Melting
Ice Caps
What’s causing the sea level to rise?
Fuels from factories and cars are called fossil fuels. The fuels have a gas in them called Carbon Dioxide. Too much of that gas is making the air polluted and enhancing the ozone effect. It is widely believed that this phenonmenon is causing average temperatures to rise and the ice caps to melt more quickly than they otherwise would.
We also use a number of chemicals which affect the air and pollute it contributing to GLOBAL WARMING these include CFS (chlorofluorocarbons which have been used in refrigerators, air conditions and in aerosol cans. Fertilisers and some industrial processes also contribute to the production of nitrous oxide which also increases greenhouse emissions.Land clearing and habitat destruction also contribute to global warming because trees have a vital role in turning carbon dioxide into oxygen. Without trees more carbon dioxide gets into the atmosphere.
When volcanoes erupt they shoot out lava, dust and dormant gas that has been trapped in the volcano for thousands of years. These gases also contribute to the greenhouse effect. However we have little control over nature.
What impact will a rising sea level do to the world?
It is predicted that the sea levels could rise
as much as 50cm by 2100. 50cm does not sound like a huge increase but
this increase would cause wide spread erosion and would cause some low
lying coastal areas to have to be evacuated. Many of our current
beaches would be gone and some small islands that are only slightly
above sea level would become quite submerged.
How can we stop it?
To stop it we will have to find other means of powering vehicles and factories instead of fossil fuels or build cars that don’t emitt so much carbon dioxide. People at home can make a difference by trying to reduce their carbon emissions; use energy efficient light bulbs, reduce electricity use, use solar power for heating hot water, starting walking or riding their bike instead of driving the car all the time, catch public transport. All homes can make a difference in helping reduce greenhouse gases.
Sources: Wikipedia 'Sea Level Rise' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level_rise)
Encarta Kids And Encarta Reference.
'Getting into hot water - global warming and rising sea levels' http://www.science.org.au/nova/082/082key.htm
