Polar+Ice+Caps

Polar ice caps are high-altitude regions of a planet that are covered in ice. Bodies larger than 50,000 km2 are actually called ice sheets. Ice caps form because high-latitude regions receive less energy from the sun, resulting in lower surface temperatures. Some portions of ice melt seasonally, but those portions that don't can get as thick as 3-4 meters thick, with ridges up to 20 meters thick. Ice caps exist on other planets besides Earth; Mars also has ice caps. The main difference is that Earth's are mainly water, while Mars' are a a mixture of solid phase carbon dioxide and water ice. The Antarctic ice sheet covers an area of almost 14 million km2 and contains 25 to 30 million km2. Polar ice caps in the Arctic act as a habitat for many animals, including polar bears, seals, whales, and fish. Global climate has caused the ice caps to melt considerably. This loss of habitat has been hard for these Arctic animals and they have often been forced to find new territory. Other consequences of ice caps melting include the warming, current alterations, and volume increase of oceans around the globe. The volume increase has the ability to flood and destroy coastal regions permanently. If currents change, the stability of our climate will be in jeopardy. Since 1979, ice caps have shrunk by 20%. It is debated whether this depletion is due to global warming or just a natural cycle of the planet.