Latest news with #DoomsdayGlacier
Otago Daily Times
30-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Connecting the south by rail
Passengers prepare to take a return journey to Christchurch on the Southerner earlier this month. Photo: Linda Robertson The rhythmic sway of the train moving through our stunning Otago countryside is a special part of the Southerner experience. As Robert Louis Stevenson famously said, "All of the sights of the hill and the plain; Fly as thick as driving rain". The last time I rode the Southerner was in 2001 — I recall the pleasure of the landscape, the book I was reading (Pig Earth by John Berger) not to mention the coffee and sandwich I enjoyed along the way. Inexplicably, the following year this great train service was put to bed. We look forward to the day when a trip to Christchurch by train is the normal way to travel, a journey that can be as productive as we need or as relaxing as we want. And there is an appetite for it. When Great Journeys recently announced a limited return of the Southerner for several days this year, people were enthusiastic. Tickets were sold out within days of going on sale. Demand for the return of a regular service is strong. On a recent Sunday, I joined other MPs, councillors and members of the public at a "Save Our Trains" forum in Dunedin to discuss steps we will need to take to restore passenger rail in the South, to restore the Southerner. Also that weekend, there was an announcement at the Regional Development Summit of funding for an "inland port" and the reopening of the Hillside Workshops maintenance facilities. The time is ripe for a restoration of passenger rail alongside an increase in freight by rail. A train trip is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to travel and produces about 80-90% fewer CO₂ emissions compared to the same trip with a flight. With the rising costs and general inconvenience of flying between regional centres, passenger rail stacks up both financially and environmentally. This matters. Recently I attended a presentation by Antarctica New Zealand where we heard about the scientific research under way in Antarctica, including all important climate science. Antarctica's ice plays a crucial role in regulating global climate while its melting ice also raises sea levels. The Thwaites Glacier, also known as the "Doomsday Glacier" is now at risk of catastrophic failure, and when it slides into the sea and melts, it will raise sea-levels by about 80cm and trigger more ice loss, more sea-level rise. We should be urgently taking every action we can to reduce emissions in order to slow global heating (and reduce the risk from the collapse of the Doomsday Glacier). One of the most sensible things to do is to reduce emissions from transport. Clearly passenger rail has a critical role to play here. We already have the tracks, and Hillside Workshops is now back up and running. Let's not forget that Aotearoa was once linked up by passenger rail between regions and main centres — including from Christchurch to Dunedin — and to a myriad of small towns in between. By the turn of the century this once thriving rail network was pared back to a mere skeleton of its former self. The 2025 government Budget revealed some funding for rail, but it is all for the North Island, and much more is being spent on urban highways, again leaving us in the Deep South out in the cold. This could change if our southern voice is heard loudly enough in Wellington and when southern MPs from both government and opposition do the mahi to support a restoration of passenger rail. Already there appears to be a consensus among most southern MPs that the restoration of the Southerner is desirable, and the question then turns to how. The Green Party Budget launched in May sets out a clear budget for the return of several inter-regional rail connections including our Southerner. Save Our Trains has prepared a handy factsheet about the feasibility of this rail link on their website. We can have a transport network that works for everyone, giving people real choice. Travelling by train through ever-changing landscapes is a special pleasure we should all be able to enjoy, "[as] ever again, in the wink of an eye; Painted stations whistle by". Time to leave the station, let the rhythm of rail do its thing, and embrace the journey! Scott Willis is an Ōtepoti-based Green Party MP. Each week in this column writers address issues of sustainability.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Penguin poo creates clouds that help cool the planet, study finds
Antarctica's number one cutest animal might be saving the planet with its number two. A recent study published in Communications Earth & Environment finds that ammonia released from penguin guano – yes, their poo – may help form clouds that insulate the Earth and prevent sea ice from melting. Researchers from the University of Helsinki spent two months on the Antarctic Peninsula measuring the air near a colony of 60,000 Adélie penguins. When winds blew from the direction of the colony, ammonia levels in the atmosphere surged more than 1,000 times above baseline levels. Ammonia from the guano reacts with sulfur-containing gases emitted by marine phytoplankton, forming aerosol particles that seed clouds. These clouds reflect sunlight and help cool the surface below, a process that could slow glacial melt and sea ice retreat. Related 'Crazy young penguin' travels to Australia from Antarctica. Is climate change to blame? Satellite imagery reveals previously unknown colonies of emperor penguins in Antarctica The penguins act as 'major emitters' of this ammonia, lead author Matthew Boyer explains. 