| Back | Effects on the Environment:Glacier and polar ice meltRising temperatures cause glaciers and Arctic sea ice to melt, contributing to sea level rise.Example: The Arctic has warmed at more than twice the global average rate.Changing ecosystemsWarmer temperatures cause species to migrate or go extinct.Coral bleaching due to warming seas leads to the death of coral reefs, affecting marine life.Extreme weather eventsMore frequent and intense hurricanes, floods, and droughts affect both ecosystems and human populations.Example: The 2017 hurricanes (Harvey, Irma, Maria) devastated the Caribbean and the southern US. |