Final answer:
Climate change in the subantarctic Antipodes Islands is mainly driven by increased greenhouse gases due to the burning of fossil fuels, leading to global warming. Effects on the local ecosystem and Antarctica include melting ice sheets and alterations in habitats, impacting both plant and animal populations. These changes can have significant repercussions on human populations and global sea levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The climate change in the subantarctic Antipodes Islands is mainly caused by global factors such as the increase in greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which result from burning fossil fuels. These gases trap more heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming. In particular, as global temperatures rise, the Antarctic region experiences changes such as melting ice sheets and altered weather patterns, which can raise sea levels and impact local ecosystems.
Antarctica's ice sheet holds about 70 percent of the Earth's fresh water and is more than a mile thick. If it were to melt due to continued global warming, the consequences would be monumental, causing sea levels to rise and potentially redistributing plant and animal populations as habitats are affected. Furthermore, climate change and warming temperatures could have deleterious effects on the local ecosystem, such as coral reefs, which are sensitive to changes in water temperature and acidity levels due to increased carbon dioxide.
The earth's environment and human habitation are closely linked to its ability to absorb sunlight, which is significantly affected by the angle at which solar radiation reaches the surface. This is particularly evident in Antarctica, where most of the sunlight is reflected off, contributing to its frigid climate. The impact of climate change on human populations can be profound, as shifts in climatic conditions can transform the environments we rely on for survival and reshape patterns of habitation.