Scientists warn catastrophic rising sea levels as the map shows the ice sheets and glaciers melting at a faster rate

"It's gonna peak in around 2050. Beyond that point, you start to get less melt," AB said.

The Earth's ice is, rightly, often in the news. As the planet and its oceans warm, our so-called cryosphere is quickly melting away.

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Reasons behind expansion of water:

There are two factors that lead to sea level rise: the water expanding as it gets warmer and added water from melting ice sheets and glaciers.

While it's easier to plan for a steady sea level rise, scientists are very concerned about what would happen if huge chunks of ice collapse and abruptly change sea levels.

Here are the sites around the world scientists are keeping a close eye on, and why they are important, according to Alex Brisbourne, a Glaciologist at the British Antarctic Survey, and Theodore Scambos, an Antarctic researcher at the University of Colorado.

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Results of the experiment:

Though they will contribute comparatively little to sea level rise — adding about a foot to global mean sea levels if they melt completely — glaciers outside of Greenland and Antarctica have been the main contributors to higher seas over the past century, according to the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Catastrophic collapse — Columbia Glacier in Alaska:

Glaciers took centuries to freeze over, but they can disappear in a few years. When they start breaking apart, that triggers a negative feedback loop: the meltwater warms the glacier, which creates more meltwater.

Scientists studying the albedo of the glaciers have discovered a peculiar effect of the melt. Colorful glacial and snow algae have been growing in the glacier meltwater, creating pink and purple spectacles on the ice, like at the Presena Glacier in the Alps. The problem is that reduces the albedo of the glacier, which again encourages warming and melting.

Freshwater — Hindu Kush Himalayan glaciers, Central Asia:

Glaciers are also a vital source of freshwater. Over a billion people living in central Asian countries rely on the Hindu-Kush Himalayan glaciers for drinking water, and scientists discovered recently that these glaciers are rapidly declining, causing concern.

Situation in different parts of the world:

Geopolitical experts are concerned this dwindling resource could cause tensions in neighboring countries.

The ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are essentially humongous glaciers that cover the poles. They contain most of the freshwater on the Earth's surface.

The Antarctic ice sheet is much bigger than the ice sheet on Greenland. If they were to melt totally, the Greenland ice sheet would contribute about 23 ft to the sea levels, while the Antarctic ice sheet holds enough ice to raise sea levels by 58 feet. Of course, this isn't predicted to happen for centuries.

The other big difference is that the Greenland ice sheet rests on solid land above sea level, whereas much of the Antarctic ice sheet is below sea level, which makes it more vulnerable to warming ocean temperatures.

If Greenland melts, "sea-level rise will be greatest in the southern hemisphere, and if Antarctica melts then sea-level rise will be greatest in the northern hemisphere," wrote Pippa Whitehouse, a glaciologist from Durham University, in a blog post.