Ice melting is a complex phenomenon with many impacts on Earth’s environment, economy, and social systems. Some impacts are local: glacier and ice sheet loss changes the force of gravity that the ice exerts over nearby ocean water, causing sea level to drop. This effect is more pronounced in areas far from the ice sheets and less so in closer-in locations.
Other effects are global: as the world’s glaciers and ice sheets melt, they release freshwater into the oceans, raising sea levels globally. This change in ocean levels affects marine habitat and carries risks for communities located near coastlines. The recent disintegration of the Larsen B ice shelf is an example of the potentially large consequences of a small amount of ice melt.
A key factor in selecting an ice melt product for your facility is its lowest effective temperature (the temperature at which it begins to reduce the freezing point of water). Each chemical compound has a different lowest effective temperature and a range of negative side effects on the natural environment (plants, animals, and waterways) and manmade surfaces (concrete and metal grates) it comes into contact with. For this reason, blended ice melt products are popular because they utilize the best attributes of each compound—such as low working temperatures and non-corrosiveness—without raising costs.