Calamity in the Earth

201421575 Juyeon Lee

These days global warming becomes more accelerated and severe. Various
catastrophes constantly occur because of global warming. One of the results of it is
that glaciers on Earth are melting. As we know, Antarctica and Arctic are the coldest
parts on Earth. Then, which area is far colder between two continents? On July 21 st,
1983, the coldest temperature, which was -89.2, was observed by the Southern
Geomagnetic Pole in Antarctica (Turner, 2009). From the inspection, we could realize
that Antarctica is the coldest area in the world. In addition, Antarctica is 50% larger
than the United States (Rignot and Eric, 324). In other words, Antarctica has 12
million square kilometers more than the third biggest continent of Earth (Rignot and
Eric, 324). Is it conceivable that how large it is? Besides precipitation of Antarctica is
13cm of water equivalent per year on average, compared to a global mean of 100cm
water equivalent (Rignot and Eric, 324). Still this district holds 70% of the world
freshwater and if all ice were to melt to sea, it would raise global sea level by 56m
(Rignot and Eric, 324). Then imagine glaciers in Antarctica keep melting steadily.
Which results could follow? From this point of view, what the essay focuses on is the
glaciers melting in Antarctica and several impacts on the people, countries, and the
Earth.
In the first place, people who live near the seashore are threatened by rising
up sea level. As people know, melting glaciers is the reason that contributes to
increasing the sea-level. Over the past century, melting in ice caps and mountain
glaciers has contributed on average about one-fifth of the estimated 10-25
centimeter (4-10 inch) global sea level rise (Mastny, 3). If it kept escalating, the

coast residents must move to other cities or towns to prevent them from being
damaged their lives. About half of the worlds people have already become
victimized (Mastny, 3). However, there are some concerns are followed. One of the
problems is that the density of population will not be even. For instance, many
inhabitants live in Florida which is located on the southern coast in USA. What
happens when those people move their residences to close inland areas? Further
problems like, traffic jams, increasing criminal rates, and so on must occur. In
addition, dwellers in coastline cities have more possibilities to experience severe
natural disasters, such as hurricanes, typhoons, and tsunami. If there are a few
glaciers to absorb the sun ray because they have already melted, the temperature of
ocean goes up. Then the power of natural disasters also becomes stronger due to
the repetitive vicious cycles.
By extension, at this time we may focus on the countries which are lowlands
are being rapidly flooded. Unfortunately, for example, flooding related to tropical
storms and hurricanes is one of the causes of weather-related deaths in the United
States these days (Diaz, 365). As a result of climate changes, more frequently
fluctuating Pacic Ocean surface and subsurface temperature oscillations,
hurricanes of category 3 (we can divide hurricane categories into 1-5) or greater now
strike the continental United States approximately every 18 months (Diaz, 365). This
situation occurs at not only the United States, but also other countries. After
encountering natural disasters, any countries face harsh financial results.
Catastrophes are so powerful that citizens could not earn livings. It is not only just an
individual problem, but also a national event. Therefore, the majority of people give
positive aid to others who are troubled with everyday lives. If natural disasters
caused tremendous loss in the society, the country would declare a state of national

emergency. Obviously, this kind of state will have progressed slowly to damage
economy. What mentioned above, lots of people in the hardest hit nations would stop
their routine cycles to help others who are in a predicament.
What happens to Earth? As you know, people live on Earth, are only just one
part of it. What people or countries suffer from melting glaciers also influences to
Earth. Glacier variations are sensitive to changes in climate and may have direct
impacts on sea-level rising (Dyurgerov and Mark F, 10). In these days the amount of
loss of glacier ice to the oceans has accelerated, and this trend is expected to
continue as a result of the rise of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere (Dyurgerov
and Mark F, 10). This occurrence means that if glaciers kept melting, the
temperature of Earth would go higher and higher constantly. The disappearance of
Earth's ice cover would significantly change the global climate (Matsny, 2). Ice,
particularly ice in Antarctica, reflects large volumes of solar energy back into space,
and helps keep the Earth cool (Matsny, 2). When ice melts, however, this exposes
land and water surfaces that absorb heat-leading to even more melt and accelerate
the overall warming process (Matsny, 2). Rising up sea-level and warming up the
temperature of oceans make natural disasters intensify. Of course, those
unavoidable accidents seriously affect human beings. Suppose that the entire
Western Antarctic ice sheet is melt (Diaz, 365). Researchers said that sea levels
would rise by 6.1 m. This phenomenon demonstrates that getting flooded is going to
be a routine. Actually flooding is now the most common type of natural disaster
worldwide (Diaz, 365). Even worse, there are a lot more natural calamities on Earth.
The 21st century is suffering from global warming. One of the consequences
of it is that the glaciers melting in Antarctica. This circumstance arouses other

consequences which affect local areas, countries, and Earth. Each of them has
respective matters followed. Inhabitants live in coastline areas might move to find out
safe shelters. They are surely much more easily exposed to deadly calamities. Local
areas as well as countries are harmed by melting glaciers in Antarctica too. Even it
might cause for countries to confront an economic crisis. Further previous concerns,
the situation is fatal to Earth. Loss of glaciers means the temperature of Earth jumps
up regularly because of absorbing mass solar energy. Apparently natural hazards
come after and after. Human beings are helpless against the power of nature. Thus
people live on Earth must protect the planet not to be sick anymore.

Works Cited

Diaz, James H. "Global climate changes, natural disasters, and travel health
risks." Journal of travel medicine 13.6 (2006): 361-372. Web. 22 Nov. 2016.
Dyurgerov, Mark B., and Mark F. Meier. Glaciers and the changing Earth system: a
2004 snapshot. Vol. 58. Boulder: Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University
of Colorado, (2005). Web. 21 Nov.2016.
Mastny, Lisa. "Melting of earths ice cover reaches new high." Worldwatch News
Brief 6 (2000). Web. 22 Nov. 2016
Rignot and Eric. Is Antarctica melting? Wires Climate Change 2 3 (2011): 324-331.
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
Turner, John, et al. "Record low surface air temperature at Vostok station,
Antarctica." Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres 114.D24 (2009). Web.
22 Nov. 2016