Where Has All the Ice Gone?

As the earth warms, glaciers and ice sheets are melting and seas are rising.

Over the last century, the global average sea level rose by 17 centimeters (7 inches).

This century, as waters warm and ice continues to melt, seas are projected to rise nearly 2 meters (6 feet), inundating coastal cities worldwide, such as New York, London, and Cairo. Melting sea ice, ice sheets, and mountain glaciers are a clear sign of our changing climate.

(See larger image of map.)

In September 2012, sea ice in the Arctic Ocean shrank to a record low extent and volume. The region has warmed 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) since the 1960s