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By: Molly McKeon Summary: Climate change has affected many areas of Earth. Many of these effects can be linked back to the melting of our Arctic Ice. There is a positive feedback loop in the Arctic that is classified as the worst positive feedback loop in the world. The melting of the Arctic sea ice has increased much faster than can accumulate. This could mean disaster for our planet as the ice is a key part in Earth’s albedo. Without the sea ice, the Earth is affected by much more UV light than in previous years. These effects cause other effects like temperatures climbing, oceans warming, and much more. The feedback loop must either be broken or slowed down to a more manageable state that would allow testing of environmentally friendly solutions to the problem; overall, we can not keep these greenhouse gases in further concentrations and expect something like this to be a fix. It must be a solution in the long run as we look to changing lifestyles and habits to an eco-friendlier situation for not only ourselves, but future generations also. Geoengineering has come a long way over the years. The first geoengineers were looked at poorly as geoengineering was viewed as an unnatural process. As time has gone on and we have done irreversible damage to the planet, geoengineers have been relied on to find fixes or solutions to problems long-standing. Fixing the ozone layer, stopping the sea ice melt and many more environmental problems are looked at by geoengineers. Sea ice melt is one of the largest problems needing to be addressed. Many approaches are being looked at in effectiveness and sustainability. Some may be methods to slow the process down to find a better way to go about fixing the issues and some are trying to be the permanent solution to the problem. Why we should care? We should care about this because of the effects of the positive feedback loop. Climate change has created the worst positive feedback loop from the melting of the ice.  Photo Credit: https://www.akbizmag.com/magazine/the-arctic-opportunity/ Example Article. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200923-could-geoengineering-save-the-arctic-sea-ice The article speaks about using tiny, fine particles of glass powder to spread across ice as a reflective, protective layer to help ice formation. This could help during the summer months to protect the Arctic against the Sun’s rays. The summer months in the Arctic are particularly brutal because the days are so long. Being able to have an extra protective layer of this glass powder could help the ice that was newly formed in winter last longer in duration than without the glass. Dr. Field wants to use this only in highly susceptible areas where the ice melts the fastest. The beads float in water, but the affects on diatom, algal and plankton populations are unknown and need testing. Bottom-Up effects on the food web will be unknown until further testing has been done. There is also a chance that if the beads did sink, copepods would devour them and we would have another contributing microplastics issue. Science in Action.
Dr. Steven Desch is a Professor of Astrophysics in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. Dr. Steven Desch has worked with NASA on other planets and moon’s geochemical cycles. He has used his knowledge to expand and look at Earth in the same way. His use of interdisciplinary studies and willingness to look at climate change in a new view will help give a new perspective to the situation. His plan to help produce more sea ice is to use wind power to bring cool water up to the surface so it can freeze the sea ice quicker. His study has shown that the process can increase the ice over 1m thick, which is not found in nature normally. Dr. Desch has a Ted talk you can find on YouTube where he speaks about his work on Arctic Ice Management and his plans on how to address the situation.
12 Comments
Hunter Cook
11/24/2020 11:39:18
The melting of Arctic ice will lead to disaster if a solution isn't engineered soon, but we may already be past the point of no return. On top of all the climatic problems discussed in this post, another problem with the melting of permafrost includes health hazards such as the introduction of microorganisms that have been frozen for thousands of years. In 2015, researchers discovered around thirty previously undiscovered viruses near Tibet that had been contained in a glacier.
Connor Edelstein
11/24/2020 13:07:29
I found this very interesting, in particular the part about the albedo. Before this class it didn't even occur to me that the ice and show reflect the suns energy. It totally makes sense, when it is a hot sunny day what color shirt will keep one the coolest? a white shirt or black shirt? the white shirt, because it will reflect the sunlight instead of absorbing it like a darker color. Same thing with the Arctic, the snow and ice reflect all the sun's energy. But when the ice is gone, what will be left is darker colored materials that will absorb the sun's energy rather than reflect it, thus increasing Earth's temperature. I just find it absolutely fascinating. Great title too!
NIL AKBARI
11/25/2020 21:23:01
It is really interesting to hear all those small things playing a big role on the earth's temperature. Just as bright colors will block sunlight to keep the inner cool vs the darker colors will absorb sunlight to warm the inner surface up. The ice caps melting is a terrible thing not just for the polar wildlife animals but for the entire earth too. If we don't stand against global warming, it will destroy and change the environmental biome for the future generations.
