QUESTION:
I read in a CNN article that there was a temperature change of 4.5
degrees fahrenheit. How could that little temperature change make football
field sized lakes?

	Jason N.
	3rd grade
        9 years old




ANSWER from Scott Borg, Program Director                                 
            Office of Polar Programs
            Antarctic Geology & Geophysics Program        
            National Science Foundation
            Mon, 31 Mar 1997 17:51:13 -0500

Dear Jason,

I don't know specifically what article you are referring to so this may be
substantially out of context.  When even small temperature changes take
place across the freezing point of water (32F or 0C), then there can be
drastic and very visible differences in a landscape (or lake scape or
sea-scape).  This is one of the main reasons why the polar regions are
sensitive indicators of climate change.  If the average temperature of a
region changes from just under 0C to just over 0C, then the effects are
easily recognized.

Thanks for your question!  

Scott