Research on the Polar Ice Caps essays

Research on the Polar Ice Caps essays The polar ice caps are some of natures most impressive features because, while they may seem like frozen chunks of ice, they are actually indicators of life on Earth. Maynard Miller maintains that polar ice caps can be defined as domelike glacial masses, usually at high elevation (Miller). The cover the North and South poles, including outreaching areas such as the Artic Ocean and Antarctica. While they appear to be domelike, they can vary in thicknesses. Some parts of the ice caps are only a few meters thick while other areas are several miles (Science Online) thick. They remain frozen year-round and they serve as sources for glaciers that feed ice into the polar seas in the form of icebergs (Science Online). They can form the central nourishment area of an ice field at the crest of a mountain range, or they may exist in isolated positions as separate glacial units in themselves (Miller). They are frozen all year and, as we might expect, they are very cold. Some temperatures h ave been recorded at -126.8Â ° Fahrenheit. Since they are so cold, they double as deep-freeze storage units holding scientifically and geologically useful information (Science Online). While it is agreed that the ice caps have been around a long time (millions of years), there is disagreement over how long they been on the Earth in their current form. However, there is not a question regarding their evolution. Most scientists agree that the caps have undergone contraction and expansion through some 26 different glaciations in just the past few million years (Science Online). This growth can be caused by a number of things, including global temperatures. The primary reason that polar caps experience change is a small drop in temperature. This can be no more than 15Â ° Fahrenheit. The effect that such changes in climate have on the caps has gained attention of late because it ...