'There is a deep connection between ecosystem processes – being the ocean phytoplankton activity as well as penguins – and atmospheric processes that can have an impact on the local climate,' he told ABC News. Even after the penguins migrate, the lingering guano continues to emit ammonia. In one case, researchers observed a fog bank that lasted for three hours after a spike in aerosol concentration. The findings highlight how interconnected Antarctic ecosystems are with Earth's climate systems. As ice melts and habitats shift due to global warming, it's not just wildlife like penguins that are at risk, but also the natural processes they support. The Antarctic plays a vital role in stabilising global temperatures, acting as a heat buffer, a carbon sink and the engine behind ocean currents, according to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition. But it's also one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth. Related Why climate models miss the mark on Arctic warming – and how scientists are improving their accuracy Arctic winter ends with lowest sea ice cover in recorded history The Thwaites Glacier – dubbed the 'Doomsday Glacier' – alone could raise sea levels by up to three metres if it collapses. Understanding how local processes affect global climate systems is now more critical than ever. Penguin poop isn't the only unexpected ally in the fight against climate change and ecological destruction. In Kenya and other parts of East Africa, beehive fences are proving to be a natural solution to human-wildlife conflict. Elephants avoid the fences because they fear bees. That protects crops, farmers and elephants alike. In the UK, engineers have developed electric wallpaper to cut home heating emissions, one of the biggest sources of carbon in colder climates. A French company called New World Wind has also created 'wind trees' – artificial trees equipped with tiny, silent turbines that capture energy from light breezes in urban areas. The compact trees can generate electricity year-round in spaces too tight for traditional wind turbines, powering everything from streetlights to small buildings. Whether it's penguin poo or warming wallpaper, novel insights and solutions like these could help shape future climate change and conservation strategies.
Euronews
23-05-2025
- Science
- Euronews
Penguin guano could be slowing climate change in Antarctica
Antarctica's number one cutest animal might be saving the planet with its number two. A recent study published in Communications Earth & Environment finds that ammonia released from penguin guano – yes, their poo – may help form clouds that insulate the Earth and prevent sea ice from melting. Researchers from the University of Helsinki spent two months on the Antarctic Peninsula measuring the air near a colony of 60,000 Adélie penguins. When winds blew from the direction of the colony, ammonia levels in the atmosphere surged more than 1,000 times above baseline levels. Ammonia from the guano reacts with sulfur-containing gases emitted by marine phytoplankton, forming aerosol particles that seed clouds. These clouds reflect sunlight and help cool the surface below, a process that could slow glacial melt and sea ice retreat. The penguins act as 'major emitters' of this ammonia, lead author Matthew Boyer explains. 'There is a deep connection between ecosystem processes – being the ocean phytoplankton activity as well as penguins – and atmospheric processes that can have an impact on the local climate,' he told ABC News. Even after the penguins migrate, the lingering guano continues to emit ammonia. In one case, researchers observed a fog bank that lasted for three hours after a spike in aerosol concentration. The findings highlight how interconnected Antarctic ecosystems are with Earth's climate systems. As ice melts and habitats shift due to global warming, it's not just wildlife like penguins that are at risk, but also the natural processes they support. The Antarctic plays a vital role in stabilising global temperatures, acting as a heat buffer, a carbon sink and the engine behind ocean currents, according to the Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition. But it's also one of the fastest-warming regions on Earth. TheThwaites Glacier – dubbed the 'Doomsday Glacier' – alone could raise sea levels by up to three metres if it collapses. Understanding how local processes affect global climate systems is now more critical than ever. Penguin poop isn't the only unexpected ally in the fight against climate change and ecological destruction. In Kenya and other parts of East Africa,beehive fences are proving to be a natural solution to human-wildlife conflict. Elephants avoid the fences because they fear bees. That protects crops, farmers and elephants alike. In the UK, engineers have developedelectric wallpaper to cut home heating emissions, one of the biggest sources of carbon in colder climates. A French company called New World Wind has also created 'wind trees' – artificial trees equipped with tiny, silent turbines that capture energy from light breezes in urban areas. The compact trees can generate electricity year-round in spaces too tight for traditional wind turbines, powering everything from streetlights to small buildings. Whether it's penguin poo or warming wallpaper, novel insights and solutions like these could help shape future climate change and conservation strategies. With warmer than normal ocean waters, forecasters are expecting yet another unusually busy hurricane season for the Atlantic. But they don't think it will be as chaotic as 2024, the third-costliest season on record as it spawned killer storms Beryl, Helene and Milton. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday unveiled its outlook for the Atlantic hurricane season that begins 1 June and stretches through the end of November, with a 60 per cent chance it will above normal, 30 per cent chance near normal and just 10 per cent chance it will be quieter than average. The forecast calls for 13 to 19 named storms with six to 10 becoming hurricanes and three to five reaching major status with winds of more than 177 kph. A normal season has 14 named storms, seven of which strengthen to hurricanes and three power up further to major hurricanes. Ocean warmth is not quite as high as last year's off-the-charts heat. But it's sufficient to be the top reason for the busy forecast, National Weather Service Director Ken Graham said. 