The Iceman Cometh?

The new Tom Hanks movie notwithstanding, NationalGeographic.com is reporting that the Arctic ice cap is melting so rapidly that it may be gone by the end of the 21st century! Loss of the Arctic ice would raise sea levels by about 7 meters (23 feet) worldwide, flooding some of the most populous regions. Other consequences include the extinction of many species, opening sea routes between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and changes in ocean currents and climate patterns.

But many believe that the effect of this warming trend will boomerang, eventually resulting in a new ice age. Then there is the minority view that says that the greenhouse effect is the only thing holding back an ice age that has already started.