They need to have a place to live, and they have a culture. One important thing that will happen is groundwater contamination. If the sea level is rising, there is going to be infiltration of saltwater in groundwater reserves further inland.
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Another thing already happening is that thermohaline circulation may be affected. Also called the Great Conveyor Belt, this moves heat around from the equator to higher latitudes.
We may already see a slowdown of that circulation because we're putting too much freshwater into the Arctic. So if that happens there would be no more Gulf Stream. Europe will be as cold as Montreal. Temperatures in Europe would plummet and there would be a sort of mini Ice Age. There are also lots of toxic chemicals in the ice sheets and in some of our mountain glaciers — in the Himalayas, for example. Instead, there would be mass migrations to Canada, Alaska, the Arctic, and even what's left of the Antarctic.
And you're right, this is probably never going to happen. After all, there's enough ice right now to cover the entire continent of North America in a sheet a mile thick.
So the next time you hear about record-breaking heat or ultra-powerful hurricanes, at least you know that it could be worse. But scientists estimate that if we don't take action and global temperatures increase by just 1 degree Celsius, the effects of climate change we already see today will be irreversible.
So yes, it could be worse, and it will be if we're not careful. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Good Subscriber Account active since Shortcuts. Account icon An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile. Log out.
US Markets Loading H M S In the news. If the Arctic continues to warm — and at alarming rates at that — the U. The most important, day-to-day thing we can do to stop the Arctic ice from disappearing is to cut back on greenhouse gas and carbon emissions. The lesser rate emissions happen, the slower the rate of global warming happens.
The slower the rate of global warming, the slower ice from the Arctic disappears. However, researchers are actively searching for ways to slow down the rate of the ice disappearing.
Non-profit Ice has proposed covering the Arctic in millions of silica and glass beads, to reflect sunlight back into space and while insulating ice that would have otherwise melted. Silica does not pose a threat to nature or animals, and the beads actually stick to the ice and water upon contact. In the meantime, the most impactful thing the average person can do is be cognizant in trying to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint overall.
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