Global Warming: The cause for Canada’s Arctic Ice Shelf Collapse

Global Warming: The cause for Canada’s Arctic Ice Shelf Collapse

In the last week of July 2020, 4000 years old Milne Ice Shelf of Canada has broken apart. The cause of melting is rising temperatures both from the hot air and warmer water below. 

The Ice Shelf is located on the north western edge of Ellesmere Island in the territory of Nanuvat, and was the country’s last intact ice shelf in it’s Arctic. 43% of the ice shelf has been broken off between July 30 and 31. It’s broken apart into two big icebergs and many other small pieces. 

Many scientists said that the northern coast of Ellesmere Island, Canada used to have large and continuous ice shelves. But due to the rising temperature of the last decade, they have broken apart gradually. They also said that temperatures in this region have been 5 degrees Celcius warmer over the average period of 1980 to 2010 and also it’s two to three times warmer than the global rate.

This huge ice melt affects the endangered species like Polar Bear, Seals, fishes etc… which are also an essential part of the economy, food habits and culture of Arctic people.