How melting polar ice generates a positive feedback loop that causes more warming and positive feedback associated with warming of Earth's ice and permafrost?
Many of these 'what if' questions can be addressed by the many climate and planed simulators available, like https://universesandbox.com/blog/2014/10/climate/
Melting ice causes more warming because they are darker in color, the ocean and land absorb more incoming solar radiation, and then release the heat to the atmosphere. This causes more global warming. In this way, melting ice causes more warming and so more ice melts. Ice is white and very reflective, in contrast to the ocean surface, which is dark and absorbs heat faster. As the atmosphere warms and sea ice melts, the darker ocean absorbs more heat, causes more ice to melt, and makes the Earth warmer overall. The ice-albedo feedback is a very strong positive feedback. As permafrost thaws, bacteria can break down that organic matter, releasing that carbon into the atmosphere as the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide or methane. Once in the atmosphere, these greenhouse gases further warm the planet, creating a positive feedback loop that thaws more permafrost. As permafrost thaws, bacteria can break down that organic matter, releasing that carbon into the atmosphere as the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide or methane. Once in the atmosphere, these greenhouse gases further warm the planet, creating a positive feedback loop that thaws more permafrost. High albedo ice is replaced with low albedo water that will absorb more heat. Warming of permafrost releases methane, which traps long-wave radiation. The logic of this proposed feedback is that the permafrost may melt and release methane which is a greenhouse gas, one that is more powerful than CO2 so a smaller increase of the concentration is enough to cause the same increase of the temperature. This warming of the water causes more ice to melt which causes more heat to be absorbed this is a positive feedback loop. The warming of the arctic is far more complex including the melting of the permafrost and release of methane gas, changing of the ocean currents and cloud cover among others.
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