ARPITA PATEL
11/25/2020 21:33:49
Global warming is a BIG issue we are currently facing. Many people say there is no such thing and others say its true and its happening to parts of the world as we speak. Just example I was recently watching a YouTube video on lack of water in Pakistan. S in the video there are portions of Pakistan that used to have abundant rainfalls and now has none. People lack drinking water and can't grow any crops because of the environmental changes. However, in the video it also showed Pakistan and India are just ones of many countries that emit harmful toxins in the air. We need to stop emitting harmful toxins in the air to have an positive effect on the total global warming.
Carlos
11/27/2020 00:35:26
I was completely unaware that ice and snow helped reflect the sun's energy so this was a very interested read. Not to mention that melting ice is also leading to an increase in our water levels which could potentially leave a good amount of land underwater in the future. So on top of rising temperatures we're also going to have to worry about floods. Unless we're able to act now we can slow this down from happening or even prevent it, if it's not too late of course. 11/30/2020 16:57:34
Global warming has had a huge effect on our environment and the Arctic ice melting is just another example of it. If the ice melts, the sea level will rise and cause more land to be swallowed up by water; we are already overpopulated and the loss of more land won’t help that situation. That’s not even including what types of bacteria and diseases could be preserved in the ice that would be released if it melted. I did learn from the article that the snow and ice help reflect sun beams which in turns keeps the Earth from absorbing that heat and raising its temperature.
Ian Hogg
12/1/2020 12:08:18
This was a great read! You used a lot of great terminology and made it easy to follow as a reader. Climate change is our generation’s existential threat. We are the ones who are going to need to come together and innovate, create, and implement solutions that are good for our planet and that will have a lasting impact for future generations. Geoengineering is going to need be a part of the solution process. No matter how grand or expensive these solutions are, they need to be considered because everything is at stake when it comes to climate change. There needs to be more political pressure and grassroots movements that focus on protecting our planet and pushing for newer and more sustainable solutions. The idea of spreading glass particles on ice to help form new ice layers and strengthen the already existing ice is a very interesting and innovative idea. I would never have thought to do that nor would I have known that would work! Potential solutions like that are what amaze me in the fight against climate change. We need solutions similar to the spreading of glass particles and we need to fund them to see if they are worth the time and investment. I believe there is much opportunity for geoengineering to truly be a part of the fight against climate change, the global community just needs to come together and work on these bold and daring solutions in order to protect our planet form future harm and destruction.
Zane Hammoud
12/7/2020 20:30:28
I just wanted to start off by saying that the photo you chose for this blog is absolutely beautiful. The photo also speaks a thousand words. Global warming has taken its toll on this earth for too long. It is time for us to step up and take care of what matters. This is our planet and we must protect it. Temperatures have been rising all across the globe and it is no coincidence anymore!
Zhereen Uddin
12/15/2020 01:09:23
First of all, your title is everything! Also, I loved reading about your post. I agree with how we should look for a faster process that is long lasting. I am sure the geoengineers are hard at work. These things take time and cost a lot of money. However, I believe that it is definitely worth the money. If we can put money into many unnecessary things. Why can’t we put it into something that will save our future generations.
Ethan Schiffour
12/17/2020 12:46:34
First, very well written article. The melting of the sea ice and glaciers I feel like is one of the most known problems with global warming and I feel like you were able to add another dimension on top of that. It is a serious problem that we must figure out as it also causes loss of habitats to many species. I like the information about how the ice and the glaciers help with UV radiation and that if we don't find a solution that UV radiation could be a problem sooner than we think.
Heba M. Chokr
12/21/2020 20:02:46
The title to this article was very attention grabbing! The overall effects of the melting of Arctic ice isn't discussed as much as it should be, so this post was very informative about that. I really enjoyed reading this post, it was a great reminder of albedo and the affects it has on Earth and us. I also really liked reading about the glass reflection and how that may be a solution someday.
Sobhie Nazal
12/9/2021 02:19:22
This blog was honestly a very important read and was very enjoyable to read. I love the picture you chose, it is absolutely beautiful and serves as a great reminder of exactly why we should take care of this earth more efficiently. Global warming is seriously no joke and it really bothers me that people don’t see that already. If the Arctic is melted it causes great problems involving humans, animals, and the environment. I really enjoyed reading how you mentioned that particles of glass can be used to help aid this situation and how this can be somewhat controlled engineerically. I think it’s important to do whatever possible to save the Arctic and I hope others do as well. Leave a Reply. |
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