GLOBAL WARMING- 9 PICTURES David Biello Scientific American, Nov.2007 (Adapted by Prof. T. K. G. Namboodhiri)

ANTARCTIC ICE MELT Some of the massive glaciers in Antarctica, such as Marr Ice Piedmont pictured here, are thinning and racing to the sea at a faster rate. Some ice shelves, such as Larsen B, have disintegrated altogether. © 2007 BY GARY BRAASCH

Some of the massive glaciers in Antarctica, such as Marr Ice Piedmont pictured here, are thinning and racing to the sea at a faster rate. Some ice shelves, such as Larsen B, have disintegrated altogether. © 2007 BY GARY BRAASCH

Portage Glacier The effects of global warming can be seen in retreating glaciers. These images, captured largely by photographer Gary Braasch and published in his book Earth Under Fire: How Global Warming Is Changing the World (University of California Press, 2007) show that the Portage glacier in Anchorage, Alaska has retreated over 5 kilometers during 1914-2005. 1914 2005

The effects of global warming can be seen in retreating glaciers.

These images, captured largely by photographer Gary Braasch and published in his book Earth Under Fire: How Global Warming Is Changing the World (University of California Press, 2007) show that the Portage glacier in Anchorage, Alaska has retreated over 5 kilometers during 1914-2005.

RISING SEA LEVELS A one-meter (3.2-foot) rise in sea level, which could result from the melting of a fraction of Greenland's glaciers or Antarctica's ice sheets, would flood 10 percent of Bangladesh, like the Bhola Island pictured here .

A one-meter (3.2-foot) rise in sea level, which could result from the melting of a fraction of Greenland's glaciers or Antarctica's ice sheets, would flood 10 percent of Bangladesh, like the Bhola Island pictured here .

RISING SEA LEVELS The children of Tuvalu, an island nation in the South Pacific just 16.5 feet (five meters) above sea level at its highest point, wait out an inundating high tide, more common with each passing year, on their "kaupapa," an outdoor sleeping platform.

The children of Tuvalu, an island nation in the South Pacific just 16.5 feet (five meters) above sea level at its highest point, wait out an inundating high tide, more common with each passing year, on their "kaupapa," an outdoor sleeping platform.

HEAT WAVES Extreme weather events, such as the heat wave in Chicago in 1995 that killed 700 people or the hot spell in Europe that killed 20,000 in 2003, will become more common as the globe warms.

Extreme weather events, such as the heat wave in Chicago in 1995 that killed 700 people or the hot spell in Europe that killed 20,000 in 2003, will become more common as the globe warms.

RETREATING MOUNTAIN ICE Melting ice from mountains like Mount Schrankogel in Austria causes plants and animals to inhabit higher ranges of the mountain.

Melting ice from mountains like Mount Schrankogel in Austria causes plants and animals to inhabit higher ranges of the mountain.

INCREASING DRAUGHTS The picture shows a drought affected Chinese pond (2005). Droughts will also become more common in some areas

The picture shows a drought affected Chinese pond (2005).

Droughts will also become more common in some areas

PERIL FOR PENGUINS Islets off of Antarctica's Anvers Island have lost half of their nesting pairs of Adélie penguins ( Pygoscelis adeliae ) since the 1970s. This rookery that has existed for at least 600 years must move because of rising temperatures and changing ice cover.

Islets off of Antarctica's Anvers Island have lost half of their nesting pairs of Adélie penguins ( Pygoscelis adeliae ) since the 1970s. This rookery that has existed for at least 600 years must move because of rising temperatures and changing ice cover.

WINDS OF CHANGE Renewable sources of energy, such as the wind farm pictured here in Rockville, Ill., offer hope of alternatives to the fossil fuels, such as coal, that emit the greenhouse gases, which cause climate change when burned.

Renewable sources of energy, such as the wind farm pictured here in Rockville, Ill., offer hope of alternatives to the fossil fuels, such as coal, that emit the greenhouse gases, which cause climate change when burned.