California is a place where dreams come true. But even though the state looks like a dream, it has to deal with wildfires, droughts, and other random natural disasters.
The threat of storms and the slow melting of glaciers make things even more complicated. With all the problems facing the environment right now, picturing what the Golden State would look like if all the ice melted is an interesting exercise.
At -282 feet, California’s lowest point, some parts of the state are in the path of an inevitable danger.
The Thwaites Glacier
The cold issue in the Western hemisphere is the first thing we should talk about.
Antarctica is going through big changes. The Thwaites Glacier, which is about the size of Florida, is slowly breaking apart because the water is getting warmer. The melting ice caps put the safety of heights around the world at risk. The Thwaites Glacier could melt enough ice caps to raise sea levels by an extra 10 feet if the current rate of temperature rise continues.
A possible rise in sea level of 10 feet would cause major floods that would cover parts of Los Angeles, such as Santa Monica and Long Beach.
A lot of other areas along California’s wealthy shore are also in immediate danger. To stay above water, cities like San Francisco, San Rafael, Richmond, Oakland, and Sacramento would have to deal with big problems in their economies.
In this situation, Californians would have to deal with a harsh reality in which people are forced to move and climate refugees desperately needing a place to stay.
What if All the Ice in the World Melts?
Together, Antarctica and Greenland cover more than 6 million square miles of ice in the form of glaciers and ice sheets. This is about the same area as Russia, which is the biggest country in the world. There are also many other glaciers on Earth, which cover a total of about 12.5% of the land’s surface.
What Will Happen if All That Ice Melts?
NASA explained that the idea that glaciers and ice sheets are like ice cubes in your drink needs to be shot down right away. Unlike ice in your drink, which only moves the water around and doesn’t change the level of the liquid in your glass, melting mountains are like adding ice forcefully to a glass that is already full, which causes the water to overflow.
Now, put that difference aside and think about what might happen. According to National Geographic, the sea level would rise an amazing 216 feet more if all the ice on Earth melted.
Imagine what would happen to California in that case. The state as it is now is shown on the satellite picture on the left, with the water level well below the land.
In comparison, the picture on the right shows the same places, but the sea level has risen by 200 feet, which is a big difference. Changes like this make you think about how drastically California’s coastal scenery has changed.