Antarctica’s Underwater Ice Is Retreating Five Times Faster Than It Should Be
Prior to giving an answer for this worry-some environmental issue, it is noteworthy to have an overview of what this topic is talking about. Now, let us initially define terminologies that are regularly mentioned in the article. As per Merriam Webster and Oxford English dictionary respectively, Glaciers are a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land and it is also a slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles. Then, as indicated by a site antarcticglaciers.org "Grounding Line is the point at which the glaciers start to float.” Now, these terminologies are utilized in studies associated with glacial melting and ocean level monitoring. Up to this day, Ice sheets wherever all through the world have been softening for in any occasion the latest 50 years, and the rate of melting is quickening. Various icy masses in Alaska and distinctive parts of the United States have contracted essentially. Be that as it may, the big question is "for what reason is it occurring?"
The dramatic dissolving of the world's mountain ice sheets is generally the result of man-made global warming as opposed to the natural variability in the climate. As indicated by Ben Marzeion, a climate Scientist at the University of Innsbruck in Austria, “We can clearly detect an anthropogenic effect on glaciers and it’s been steadily rising over the last 100 years”. An assessment of around 200,000 glaciers on the planet, some of which have been checked since the mid-nineteenth century, has found that around 66% of the present rate of glacial liquefying is a direct result of human impacts on the atmosphere. It is now fundamentally caused by anthropogenic hazardous climatic deviation happening due to modern ozone depleting substances. As indicated by Regine Hock, a Professor of geophysics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the measure of the observed mass losses are caused by individuals rather than trademark climate varieties. Because of that instance, Researchers relied upon 12 climate models, most of them from the latest reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a universal gathering of climate change specialists assembled by the United Nations. By consolidating the models, alongside the information from the Randolph Glacier Inventory, the analyst made a computer model that included simply regular contributions to ice sheet dissolving, for instance, volcanic emissions and solar variability, and another model with both human and natural components. Utilizing the data garnered from 1851 to 2010, the experts differentiated the two models and accurate estimation of glaciers to make sense of which one better represented the real world. The examination excluded glaciers in Antarctica, in light of the fact that insufficient information on the area was accessible amid the 159 years secured by the study.
The model with the man-enhanced effects was a fit. glaciers thin and pull back far and wide in view of rising air temperature, however the glaciers couldn't care less regardless of whether the rising in temperature is because of natural or human causes. Over the span of the latest 150 years, most of the mass loss was a result of typical climate variance, caused, for example, by volcanic eruptions or changes in solar activity. In any case, in the midst of the latest 20 years, 70% of the glacial melting were caused by environmental change because of people. This recently affirmed over the recent years, that people have significantly contributed to the massive melting of glaciers. As indicated by National Snow and Ice Data Center, Scientists are finding that glaciers are uncovering pieces of information about global warming. Which drives us to the real question, in what manner would humans be able to add to this unprecedented rates of glacial melting? As per Livescience.com, The unfaltering melt of glaciers around the world is greatly because of man-made factors, for example, ozone depleting substance emissions and aerosols. National Snow and Ice Data Center have likewise included that Scientists are finding that production of electricity utilizing coal and oil, and different employments of fossil fuels in transportation and industry, influences our environment in manners we didn't comprehend previously. Inside the previous 200 years or more, human movement has expanded the measure of carbon dioxide in the environment by 40 percent, and different gases, for example, methane by a factor of 2 to at least 3. These gases assimilate warm being transmitted from the surface of the earth, and by engrossing this warmth, the environment gradually warms up. "Greenhouse gases," are the reason for the majority of global warming and glacier retreat in the previous 50 years. However, related causes, such as burning of fossil fuels and forests farming, increased dust and soot from grazing, are also causing glacier retreat.
This problem truly is worrying because it could have multiple effects on our society. If this problem continued to escalate in the future, its impact could be devastating. If temperature keeps on rising, glaciers will keep softening, and some could vanish totally. But then, why does it matter? as glaciers melt, they add more water into the ocean causing the sea level to rise. Worldwide climate change debilitates coastlines and the structures and urban areas situated along them. A huge number of individuals around the globe live in low– lying zones close to the drift that could be flooded as the ocean level ascents. Rising ocean level will likewise erode shorelines and harm numerous coastal wetlands. Rising ocean level and more stronger storms caused by warmer oceans could totally wipe out specific shorelines and islands.
According to Ed Mathez, a Geologist “if all the ice covering Antarctica, Greenland, and in mountain glaciers around the world were to melt, sea level would rise about 70 meters. The ocean would cover all the coastal cities and land area would shrink significantly.” Also, according to Daniel Glick of Nationalgeographic.com, at the point when temperatures rise and ice softens, more water streams to the oceans from ice sheets and ice tops, and sea water warms and extends in volume. This combinations of impacts has been the most frequent reason in raising average global sea level in the range of four and eight inches.
