Today’s Video of the Day from the European Space Agency describes how Earth Observation satellites are monitoring human-induced climate change.
One of the most dangerous consequences of the warming climate is the global trend of melting ice, or the cryosphere.
The cryosphere includes all of the planet’s ice such as sea ice, glaciers, and permafrost. ESA satellites have revealed dramatic changes in these elements of the cryosphere, particularly in Arctic sea ice. As a result, the sea-level is rising.
Half of sea-level rise can be attributed to the thermal expansion caused by warming ocean waters, and melting glacier ice is the second largest contributor.
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By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer
Video Credit: European Space Agency