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Melting Glaciers

GlaciersGlaciers are large sheets of snow and ice that are found on land all year long. They're found in the western United States, Alaska, the mountains of Europe and Asia, and many other parts of the world. Warmer temperatures cause glaciers to melt faster than they can accumulate new snow.

What's happening now?

Glaciers all over the world have been melting for at least the last 50 years, and the
rate of melting is speeding up. Many glaciers in Alaska and other parts of the United
States have shrunk dramatically.


What will happen in the future?

If temperatures keep rising, glaciers will continue melting, and some could disappear completely.

Why does it matter?

As glaciers and the giant ice sheets on Greenland and Antarctica melt, they add more water into the ocean, which causes sea level to rise.

Check out the effects of melting glaciers on coastal areas.


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