Greenland’s ice has been melting faster over the last ten years, doubling its melt off volume from 1996 to 2005. A warmer climate in the lower latitudes has caused the increased melting of ice and has increased the flow of ice into the ocean. Flowing ice is like a river of water, except that it moves much slower. All the melt off and ice empties into the ocean. As a result, sea level has risen. Greenland’s melting ice is believed to be an important factor in the change of sea level. Scientists believe that further warming at Greenland’s higher latitudes will cause its northern ice sheet to begin melting too, raising sea levels even faster in the near future.