Including: (to mention a few)
- Increased global water levels
- Flooding
- Habitats destroyed (polar bears)
- Global warming (GHGs)
As many glaciers over the world have been melting (increasing water level globally) over the past 100 years or so, the habitats for many animals such as the polar bear have been shrinking. With the shrinkage of these habitats, the polar bears must travel/swim farther distances to find food and shelter for their selves as well as their cubs. This short 5 minute You Tube video shows and explains the effect global warming has on polar bears and puts it into perspective.
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzD7zzsRw_k#t=67
The causes of global warming are due to greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere which coat the Earth and cause the planet's temperature to rise. Normally, GHGs on a small scale are of not much harm but due to the increase burning of fossil fuels, like oil and coal, over the past 200 years has caused some serious damage. Another factor causing global warming is deforestation. The trees on the planet take in carbon dioxide, one of the GHGs, from the air. With fewer trees less CO2 is filtered, thus the increased build up of excess GHGs in the atmosphere.
If the temperature on the planet continues to rise as it is, glaciers will continue to melt, some could disappear completely.
Below is a picture in 1941 and 2004 in Alaska of the same area effected by glacial melt and calving. Crazy!!
References:
- http://www.epa.gov/climatestudents/impacts/signs/glaciers.html
- http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Global-Warming/Effects-on-Wildlife-and-Habitat/Polar-Bears.aspx
- http://www.polarbearsinternational.org/about-polar-bears/global-warming
Photos:
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