Introduction to the Crumbling Cryosphere

(This post is meant to be the first post of this blog).
Throughout Earth's exciting and dynamic history, ice caps have repeatedly waxed and waned which has caused many changes in climate and ocean currents over time. This blog will explore the impacts of present climate change on the polar ice caps and what influences the melting ice caps will and are having on the rest of the planet, both human and physical.
Since the late 1800s, scientists have speculated that global warming is taking place at the present time. The Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius was the first scientist to suggest the theory of global warming. This hypothesis has now been widely accepted among scientists. I have read articles about anthropogenic global warming and am convinced that it is taking place. The evidence is insurmountable and to have an opinion against global warming is short sighted.


The waning of the ice caps (particularly the Arctic) over the course of summers is becoming more extensive with the Arctic sea ice melting on a record scale in 2012. 
This image from Rocky Rex's Science Stuff blog shows the Arctic sea ice from 1980 and the drop in sea ice in 2012, a year with the least ice cover in recorded history, surpassing the record in 2007 (source).


The thermohaline circulation, albedo effect, rising sea levels and the cooling of the North Atlantic Ocean are all physical factors that are starting to change due to the melting of the Arctic and Antarctica. Loss of habitat is also a major concern. These will be explored in later posts.
Human activity is also becoming affected whether it be by rising sea levels or loss of habitat for food sources. This will be looked at in later posts.


I hope that this blog will provide an insight into the melting ice caps and what they mean for an ever changing world.