is gradually increasing. There are fungi and some bacteria there, and the coasts are occupied by seals and penguins. Already now, on the same Antarctic Peninsula, the appearance of tundra is observed, and scientists are confident that with warming there will be both trees and new ones.

By the way, Antarctica holds several records: the lowest recorded temperature on Earth is 89.2 degrees below zero; the largest crater on Earth is located there; the strongest and longest winds.

Today there is no permanent population on the territory of Antarctica. Only employees of scientific stations are there, and sometimes tourists visit it. With climate change, the formerly cold continent may become suitable for permanent residence human, but now it is difficult to talk about this with confidence - everything will depend on the current climatic situation.

How will the world change due to melting glaciers?

Rising water levels in the world's oceans

So, scientists have calculated that after the ice cover melts, The level of the world's oceans will rise by almost 60 meters. And this is a lot and will be equated to global catastrophe. The coastline will shift significantly, and today's coastal zone of the continents will be under water.


A great flood awaits many paradises our planet

If we speak, then its central part will not suffer much. In particular, Moscow is located 130 meters above the current sea level, so the flood will not reach it. Such people will go under water major cities, like Astrakhan, Arkhangelsk, St. Petersburg, Novgorod and Makhachkala. Crimea will turn into an island - only its mountainous part will rise above the sea. And in Krasnodar region Only Novorossiysk, Anapa and Sochi will be flooded. Siberia and the Urals will not be subject to too much flooding - mainly coastal residents will have to be resettled settlements.


Black Sea will grow - in addition to the northern part of Crimea and Odessa, Istanbul will also take over. Signed cities that will be under water

The Baltic states, Denmark and Holland will almost completely disappear. In general, European cities such as London, Rome, Venice, Amsterdam and Copenhagen will go under water along with everything cultural heritage, so while you have time, be sure to visit them and take photos on Instagram, because your grandchildren will most likely not be able to do this.

It will also be hard for the Americans, who will definitely be left without Washington, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and many other large coastal cities.


What will happen to North America. Signed cities that will be under water

Climate

The climate will already undergo unpleasant changes that will lead to the melting of the ice sheet. According to ecologists, the ice of Antarctica, Antarctica and those found on mountain peaks help maintain the temperature balance on the planet by cooling its atmosphere. Without them, this balance will be disrupted.

The entry of large amounts of fresh water into the world's oceans will certainly affect direction of major ocean currents, which largely determine the climatic conditions in many regions. So it is not yet possible to say with certainty what will happen to our weather.


The number of natural disasters will increase significantly. Hurricanes, typhoons and tornadoes will claim thousands of lives.

Paradoxically, as a result of global warming, some countries will begin to experience lack of fresh water. And not just because of the dry climate. The fact is that snow deposits in the mountains provide water to vast areas, and after it melts there will no longer be such a benefit.

Economy

All this will greatly affect the economy, even if the flooding process is gradual. Take the USA and China for example! Like it or not, these countries greatly influence the economic situation throughout the world. In addition to the problem of relocating tens of millions of people and the loss of their capital, the states will lose almost a quarter of their production capacity, which will ultimately hit the global economy. And China will be forced to say goodbye to its huge trading ports, which will reduce the supply of products to the world market significantly.

How are things today?

Some scientists reassure us that the observed melting of glaciers is normal, because... somewhere they disappear, and somewhere they are formed, and thus balance is maintained. Others note that there are still reasons for concern, and provide convincing evidence.

Not long ago, British scientists analyzed 50 million satellite images Antarctic ice sheets and concluded that they melting occurs very quickly. In particular, the giant Totten glacier, comparable in size to the territory of France, is causing concern. Researchers noticed that it was being washed away by warm salty waters, accelerating its decay. According to forecasts, this glacier can raise the level of the World Ocean by as much as 2 meters. It is assumed that the Larsen B glacier will collapse by 2020. And he, by the way, is as much as 12,000 years old.

According to the BBC, Antarctica loses as much as 160 billion tons of ice per year. Moreover, this figure is growing rapidly. Scientists say they did not expect such a rapid melting of the southern ice.

By the way, the name “Antarctica” means “opposite the Arctic” or “opposite the north.”

The most unpleasant thing is that the process of melting glaciers further influences the increase in the greenhouse effect. The fact is that the ice covers of our planet reflect part of sunlight. Without this, heat will be retained in the Earth's atmosphere in large volumes, thereby increasing average temperature. And the growing area of ​​the World Ocean, whose waters collect heat, will only worsen the situation. Besides large number Melt water also has a detrimental effect on glaciers. Thus, ice reserves not only in Antarctica, but throughout the globe, are melting faster and faster, which ultimately threatens big problems.

Antarctica is the least studied continent located in the south of the globe. Most of its surface has ice cover up to 4.8 km thick. The Antarctic ice sheet contains 90% (!) of all the ice on our planet. It is so heavy that the continent beneath it has sunk almost 500 m. Today the world is seeing the first signs of global warming in Antarctica: large glaciers are collapsing, new lakes are appearing, and the soil is losing its ice cover. Let's simulate the situation of what will happen if Antarctica loses its ice.

How will Antarctica itself change?

