A new report has found that the South Pole is warming three times faster than the global average over the last 30 years. The report found that it is warming at a rate of 0.61 ± 0.34 °C (1.1 ± 0.61°F) per decade and will speed up the melting of the ice sheets.
The continual rise in temperature may be attributed to human-induced warming. Emissions have climbed steadily for the last few decades, and climate change is becoming something we can visibly see.
Just last month the North Arctic Circle experienced it’s first ever 100°F temperature. And many reports have already stated the arctic is warming twice as fast, so this latest report should come as no surprise.
Rising Sea Levels
The biggest concern this report raises is the effects on the sea levels. It has been estimated that if the arctic ice sheets were to fully melt, they could raise levels by 200 feet. However, this would take over a century to happen.
Yet, if it were to happen, it would submerge the coastlines of the world, thereby creating new ones. For example, New York City is only 33 feet above sea level. It would be fully submerged in this doomsday scenario.
This would force over a billion people around the world to move inland. Obviously, this would create a lot of problems like food, housing, and much more.
Natural Temperature Increase
While the report did find a connection between human-induced warming and the temperature rise, it does not account for it all. It may very well be a naturally occurring temperature rise.
To be more specific, the team found a connection between the natural variation in surface ocean temperatures over the decades and the South Pole warming. The effects of humans have only made the natural temperature rise much worse.
Thus, the region is warming more than anywhere else.
