Latest news with #GreenlandIceSheet
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Sac State professor hosts screening of climate documentary on Greenland ice melt
Kathy Kasic, a scientist filmmaker and professor at Sacramento State, will host a free screening and panel discussion for her new documentary, 'The Memory of Darkness, Light, and Ice,' at 6 p.m. Monday at the Crest Theater, 1013 K St., in downtown Sacramento. The film examines the history of environmental research tied to Cold War military projects and how early studies predicted the decline of the Greenland Ice Sheet due to carbon dioxide emissions. The 60-minute documentary shows how the ice sheet has melted over decades and considers what steps are needed to slow or reverse the trend. Belgian glaciologist Jean-Louis Tison, featured in the film, explains three astronomical influences on Earth's natural climate cycles: its orbit, axial tilt and wobble. But Tison said human activity is changing the climate faster than any natural cycle. 'We are in an astronomical phase where the climate should cool down, but because of human activity, we are going fast into a warming of the climate system,' he says in the 60-minute film. Kasic served as the film's producer, director and cinematographer. She said her interest in polar environments and climate science began decades ago. 'I am originally a biologist, from my time when I was studying nocturnal frogs in the Amazon,' Kasic said. 'I have been a science documentary filmmaker for 20 years, though I have been interested in climate-related science for more than 30 years.' The film has screened more than 20 times in the past three months, including at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in February. It won the John de Graaf Environmental Filmmaking Award at the Wild and Scenic Film Festival and was named 'Best Feature Documentary' at the Raw Science Film Festival in New York. It was also shown at a Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition Task Force briefing at the U.S. Capitol. 'In terms of the science, I am fascinated by how these potentialities are tied to human decisions thousands of miles away,' Kasic said. 'I believe in the strength of the human spirit and our human ingenuity, if we are all working together toward the same goal. And so my goal is that this film helps align us in understanding climate science, so we can all come together.' Kasic said the fossil fuel industry has driven carbon dioxide levels to a historic high, accelerating the melting of ice sheets. 'We are driving toward a cliff and accelerating,' she said. 'When you look at the carbon dioxide levels of that time when the ice was gone, they were half of what they are today. So we have double the carbon dioxide now, and we've put it in the atmosphere at a rapid rate. That is extremely concerning.' She hopes the film inspires governments, planners and the public to act now to reduce future melting. 'Our children and grandchildren will suffer. It is that simple,' Kasic said. 'The more we do now, the easier it will be for those to whom we are handing over our planet, but it is even clearly affecting us now. And so we need to make it easier for people and businesses today to make changes, to become carbon neutral and carbon zero.' Monday's free event begins with a reception at 6 p.m. The film screening starts at 7 p.m., followed by a panel discussion at 8 p.m. with Kasic; Sen. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica; SMUD Board Director Heidi Sanborn; and UC Davis geologist Dawn Sumner. Free registration is available through Eventbrite and the Crest's website. The film will be released later this year by Arte Distribution and Gravitas Ventures.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Earth Is Approaching Dangerous, Irreversible Climate Tipping Points, Scientists Warn
Our planet is headed toward several catastrophic climate tipping points, according to new research. This matters because once these 'tipping points' are crossed, they can trigger dramatic environmental shifts that cannot be reversed. A new study published in the European Geosciences Union paints a remarkably grim picture. It highlights threats such as the collapse of the Greenland Ice Sheet, dieback of rainforests and rapid thawing of permafrost. These changes would severely impact human well-being and global stability. What's most concerning about these tipping points is that once triggered, the changes often escalate on their own, without additional human input. This endless loop can amplify global warming and make it even more difficult to mitigate the effects of climate change. Permafrost Thaw: Permafrost, covering vast areas in the Arctic, holds large amounts of carbon in frozen organic matter. As temperatures rise, permafrost begins to thaw, releasing greenhouse gases like methane into the atmosphere. This release accelerates warming in a dangerous feedback loop. If significant portions thaw, billions of tons of carbon could enter the atmosphere, further fueling Earth's warming. Greenland Ice Sheet Melting: If it melts significantly, it could raise global sea levels by several feet. The melting of this ice sheet is triggered by rising global temperatures, and once it reaches a certain threshold, it could begin to melt much faster. This would lead to widespread coastal flooding, threatening millions of people who live near sea level. Amazon Rainforest Dieback: The Amazon rainforest, often referred to as the 'lungs of the Earth,' plays a vital role in absorbing carbon dioxide. However, increasing deforestation and climate change are pushing the Amazon toward a tipping point. If temperatures rise too high or deforestation continues at its current pace, the rainforest could begin to die back, releasing stored carbon and turning from a carbon sink into a carbon source. This would significantly amplify global warming. Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation: The AMOC is a vital ocean current that helps regulate global climate. If the AMOC slows or collapses due to rising temperatures and melting ice, it could lead to more extreme weather patterns in Europe, Africa and the Americas. A collapse of the AMOC would severely impacting agriculture and ecosystems. Researchers calculated the probabilities of triggering 16 known climate tipping points. They factored in uncertainties like climate sensitivity to greenhouse gases and the exact temperature thresholds at which tipping points occur. The scientists concluded that there is a 62% chance of triggering at least one tipping point, and nine tipping elements have more than a 50% probability of being crossed. These include the Greenland Ice Sheet collapse, abrupt permafrost thaw and Amazon rainforest dieback. Findings show that if we drastically cut emissions we can cut our chances of triggering a tipping point by roughly half. However, there's growing concern that it might already be too late for some systems, as some tipping points could be triggered at as little as 1.8 degree Fahrenheit of warming, a threshold we have already reached. Carbon cycle tipping points like permafrost collapse and Amazon rainforest dieback do increase warming, however, the warming effects are relatively small compared to human-driven emissions. In fact, the added warming from these tipping points are as much as ten times smaller on average than the warming from human-driven emissions. Still, these tipping points can't be ignored. A swift move to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could mitigate the risk of triggering these climate tipping points. The closer we get to these tipping points, the harder it will be to reverse their effects. While these carbon tipping points alone won't cause runaway warming, they amplify our risks and shorten our window for action. Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for She has been covering some of the world's biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists caught off guard by rare shift unfolding high above Earth: 'A rare opportunity'
Rising global temperatures driven by the changing climate are causing a lot of ice to melt in the Northern Hemisphere, which threatens the natural habitat of local wildlife and our environment at large. A group of scientists recently found that atmospheric rivers can potentially slow down this melting and contribute to saving the massive Greenland Ice Sheet. Atmospheric rivers are large and narrow sections of the atmosphere that carry massive amounts of moisture from regions near the equator to the poles, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. They are responsible for 90% of the movement of moisture between the tropics and the poles, and they can produce substantial rain and snowfall. The rivers influence the formation of clouds, sea ice, air temperature, and more. An intense atmospheric river event in 2022 was the focus of a study by a team of researchers from Nordic countries. They found that it caused so much snowfall in Greenland that it delayed the start of the summer melt by 11 days and offset Greenland's 2022 net mass loss by 8%. "Using high-elevation firn core sampling and isotopic analysis allowed us to pinpoint the extraordinary snowfall from this atmospheric river. It's a rare opportunity to directly link such an event to Greenland ice sheet surface mass balance and dynamics," said Hannah Bailey, a geochemist at the University of Oulu and lead author of the study. The Arctic is warming a lot faster than the rest of the planet. This is having many adverse effects, like melting ice and rising sea levels. It is also causing heat waves and disruptions to the normal flow of ocean currents. This impacts humans and wildlife in many ways. Higher sea levels could mean higher tides during extreme weather events, an increased spread of disease, and disruptions to our food systems. Atmospheric rivers have primarily been associated with accelerating ice melt in the Arctic. But after the 2022 event dropped 16 billion tons of snow on Greenland, scientists are open to the possibility that they could also help counteract the melt. "Depending on their seasonal timing, we find that the impact of [atmospheric rivers] on ice sheet health is more nuanced than previously thought, and under their forecast intensification they could significantly recharge Greenland's mass balance," the researchers said. Do you think America could ever go zero-waste? Never Not anytime soon Maybe in some states Definitely Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. 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
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why Climate Change is Making Greenland Desirable to Trump
