• Question: I have a question: The Arctic ice is melting but the Antarctic ice isn't... is this caused by climate change, pollution or something else? Why is it only one part oif the world that is melting? Thanks-Faye

    Asked by Faye to Stephen, Stephanie, Rehemat, Christopher, Caroline, Aileen on 7 Mar 2018.
    • Photo: Christopher Nankervis

      Christopher Nankervis answered on 7 Mar 2018:

      The Antarctic is a continent, so it’s a land mass covered in snow and ice all year and is much colder than the Arctic. As the Arctic only is covered completely in ice during part of the year, the reduction in ice cover from one year during the summer months allows more sunlight to warm the sea and increase the rate of warming in the Northern Hemisphere.
      Parts of the Antarctic are now seen as less stable, as the ocean surrounding the cold continent is gradually warming and melting parts of the ice sheet around the edges that can accelerate glacier movement toward the sea.

    • Photo: Stephanie Mann

      Stephanie Mann answered on 8 Mar 2018:

      Chris has answered this question very well. I would add that there has been some ice reduction at the antarctic, despite it being much colder there. The problem with this antarctic ice melting is when it slides off the land it accelerates sea level rise and adds to the problem further

    • Photo: Stephen Twomlow

      Stephen Twomlow answered on 8 Mar 2018:

      Cannot add anything to what Chris has said.

    • Photo: Aileen Baird

      Aileen Baird answered on 9 Mar 2018:

      Chris answers it all here! (thanks Chris!)

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