Latest news with #ArcticReflections
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Scientists prep bold experiments to fight Arctic phenomenon with global implications: 'Dramatic changes'
A team of climate researchers and engineers is working together with local Arctic communities to implement bold new strategies to address melting sea ice. In a recent article for The Conversation, Shaun Fitzgerald, Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge, divulged takeaways from his recent trip to Cambridge Bay in Northern Canada. He visited the region with two projects, Real Ice and Arctic Reflections, both of which aim to slow down the loss of sea ice through experimental strategies. "The dramatic changes in the Arctic warrant investigation into interventions that could have an impact sooner than cutting emissions or removing greenhouse gases," Fitzgerald explained. Sea ice plays a crucial role in temperature regulation globally. With changing temperatures, this delicate balance between warming and cooling of the Arctic has been thrown off balance, causing sea ice to melt more rapidly than it can refreeze in the colder months. Arctic Reflections notes that rising global temperatures have "reduced the Arctic sea ice volume already by 75% over the last 40 years." The ramifications of melting Arctic ice impact more than just the local communities in the far north — this phenomenon has global implications. More melted sea ice means more water in the ocean, which means higher tides during extreme weather events, disrupting food systems with habitat loss for certain animals, and even prompting an increase in the spread of disease. A study published this year even asserted that Arctic sea ice melting is contributing to changing weather patterns in other parts of the world. The team Fitzgerald worked with in Cambridge Bay has three bold concepts to combat the rapid deterioration of the polar ice caps. The first promotes ice growth by pouring seawater onto the surface of sea ice. The second uses snow as an insulator and floods it to create a solid ice sheet that promotes more freezing underneath. The third addresses melt ponds that form in the summer by drilling into them to drain them, leaving reflective ice at the surface to protect the sea ice below. These experiments are educated hypotheses by the team based on mathematical modelling, lab experiments, and smaller field experiments. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "The goal is to gather essential real-world data to rigorously assess if this intervention warrants further consideration," Fitzgerald explained. While initial results have been inconclusive, the field experiments have been encouraging. But Fitzgerald concluded that big swings like these experiments are an important step toward the ultimate goal of preserving the global climate. "With slow progress [in combatting global temperature increases] over the past few decades, additional measures may buy us time," he asserted. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New research suggests troubling phenomenon brewing in Antarctic waters — here's what we should prepare for
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current may be moving 20% slower by 2050, according to research described in The Conversation. Surrounding Antarctica in a ring, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is the strongest ocean current in the world. However, its remote location has historically made it challenging to study, so it's not as well-understood as other currents of its caliber, as the researchers noted. However, modern technology has allowed researchers to delve into this subject further. Australia-based researchers Taimoor Sohail and Bishakhdatta Gayen, along with their colleague Andreas Klocker, used a supercomputer and climate simulator to predict future patterns of currents. "The model captures features others often miss, such as eddies," Sohail and Gayen explain in the Conversation. "So it's a far more accurate way to assess how the current's strength and behaviour will change. … It picks up the intricate interactions between ice melting and ocean circulation." The results weren't encouraging. The projection predicted that fresh water from newly melted Antarctic ice would flow northward and penetrate the deep sea, ultimately slowing the current. As the researchers detailed, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current keeps things in balance. Its chilly temperatures protect the Antarctic from warm water that could melt its shores and disturb its ecosystem. It links the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian currents, and plays a crucial role in regulating the current climate. If the current slows down, a lot could change. A weaker current would harm fisheries that are important to coastal communities. Pesky invasive species could also worm their way into Antarctic ecosystems, pushing native species out and disrupting the ecosystem's already delicate balance. Such increased competition for resources can lead to the extinction of marine species. Polar ice melting can also trigger domino effects across the rest of the globe, even contributing to droughts and heat waves. Yes, this prediction is bad. No, it's not hopeless. If this comes to pass, it won't happen until 2050. There's still time to limit the melting and keep the Antarctic Circumpolar Current intact. Many organizations are dedicated to combating critical climate issues like this one. For instance, one Dutch startup, Arctic Reflections, is looking to restore Arctic sea ice by pumping cool water onto the ocean's surface. Should we be harnessing the ocean to power our homes? Absolutely Leave it be It depends I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. If you want to do your part to slow the planet's warming, you could install solar panels, upgrade to an induction stove, or donate to climate causes, among many other possibilities designed around the primary goal of helping yourself while helping the planet that are covered in the TCD Guide. However, it's important to remember that big issues like this can't be fully addressed without policy changes. Sohail and Gayen explained in the Conversation that "proactive and coordinated international actions" are the key to the planet's healthy future. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
