Effects of Global Warming

Within a decade, summers in the North Pole will be dramatically different: no ice and just an open sea. That is the prediction released Oct. 14 by explorers who have hiked through the area. Here, research vessels on an unrelated expedition break through ice near the North Pole in 2004.

Keystone / AP

In another development related to global warming, two German merchant ships traverse the fabled Northeast Passage, sailing from South Korea to Siberia in waters previously inaccessible. Scientists say melting sea ice caused by climate change opened the fabled passageway, which for years was avoided because of its heavy ice floes.

Beluga Shipping / AP

These images from NASA show Arctic sea ice thickness in 2008 and 2003. The data iondicates dramatic thinning, especially near the North Pole, seen in dark blue. Darker blue depicts thinner ice, while white shows the thickest areas. The Arctic's reserve of thick ice that's more than 2 years old makes up 10 percent of its winter ice cover, down from 40 percent in the past.

NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio

A study in August found that the world's glaciers are melting at an alarming rate. Alaska's Gulkana glacier, pictured here, is one of three benchmarks for thousands of other glaciers that scientists say are disappearing. "Basically, in the past 10, 15 or 20 years these three glaciers are wasting away," said the lead researcher on the study.

Rod March, USGS

A report released in May examines the human cost of climate change, which it said causes more than 300,000 deaths per year. The report shows the impact of climate change on population displacement, malnutrition and diseases, such as malaria. "Climate change is not something waiting to happen," said former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

David Longstreath, AP

A prominent British economist and author of a major report on the cost global warming said in February that if climate change isn't dealt with decisively, it could cause "extended world war." Lord Nicholas Stern said that as weather patterns change, it could create mass migrations which would, in turn, set off mass conflict.

Charles J. Hanley, AP

Stern spoke at a meeting of prominent environment ministers in South Africa. Citing an example of climate change, the environment minister of Congo said water levels in Uganda's Lake Victoria, seen above in 2006, had dropped 10 feet in the past six years.

Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP

A rise in methane has scientists worried that melting Arctic ice could be releasing ancient stores of the gas. Here, a glacier makes its way to Croaker Bay in Canada last summer.

Jonathan Hayward, CP / AP

A massive crack in Petermann Glacier in northern Greenland has at least one scientist predicting that a big part of the Northern Hemisphere's largest floating glacier will be gone within a year. Some experts said it's too soon to pin the blame on global warming.

Byrd Polar Research Center / AP

The sun beats down on dairy cattle in Bakersfield, Calif. Rising global temperatures are causing problems around the world. Last year marked the warmest year ever recorded for Earth's land areas.

David McNew, Getty Images