"It's no surprise that a warming climate is melting the world's glaciers and polar ice. But no one expected it to be this fast..." writes Tom Appenzeller of National Geographic Magazine. For years, scientists have been made aware concerning the effects of global warming. In recent years, however, scientists have been surprised by the effect of climate change (as those in the political realm like to refer to it) on glaciers and their corresponding ice caps (Appenzeller 2007, 2). Scientists ask, "Why is the earth warming?
- Some scientist are confident that climate change is human induced due to human activity and substantial changes in the atmospheric composition in terms of greenhouse gases and aerosols (Wigley, Jones, and Raper 1997, 8315).
- Other scientist believe in a more natural explanation for climate change. Global climate systems vary naturally, as such one may expect that fluctuations in the global temperature to be caused by natural means
- These causes are divided into 2 subjects; internal processes and externally forced changes. External forces include irradiation, and volcanic activity (Wigley, Jones, and Raper 1997, 8317).
In this blog post, I take a closer look at the phenomena known as "Global Warming" and explore its effects on life on Earth (with an emphasis on biodiversity), and glaciers and ice caps (Botkin et al 2007, 227). Finally, I outline possible (and considerably feasible) solutions to this world-wide threat.
All citations will be included in my works cited section (see below).
First, here are some notes from a recent article in the New York Times.
- The years 2005 and 2010 have been the hottest years on record since 1880 (when global temperature record-keeping began).
- 2010 featured unrelenting snowstorms that broke several seasonal records in both the United States and Europe; record shattering summer heat waves that demolished Russia; unforgiving floods that forced people from their homes in locations such as Pakistan, Australia, California, and Tennessee; a severe die-off of coral reefs; and a continuation in the global trend of a warming climate (Gillis 2010).
- A large majority of climatologists say that the trend of exponentially rising temperatures is due to human release of gases like carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere (as mentioned above).
- As such, carbon dioxide levels have increased about forty percent since the industrial revolution (18th and 19th century).
- (Gillis 2010).
- Over the past thirty years, climate change has produced numerous shifts in the distribution and abundances of species and has been implicated on one-species level extinction (Thomas et al 2004, 145).
- In most cases, animal species can tolerate changes, adapt to them, move (as mentioned above), or ultimately die.
- A common "rule of thumb" has been that species will likely shift poleward, and also areas high in elevation
- Rapid climate change affects ecosystems and species ability to adapt, so biodiversity loss ensues (Thomas et al 2004, 145).
- Loss of biodiversity risks human security (a major change in the food chain upon which humans depend, change in water sources, and plant life may begin to disappear)
- In simple terms, glaciers and ice caps are deteriorating and melting faster than previously believed by most scientists. (Appenzeller 2007, 2).
- While it is true that glaciers and ice caps are melting due to emissions from cars and industry, the loss of ice as surpassed the "upward creep" of global warming (Appenzeller 2007, 6).
- Instead of melting at an exponential rate, scientists are learning that glaciers and ice sheet are prone to setbacks; when melting begets more melting and ice shrinks precipitously (Appenzeller 2007, 7).
- For example, shrinking ice exposes spots of dark rock, which absorb heat from the sun and speed up the process of melting
- These occurrences have caused scientists to marvel. Eric Rignot, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory states, "We see things today that five years ago would have seemed completely impossible, extravagant, exaggerated."
- Overall, melting ice sheets, not rising sea levels seem to pose the current threat (Appenzeller 2007, 7).
In the Arctic, melting ice means less ice. Less ice means less reflective surface which leads to faster meltingSpecies in the Arctic have adapted to life over or below ice; loss of ice implies life of a very specific bio dome.
Less ice leads to changes in seawater temperatures and salinity. What follows are changes in primary productivty and composition of plankton and fish, as well as large changes in ocean circulation, affecting biodiversity worldwide (Appenzeller 2007, 4).
Possible Solutions (?):
- While there is convincing evidence that humans are the main cause of climate change, the question concerning what to do about it remains elusive
- Eliminating Greenhouse gases?
- Stabilization to pre-industrial levels
- Increase the amount of gases we take out of the atmosphere by increasing forestlands and changing the way we farm can help with carbon "sequestering." Avoiding deforestation would go along with this.
- Alternative energy sources and renewable sources. Research and development would play a strong part in this
- Energy Conservation
- Eliminating waste methane that produces Carbon Dioxide
- Increased public awareness through policy litigation and campaigns.
Works Cited
Botkin, Daniel B. et al. 2007. Forecasting the effects of global warming on biodiversity. American Institute of Biological Sciences 57, no.3 (Spring): 227-236.
Gillis, Justin. 2010. Figures on global climate show 2010 tied 2005 as the hottest year on record. The New York Times. January 12.
Thomas, Chris D. et al. 2004. Extinction risk from climate change. Nature. January 8.
Wigley, T. M. L, P.D. Jones, and S. C. B. Raper. 1997. The observed global warming record: What does it tell us? Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94, no. 1 (Fall): 8314-8320.
