Alaska is disappearing slowly, but surely. It is estimated that since the 1950s, as much as fifteen percent of Alaska's land area has disappeared. How can a whole state be disappearing? The problem is that Alaska's glaciers are melting. The state has more than 100,000 glaciers. These glaciers account for about 75,000 square kilometers, or five percent, of the state's area. That is an area of land larger than Ireland!
According to a recent report by the US Geological Survey, ninety-nine percent of Alaska's glaciers are either retreating or diminishing. This diminishing seems mainly due to the increase in global temperatures.Since the 1960s, the average year-round temperature has increased by slmost 3C. Additionally, the average winter temperature, has increased by over 6C. Presently, an estimaated 100 cubic kilometers of ice is disappearing from Alaskanglaciers every year. It may be even more in the near future, as some scientists predict that the average world temperature could go up 4 to 7C by the year 2100.
Alaska is disappearing slowly, but surely. It is estimated that since the 1950s, as much as fifteen percent of Alaska's land area has disappeared. How can a whole state be disappearing? The problem is that Alaska's glaciers are melting. The state has more than 100,000 glaciers. These glaciers account for about 75,000 square kilometers, or five percent, of the state's area. That is an area of land larger than Ireland! According to a recent report by the US Geological Survey, ninety-nine percent of Alaska's glaciers are either retreating or diminishing. This diminishing seems mainly due to the increase in global temperatures.Since the 1960s, the average year-round temperature has increased by slmost 3C. Additionally, the average winter temperature, has increased by over 6C. Presently, an estimaated 100 cubic kilometers of ice is disappearing from Alaskanglaciers every year. It may be even more in the near future, as some scientists predict that the average world temperature could go up 4 to 7C by the year 2100.
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