'Everything is in place for an above average season," he said. 'With a warming climate, forecasting above the long-term mean is always a safe bet,' said Kristen Corbosiero, a University at Albany tropical meteorology professor who was not part of the NOAA research. Human-caused climate change has generally made storms more intense, wetter and slower-moving so they drop more rain, Corbosiero and other experts said. 'The main fuel source for hurricanes is warm ocean waters," Corbosiero said. 'Warmer ocean water, warmer atmosphere above it can hold more moisture, more fuel for storms.' Corbosiero said there are three main factors: Water temperature, the El Nino/La Nina cycle of natural ocean warming and cooling, and 'seeds' of storms coming off Africa as thunderstorms. The warmer-than-normal water pushes toward a busy season, the El Nino cycle is neutral and it's too early to know what's coming off Africa, she and other hurricane experts said. With climate change, hurricanes are powering up from almost nothing to intense storms more quickly, giving people less notice for whopper storms, meteorologists said. Every Category 5 hurricane that hit the United States was a tropical storm or weaker just three days earlier, Graham said. Despite massive job cuts at NOAA from the Department of Government Efficiency, 'our ability to serve this country has never been better and it will be this year as well,' Graham said at a news conference Thursday in Gretna, Louisiana, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. 'The hurricane centre is fully staffed up and we're ready to go,' acting NOAA administrator Laura Grimm said. 'We are making this a top priority for this administration.' Since 1995, 21 of the 30 Atlantic hurricane seasons have been officially classified as above normal, with nearly half of those considered 'hyperactive,' according to NOAA. It classifies seasons based on their Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index, which takes into account the number and strength of storms and how long they last. In the last 10 years, only 2015 was below normal and 2022 was near normal. Last year started with a record early Category 5 hurricane in Beryl but then had a lull during the early part of peak storm season from mid-August to mid-October. But then six storms, including Helene and Milton, formed in just two weeks. With 18 named storms, 11 of those becoming hurricanes and five major hurricanes, 2024 was considered a hyperactive season in the Atlantic. And it was the third such in the last 10 years. Several other groups besides NOAA - private, public and academic - have already made forecasts for the upcoming season and they average out to a busy, but not hyperactive year with 16 named storms, eight of which become hurricanes and four major hurricanes. Phil Klotzbach, who coordinates Colorado State's pioneering forecast program, is calling for a bit more than other forecasters - 17 named storms, nine hurricanes and four majors - heavily based on the warm waters and past trends. Still, it should not quite be like last year, he said. 'At least we're not looking at a crazy hot Atlantic like we did last year at this time,' Klotzbach said. 'We're still pretty toasty out there. So I don't have the warm fuzzies about 2025.' Even if it's a quiet year, Corbosiero said just one storm can change everything, recalling an ultra quiet 1992, when that one storm was the devastating Hurricane Andrew. 'We don't need a hyperactive season to have devastation in the US or the Caribbean or anywhere,' Corbosiero said.
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists shocked by acceleration of melting crisis: 'We are surprised by the rate'
From the towering peaks of the Himalayas to the frozen shores of Alaska, the world's ice is vanishing at an alarming rate — and it's affecting more than just the landscape. Scientists estimate that 15 million people are at risk of experiencing catastrophic flooding as glacial lakes swell and burst. In Bhutan, for example, authorities are relocating entire communities to protect them from deadly glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Beyond the mountains, ice loss is transforming coastlines, disrupting food sources, and threatening homes. Rising seas, fueled by Antarctic ice sheet melt, are increasing flood risks for coastal cities. In the Arctic, diminishing sea ice is eroding land and destabilizing communities, while warming waters endanger entire ecosystems, including crucial fisheries. "We are surprised by the rate at which climate change is impacting the icy parts of the world," said Doug MacAyeal, a professor emeritus at the University of Chicago, in a recent article from the Natural Resources Defense Council. "But I'm not going to say that it doesn't make sense. … Sadly, it is fully understandable." Melting ice doesn't just mean rising sea levels — it can reshape life as we know it. In mountain regions, receding glaciers can trigger landslides, floods, and water shortages. The Cordillera Blanca in Peru, for instance, has seen its glacial lakes grow dramatically, leading to competition over water between local farmers and hydroelectric companies. In the Arctic, communities that have relied on stable ice for generations are now struggling due to crumbling infrastructure and disrupted food storage systems. Warmer temperatures have also contributed to the decline of key species, like snow crabs, leading to economic turmoil for fishing communities. Even in the Great Lakes region, declining ice cover is exposing shorelines to increased erosion and stronger storms, while changing lake conditions impact fish populations and water quality. Scientists warn that the situation is accelerating, and we may be approaching irreversible tipping points. The collapse of Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier — often dubbed the "Doomsday Glacier" — could trigger rapid sea level rise, affecting millions in coastal cities worldwide. As Bryan Mroczka said in 2024 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's reporting that Great Lakes ice coverage had hit historic lows: "We've crossed a threshold." Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely Somewhat Depends on the time of year Not at all Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. While these challenges are daunting, solutions are emerging. Bhutan is taking proactive steps by relocating at-risk communities and reinforcing glacial lake dams. In the Arctic, some villages are implementing coastal protections, while others explore managed retreat to safer ground. On a broader scale, global efforts to curb pollution and transition to cleaner energy sources are critical to slowing ice melt. Reducing reliance on dirty energy like coal and oil can lessen heat-trapping pollution, helping to stabilize the climate. At the individual level, small actions can contribute to big change. Cutting back on energy use, supporting policies that protect natural landscapes, and reducing food waste can all help lessen the strain on our planet. Even simple swaps — like switching to an energy-efficient heat pump or using public transportation — can make a difference. The ice is melting faster than ever, but there's still time to act. Every step we take toward a cleaner, more sustainable world helps protect the people, ecosystems, and communities that depend on these frozen landscapes. 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.
USA Today
28-02-2025
- Science
- USA Today
Study finds early life on Earth got a boost from ... Glaciers and uranium?
Study finds early life on Earth got a boost from ... Glaciers and uranium? Show Caption Hide Caption 'Doomsday Glacier' could be disastrous if it collapses into sea Warmed by ocean currents, Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier could collapse in a few years causing a sea levels to rise by several feet, researchers say. Scott L. Hall, USA TODAY About 700 million years ago, enormous glaciers flowed across the Earth's surface in powerful frozen rivers like "giant ice bulldozers" that pulverized our planet's crust and may have contributed to the evolution of complex life along their way, new research shows. A study published in Geology, a journal published by the Geological Society of America, on Tuesday found glaciers in rivers sometimes more than a mile deep scraped parts of the Earth's crust, releasing key minerals and setting off "chemical chain reactions that reshaped the planet," study author Chris Kirkland, who teaches and leads the Timescales of Mineral Systems Group at Curtin University in Australia, said in a statement. 'When these giant ice sheets melted, they triggered enormous floods that flushed minerals and their chemicals, including uranium, into the oceans,' Kirkland said. 'This influx of elements changed ocean chemistry, at a time when more complex life was starting to evolve.' Kirkland and researchers the University of Portsmouth in England and St. Francis Xavier University in Canada chemically analyzed crystals in rocks from Earth's Cryogenian period. Earth was so cold at the time that the oceans were frozen all the way to the equator, and life only existed in the oceans and on continental shelves, study co-author Donnelly Archibald, of St. Francis Xavier University, said in a statement. 'Our research shows that ancient glaciers did far more than shape the landscape - they triggered chemical transformations that helped set the stage for complex life," said study co-author, Rob Strachan , emeritus professor at the university. "These findings highlight the deep connections between Earth's geology, climate, and the evolution of life itself.' The planet experienced at least two "extreme global glaciations" during the Cryogenian period, traces of which can be observed in sedimentary rocks, Kirkland wrote in The Conversation. The Doomsday Glacier is melting − fast: How sea level rise could drench the world map. It's not clear what triggered those events, but high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere produced by volcanic activity may have later caused the planet to warm and the ice to melt, according to Kirkland. He wrote that while many scientists believe that this caused changes in the ocean's chemistry that set the stage for the development of complex life, his new research found that the paths carved by the retreating glaciers may also have been a factor. The glaciers ground surface rock into fine sediment, which flowed rapidly into the oceans, Archibald said in a statement. 'Some of this sediment carried essential nutrients to the oceans and fundamentally changed ocean chemistry and oxygen levels in the atmosphere, which may have stimulated the evolution of multicellular life," he said. The uranium that was released into the ocean by the movement of melting glaciers, for example, boosted oxygen levels in the water, helped cycle nutrients and fueled underwater heat sources, all of which may have contributed to the early development of life, the University of Portsmouth said in a release. Kirkland said the research can not only help understand ancient climate shifts, but also modern, human-influenced climate change. "These ancient climate shifts demonstrate that environmental changes, whether natural or human-driven, have profound and lasting impacts," Kirkland said. "Understanding these past events can help us better predict how today's climate changes might reshape our world."