Today the area of ​​Antarctica is 14,107,000 km². If the glaciers melt, these numbers will be reduced by a third. The mainland will become almost unrecognizable. Under the ice there are numerous mountain ranges and massifs. The western part will definitely become an archipelago, and the eastern part will remain a continent, although given the rise of ocean waters, it will not retain this status for long.

At the moment, on the Antarctic Peninsula, islands and coastal oases, many representatives of the plant world are found: flowers, ferns, lichens, algae, and recently their diversity has been gradually increasing. There are fungi and some bacteria there, and the coasts are occupied by seals and penguins. Already now, on the same Antarctic Peninsula, the appearance of tundra is observed, and scientists are confident that with warming there will be trees and new representatives of the animal world. By the way, Antarctica holds several records: the lowest recorded temperature on Earth is 89.2 degrees below zero; the largest crater on Earth is located there; the strongest and longest winds. Today there is no permanent population on the territory of Antarctica. Only employees of scientific stations are there, and sometimes tourists visit it. With climate change, the former cold continent may become suitable for permanent human habitation, but now it is difficult to talk about this with confidence - everything will depend on the current climatic situation.

How will the world change due to melting glaciers?

Rising water levels in the world's oceans So, scientists have calculated that after the melting of the ice cover, the level of the world's oceans will rise by almost 60 meters. And this is a lot and will amount to a global catastrophe. The coastline will shift significantly, and today's coastal zone of the continents will be under water.

If we talk about Russia, its central part will not suffer much. In particular, Moscow is located 130 meters above the current sea level, so the flood will not reach it. Large cities such as Astrakhan, Arkhangelsk, St. Petersburg, Novgorod and Makhachkala will go under water. Crimea will turn into an island - only its mountainous part will rise above the sea. And in the Krasnodar Territory only Novorossiysk, Anapa and Sochi will be insulated. Siberia and the Urals will not be subject to too much flooding - mostly residents of coastal settlements will have to be resettled.

The Black Sea will grow - in addition to the northern part of Crimea and Odessa, Istanbul will also be taken over. The cities that will be under water have been signed. The Baltic states, Denmark and Holland will almost completely disappear. In general, European cities such as London, Rome, Venice, Amsterdam and Copenhagen will go under water along with all their cultural heritage, so while you have time, be sure to visit them and post photos on Instagram, because your grandchildren will probably already have done so they won't be able to. It will also be hard for the Americans, who will definitely be left without Washington, New York, Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and many other large coastal cities.

What will happen to North America? Signed cities that will be under water

The climate will already undergo unpleasant changes that will lead to the melting of the ice sheet. According to ecologists, the ice of Antarctica, Antarctica and those found on mountain peaks help maintain the temperature balance on the planet by cooling its atmosphere. Without them, this balance will be disrupted. The entry of large amounts of fresh water into the world's oceans will likely affect the direction of large ocean currents, which largely determine the climatic conditions in many regions. So it is not yet possible to say with certainty what will happen to our weather.

The number of natural disasters will increase significantly. Hurricanes, typhoons and tornadoes will claim thousands of lives. Paradoxically, due to global warming, some countries will begin to experience a shortage of fresh water. And not just because of the dry climate. The fact is that snow deposits in the mountains provide water to vast areas, and after it melts there will no longer be such a benefit.

Economy

All this will greatly affect the economy, even if the flooding process is gradual. Take the USA and China for example! Like it or not, these countries greatly influence the economic situation throughout the world. In addition to the problem of relocating tens of millions of people and the loss of their capital, the states will lose almost a quarter of their production capacity, which will ultimately hit the global economy. And China will be forced to say goodbye to its huge trading ports, which will reduce the supply of products to the world market significantly.

How are things today?

Some scientists reassure us that the observed melting of glaciers is normal, because... somewhere they disappear, and somewhere they are formed, and thus balance is maintained. Others note that there are still reasons for concern, and provide convincing evidence.

Not long ago, British scientists analyzed 50 million satellite images of Antarctic ice sheets and came to the conclusion that their melting is happening very rapidly. In particular, the giant Totten glacier, comparable in size to the territory of France, is causing concern. Researchers noticed that it was being washed away by warm salty waters, accelerating its decay. According to forecasts, this glacier can raise the level of the World Ocean by as much as 2 meters. It is assumed that the Larsen B glacier will collapse by 2020. And he, by the way, is as much as 12,000 years old.

According to the BBC, Antarctica loses as much as 160 billion ice per year. Moreover, this figure is growing rapidly. Scientists say they did not expect such a rapid melting of the southern ice.

The most unpleasant thing is that the process of melting glaciers even more influences the increase in the greenhouse effect. The fact is that the ice covers of our planet reflect part of the sunlight. Without this, heat will be retained in the Earth's atmosphere in large volumes, thereby increasing the average temperature. And the growing area of ​​the World Ocean, whose waters collect heat, will only worsen the situation. In addition, large amounts of melt water also have a detrimental effect on glaciers. Thus, ice reserves not only in Antarctica, but throughout the globe, are melting faster and faster, which ultimately threatens big problems.
Conclusion

Scientists have very different opinions about the melting of the Antarctic ice cover, but what is known for certain is that man, through his activities, greatly influences the climate. If humanity does not solve the problem of global warming in the next 100 years, then the process will be inevitable.