A top scientist on Wednesday revealed the fact that global warming is going to make very influential changes on the survival of mankind, and its early indicator is the speedy melting of Canada’s Artic ice shelves, which is already  near to extinction.

This summer has seen shrinking of 4,000 years old ice shelves along Ellesmere Island in the Far North, five of wich have melted to near about 23%.

During the last month, a smaller shelve which used to cover 19 square miles, broke completely and the largest shelf has already started decomposing.

Warwick Vincent, director of the Centre for Northern Studies at Laval University in Quebec, reported in an interview, “Climate models indicate that the greatest changes, the most severe changes, will happen earliest in the highest northern latitudes. This will be the starting point for more substantial changes throughout the rest of the planet.... Our indicators are showing us exactly what the climate models predict.”

Global Warming may also lead to other disastrous ends such as hurricanes, cyclones and floods. Vincent had been visiting the ice shelves along Ellesmere Island continuously for the past ten years and he was sad to see that this year the higher temperatures had done a lot of damage to the ice shelves.

Earlier, the team of Vincent had estimated that this summer near about eight square miles will be lost, however they were shocked to see that the actual figure came up to 83 square miles.

Vincent said, “What was extraordinary was just the vast quantity of open water ... you could see open water to the horizon in an area that is typically ice-covered throughout the season.”

During the early August of this year, the Markham Ice Shelf broke away from Ellesmere Island. The size of the nearby Serson Ice Shelf has been reduced to 60%, since two large chunks totaling 47 square miles were broken off.

Vincent also informed that the Ward hunt Ice Shelf is decaying, and it is the only large shelf left of the remaining four shelves. He further added, “Clearly the long-term viability of that ice shelf is now actually short-term.”

The team had recorded the peak temperature at 67.5 degrees Fahrenheit (19.7 degrees Celsius), which is far above the average of 46 degrees Fahrenheit.

Vincent reported sadly, “I think we're at a point where it is not stoppable but it can be slowed down. And if you think about the magnitude of effects on our society, then we really need to buy ourselves more time to get ready for some very substantial changes that are ahead.”