On the other hand, a website called helpsavenature.com says that glacial melting due to global warming could also affect the supply of freshwater that is fit for human use. It was stated in there that only 2% of the total water amount in our planet is good for human consumption, and the other 70% is made up of glacier ice and snow. Glacier ice Melting could also lead to excessive flooding. In places where there are ice glaciers on higher altitude, and they are melting quickly, it will prompt a sudden increment in water contribution to streams, causing surges all along the river. This overabundance water could likewise prompt the arrangement of new lakes, which will continue expanding in size. This could be problematic, since the water contained in these lakes could be colossal, and the blasting of such lakes could cause a noteworthy disaster all around, devastating everything in its way.
It could also affect the Habitat of certain species. There are numerous organisms that depend entirely on glaciers for survival. Certain organism require the temperatures of icy sheets for their everyday exercises. Some birds rely upon the fishes that are found in softening waters of an ice sheet. With an expansion in ocean water temperature and rising ocean levels, the plant species mostly found in wet area will be influenced right off the bat. This will diminish the quantity of fish species, which as a result, will make survival of many organisms relying into this type of food hunting hard. In fact, there are a lot of effects glacial melting caused by global warming exhibit. The challenge is now on us, how would we solve this environmental problem? Can we still solve it or at least slow down its effects? The succeeding paragraphs will contain suggestions or solutions to eradicate this problem using a bottom-up approach. According to Vicki Ekstrom of Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative, “There’s an increasing realization that top-down efforts to confront climate change aren’t working — or at least, they’re not working quickly enough. Are there ways that large groups of people — even a global community— could work together to take action now? That was the focus of an MIT climate conference, titled “Crowds and Climate.” It is believed that scientists have already employed solutions using top-down approach but did not yield positive results. Now, they are aiming for a better solution that includes the collective efforts of every living individual in this planet. According to Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp “We know how to make real progress on climate change, what we must create is the political will to achieve it. Creating that will requires all of us to engage. It can’t be a top-down process.”
For a considerable length of time, researchers and policymakers have concentrated on changing human manner to address climate change. Policies have commanded reduced carbon emissions, subsidies have bolstered the improvement of renewable energy and people have attempted to make their ways of life more sustainable. Although it is inevitable for humans to change their lifestyle to combat global warming, According to Justin Worland of time.com, “A new study in the journal Nature offers the strongest evidence yet that biodiversity strengthens ecosystems, increasing their resistance to extreme climate events and improving their capacity to stem climate change.”
The researchers behind the investigation examined 46 grassland ecosystems in Europe and North America. They used the organic matter called biomass as a gauge for the health of a community because species in any given ecosystem rely on biomass for energy. In grasslands areas with only one or two species, ecosystems’ biomass production declined by approximately 50% on average during extreme climate events. In communities with between 16 and 32 species, biomass production declined by only 25%.According to Forest Isbell, The author of the study and a researcher at the University of Minnesota, the importance of ecosystem biodiversity is can be explained using the insurance hypothesis: “having more species provides insurance for carrying out key functions to the ecosystem if one disappears or can no longer serve its function. Because different species have different responses to environmental fluctuations, the aggregate of many species is dampened”.
Definitely, Ecosystem maintenance and/or restoration could possibly be a solution to this rising problem of Global warming. According to a study of Pan et al. (2011) entitled “A Large and Persistent Carbon Sink in the World’s Forests” Ecosystems absorb carbon dioxide in the environment, a key gas that adds to an unnatural climate change. Forests alone assimilated one-sixth of carbon dioxide discharged by fossil fuel emanations amid 1900 and 2007. Now, therefore, it is not enough that we have forests, it should also cater to different species making it a diverse biological community. According to Will R. Turner, Chief Scientist at Conservation International “It’s not always enough to have forests that are storing carbon if you have only one or two species in that forest.” However, Deforestation could kill these possibilities and exacerbate the current situation of Global warming. Nonetheless, we still can turn the tables around and use this as an opportunity to pressure policymakers to work to restore nature as a method of addressing global warming. According to a study entitled “Tropical Forests Offer up to 24–30 Percent of Potential Climate Mitigation” by Jonah Busch and Jens Engelmann (2014) An inversion in deforestation patterns would enable forests to ingest as much as 30% of worldwide carbon outflows. At the present time forests assimilate 11% of Greenhouse gases. These are all easier said than done, sometimes we feel that we could not do anything at all, how am I be able to help restore the ecosystem as a student? Fortunately, Michael Stone from ecoliteracy.org (2012) have given us tips on Successful student ecosystem restoration projects, which includes:• Repairing and replanting wetlands, creek beds, forestland, and other habitats• Eradicating invasive species• Replacing turf grass with native species• Planting rain gardens to absorb rainwater running off roofs or asphalt• Monitoring pond and lake habitats and preparing reports on findings to government authorities.
