| Global warming and the resulting rise in the Earth's | | | | dry regions why alpine flowers are known to flourish |
| temperature is causing chunks of ice to melt faster | | | | between the timberline and snowline vegetation zones. |
| than what was expected. In fact sicentists say that | | | | The effects of global warming have quite a negative |
| the rate by which the ice is melting in Greenland is | | | | impact but some good may yet be seen out of it. As |
| way ahead by thirty years based on their previous | | | | the Arctic Ocean becomes free of ice, it has slowly |
| studies. | | | | paved the way for the opening of a new route for a |
| The Arctic people, the Inuit Eskimos are finding their | | | | faster sea travel. The Northwest Passage presents a |
| houses and roads shifting on what was once frozen | | | | direct route from Europe to Asia which means sea |
| grounds. Quite a number are seriously considering | | | | travel can be shorter and will entail less fuel |
| relocating before total ice melt down takes | | | | consumption. |
| place. Even Polar bears are losing their means for | | | | In fact five countries namely US, Canada,UK, Russia |
| hunting seals as frozen seagrounds have | | | | and Greenland have already expressed their |
| melted.Greenland is expected to become totally ice | | | | interests in gaining control over this new route. An |
| free by year 2040. | | | | offshoot of these new travel possibilities is that |
| In America, Montana's Glacier National Park is also | | | | Greenland can be a potential source for new |
| rapidly losing its glaciers. The original count of 150 | | | | investments, as its long hidden resource are beginning |
| glaciers have now dwindled down to less than 30 | | | | to unfold. |
| glaciers. In Tanzania, the legendary snow of Mt. | | | | However, the race for Greenland before it finally |
| Kiliomajaro has depleted by at least 80% meaning only | | | | thaws out into an ice-free zone is becoming |
| 20% remains and is expected to reach total melt | | | | complicated. The effects of the ice meltdown seem to |
| down by 2020. | | | | be reaching more than ecological problems. Political |
| In the Sierra Nevada mountains, plant life has changed | | | | issues are now cropping up. |
| from alpine flowers to sagebrush. Sagerbush thrive on | | | | |