(Image Source: NASA)

BY BRANDON TWICHELL AND LINDSEY WOLF
ANCHOR CHANCE SEALES

You're watching multisource environment video news analysis from Newsy.

Is it global warming on steroids? A new NASA study finds both the Arctic and Antarctic ice caps are melting at a much faster rate than previously believed. The 18-year study discovered the ice sheets are now the number one contributor to rising sea levels.

A researcher from the University of Colorado tells Discovery News - the Arctic has always been the canary in the coal mine - and now it might be too late.

“As the effects of greenhouse warming take hold, it’s the Arctic where we’re going to see it first, it’s the Arctic where those changes are going to be most pronounced. It’s exactly what we see. It’s a case of we hate to say we told you so, but we did, and it’s time to take action.”

The study says the melting ice sheets would add 5.9 inches to the sea level. Along with mountain ice melting and other factors - the sea level will actually rise 12.6 inches. A writer for Ars Technica says - this is very bad news for lowland areas.

“Though one foot may not sound like much, a FEMA study estimated storm surges under such a scenario would cause about 40 to 60 percent more damage than at present. That seems like small potatoes compared to the kinds of problems … many Pacific islands will likely face in just 40 years.”

And humans aren’t the only ones effected. Recently, a polar bear spent nine days swimming across the Beaufort Sea - her cub died before they were able to find ice to land on.

“There underlies a real problem here in general: polar bears who depend on this ice will also be displaced from their home at a faster rate than expected... What animals will be displaced in the polar ice regions of the world as the melting trends continue?” (Gather)

Eric Rignot - who lead the study - says global warming is the sole cause for the melting in Greenland, but he’s not so sure about Antarctica.

"In Antarctica, the story is  a little more complex... We think the change is driven by the ocean, but we're not exactly sure what the ocean is doing." (OC Register)

U.N. reports predict the world will have 50 million environmental refugees by 2020 - less than 10 years from now - because of climate change.

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Transcript by Newsy.