Another better way to solve this occurring environmental problem is to get ourselves involved in the solution. We may do little things, but eventually, as these efforts have been accumulated, this will yield positive result. However, how can we encourage each individuals to actively participate and involve themselves in solving this environmental problem? it could be a challenge even for some ecologists and environmentalists, especially those apathetic individuals that do not care for their environment as long as they are not being affected directly.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology News have given us tips on how to start this bottom-up approach properly. According to them, it is important that we first build our base consisting of individuals that have the same goal, which is to save our environment. According to Marshall Ganz, Senior Lecturer in public policy at Harvard University. “What drives movements is not branding, but relationships; … building constituencies at the base,”. In order to build a base, it is necessary that we have harmonious relationship with each other for us to achieve our common goal. Of course, it is not enough that we only have harmonious relationship with each other. It is also imperative that people can relate to the idea. As what Andrew Hoffman, Holcim (U.S.) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan said. “As long as it’s this idea in the ivory tower presented by a scientist using a language people don’t understand, they will still question whether they believe that theory or not,”. Using jargons that only people from a specific field could understand will not help in achieving this goal. It is important that we discuss glacial melting caused by global warming in a more relatable way such as Providing circumstances that we know can affect the people directly. Kate Gordon, Vice President at Next Generation also said “Instead, climate change should be tied to things that resonate with people; for example, the rising cost of insurance. Talk about the ski season to skiers, or about habitat changes to hunters”.
After establishing a base or influencing people to help you eradicate or at least slow down global warming’s effects, it is now time to encourage them to do their part in saving our Mother Earth. A bottom-up approach requires the collective efforts of many individuals in order to eliminate this problem. Any minor things such as lessening the use of ChloroFlouroCarbon found in our Air conditioning units, going “green” and planting trees could do. These individual efforts once combined could lead to big things. This could give us a chance to save our Mother Earth.
According to an article written by Sarantis Michalopoulos of euractiv.com entitled “Regions push for ‘bottom-up’ approach to climate change mitigation” Global leaders are attempting to reach an agreement to cap global warming at no more than two degrees above pre-industrial levels. European Cities are planning to cut 40% of greenhouse gases emissions, 27% shares for renewables in energy consumption and a 27% increase in energy efficiency, however, nothing matters as long as they get everyone involved in the solution. No matter how many Laws have been implemented, it would not be effective if local authorities and communities are not a part of it.
Healing the planet starts in our garage, kitchen and our dining-room table. Although you may think that our small efforts doesn’t have a great impact, eventually, all our efforts will accumulate and can actually change the devasting path our nature is headed to. The objective is basic, Carbon dioxide is the climate's worst foe. It's emitted when oil, coal, and other fossil fuels are burned for energy — the energy we use to control our homes, autos, and cell phones. By utilizing less of it, we can control our own influence to climate change while likewise setting aside some cash. Here are the following simple, viable ways each one of us can do to at least slowdown the effects of Global warming:
Power your home with renewable energy
Pick a utility company that produces in any event a large portion of its power from wind or solar energy and has been guaranteed by Green-e Vitality, an association that vets sustainable power source choices.
Reduce water waste
Sparing water lessens carbon contamination, as well. That is on account of it takes a great deal of power to pump, warmth, and treat your water. So take shorter showers and switch off the tap while brushing your teeth.
Green your commute
In Canada, transportation is one of the biggest factors of climate pollution. In order to alleviate from this, Take public transit, ride a bike, car-share, and switch to an electric or hybrid vehicle.
3R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle).
You can spare 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide every year by reusing only 50% of your family’s waste.
Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.
Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow, Researchers at Princeton University have recommended one methodology that they call "stabilization wedges." This implies decreasing Greenhouse gases (GHG) outflows from an assortment of sources with innovations accessible in the following couple of decades, instead of depending on a huge change in a solitary zone. They recommend seven wedges that could each diminish GHG emissions. Every one of them together could hold emissions at roughly current levels for the following 50 years, putting us on a potential way to balance out around 500 ppm.
There are numerous possible wedges, including enhancements to energy proficiency and vehicle fuel economy, increments in wind and solar power, hydrogen created from sustainable sources, biofuels, natural gas, and nuclear power. There are already solutions that embodies the top-down approach, but I think that it is somehow not effective because glaciers are still retreating and melting while Global warming is worsening. Maybe it is now time to try different and new things to solve this global problem in our environment. It will not come from our Government and the highest Officials in this Planet, it must start within ourselves. Discipline is the key in solving this global environmental problem, and as long as we remain apathetic, shallow and undisciplined citizens of this planet, any solutions we try will not work.
To end, I would like to state a quote by David Suzuki “In a world of more than seven billion people, each of us is a drop in the bucket. But with enough drops, we can fill any bucket”. This embodies the whole idea of this paper. We can do all things if we can go hand in hand and reach the common goal we are aiming. This problem needs all the attention we can give; a global solution, because this phenomenon poses a great threat to all living things on Earth. A change in our lifestyle could be a big help in solving this global problem.
