Changing Polar Ice: Observations and Concerns

The video discusses the characteristics and changes in the polar ice regions, focusing on the thickness and movement of the ice pack, the seasonal melting of ice, and the diminishing extent of polar ice as observed by satellites. It highlights the Greenland ice sheet, which contains significant fresh water, and the research efforts to measure ice loss using satellite observations of melt water lakes. The video also covers the accelerated loss of Arctic sea ice, particularly in 2007, and the increase in glacial earthquakes in Greenland, suggesting that melt water is speeding up glacier flow rates.

What is the typical thickness range of the Arctic ice pack?

• 7 to 8 meters

• 5 to 6 meters

• 3 to 4 meters

• 1 to 2 meters

What is the primary focus of researchers studying the Greenland ice sheet?

• The temperature of the ice

• The thickness of the ice sheet

• The color of the ice

• The depth and color of meltwater lakes

What is the estimated area covered by the Greenland ice sheet?

• Three million square kilometers

• Less than one million square kilometers

• Slightly less than two million square kilometers

• Four million square kilometers

How much did the Arctic sea ice levels drop in the summer of 2007 compared to the 1980s?

• 40%

• 30%

• 20%

• 10%

What phenomenon has increased in Greenland since 1993, indicating accelerated glacier flow?

• Glacial earthquakes

• Volcanic eruptions

• Tsunamis

• Hurricanes