The Ocean

Melting

Icebergs are chunks of freshwater ice that break off glaciers and fall into the ocean. Almost all icebergs are found in the cold waters of the Arctic and Antarctic. When glaciers melt, because that water is stored on land, the runoff significantly increases the amount of water in the ocean, contributing to global sea level rise. Small melting icebergs are charmingly called growlers or bergy bits. Ever since the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions have raised temperatures and as a result, glaciers are rapidly melting, calving off into the sea and retreating on land. Even if we significantly curb emissions in the coming decades, more than a third of the world’s remaining glaciers will melt before the year 2100. This painting is based on an uncredited photograph.

Fewer every day. Anon.