Explain how an increase of the annual melt season in Antarctica can have global effects.

If the melt season increases in length, more ice melts and this will raise the sea level. As the season lengthens so the time for ice to re-form decreases. Snow and ice reflect the sun’s light and heat energy so if there is less snow and ice, the sun will have a greater warming effect on the seas, thus increasing the temperature. With less habitat for wild animals living in Antarctica, the species are threatened. This impacts on the population of their prey, which may increase in the absence of some predators. Melting ice over a longer period can cause breakup of ice sheets which may cause ice floes and icebergs to drift away from Antarctica. In warmer waters the ice will melt, and this will further increase the sea level. The process is self-perpetuating and could lead to runaway effects, resulting in an acceleration of melting and further increases in the length of the melt season.