Apartment buildings and houses are pictured in Nuuk, Greenland, on March 24, 2025. Greenland's Prime Minister Mute Egede accused Washington of interfering in its political affairs with the visit of an American delegation to the Danish territory coveted by U.S. President Donald Trump. Credit - Juliette Pavy—Getty Images On Thursday, Second Lady Usha Vance will be visiting Greenland along with a U.S. delegation. The trip, the White House says, is meant to 'celebrate Greenlandic culture and unity' with Vance scheduled to visit historical sites, learn about Greenlandic heritage, and attend Greenland's national dogsled race. Trump's national security advisor, Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright are also expected to make a visit. But the visit has been condemned by Greenland's leaders, especially as the Trump Administration has continued its brazen push for control of the region. In a speech at the joint session of Congress on March 4, President Donald Trump spoke of the importance of letting the people of Greenland determine their own future before admitting, 'We need it really for international world security, and I think we're going to get it one way or the other.' The trip also comes as Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, is facing a new future in the face of climate change. Rising temperatures are accelerating the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet, the largest ice mass in the Northern Hemisphere. The impact, coupled with warming oceans, has altered the area's ecosystems and food security. On the surface, it seems these changes may be opening up new economic and strategic opportunities—ones the U.S. and others may want to tap. But the reality is more complicated than that. 'There's a perceived military benefit and there's a perceived economic benefit,' says Paul Bierman, professor of natural resources at the University of Vermont. Greenland is strategically located in the Atlantic Ocean between the U.S., Russia, and China, and contains a trove of natural resources—minerals, oil, and natural gas—that is largely untapped. But Bierman adds: 'I actually think both of these [ideas] are false.' There are 31 million barrels of undiscovered oil in East Greenland, according to a 2007 U.S. Geological Survey study. And Greenland is home to minerals like lithium, niobium, and zirconium, all of which are useful for the production of batteries, electronics, and electric cars. But experts say that accessing these resources is not as easy as it sounds. The reason much of the resources remain untapped is in part because they are not easily accessible. Greenland has a limited road network and a population of less than 60,000—and a large portion of the region is built on permafrost, which presents building challenges. 'It's a tricky ground to create infrastructure on,' says Asa Rennermalm, professor at the Department of Geography at Rutgers. Climate change has spurred hopes of a mineral gold rush—as the receding ice could make accessing these natural resources easier. Many areas of Greenland, however, are currently closed off to extraction. In 2021, the territory's parliament voted to stop oil and gas exploration due to environmental concerns, and also banned uranium mining that same year. Greenland's changing climate also holds potential for the U.S.'s artificial intelligence ambitions. During a Feb. 12 Senate hearing on the acquisition of Greenland, Rebecca Pincus, director of the Polar Institute at the Wilson Center, spoke of the potential for the melting ice sheet to provide the energy for hydropower-fueled AI data centers. Melting sea ice could open up a new trade route—one which President Trump seems to be vying for control over. 'What we're seeing globally in the Arctic is a dramatic decrease in the coverage of sea ice,' says Bierman. 'And so as the Arctic Ocean has less and less sea ice, it potentially is open to vessels that are not icebreakers to get through.' Trump's former national security adviser Robert O'Brien has said that Greenland's location is critical not only in its relation to China and Russia, but also as an alternative shipping route as climate change makes the Panama Canal more unreliable. Prolonged drought, exacerbated by climate change, has lowered water levels in the canal, making it harder for ships to pass through. '[Greenland is] strategically very important to the Arctic, which is going to be the critical battleground of the future, because as the climate gets warmer, the Arctic is going to be a pathway that maybe cuts down on the usage of the Panama Canal,' O'Brien said in an interview with Sunday Morning Futures in December. China and Russia launched a joint shipping corridor along the Arctic Sea in 2023—that year alone, 80 voyages reached Chinese ports through the route. 'We have a lot of our favorite players cruising around the coast, and we have to be careful,' Trump told NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte earlier this month, referring to the potential security risk that open Arctic waters might pose. Experts say that the Trump Administration's focus is nearsighted—and ignoring a much bigger issue. The Arctic is warming at a rate three to four times faster than the rest of the world—and Greenland's ice sheet lost 2.5 million liters (over 660,000 gallons) of fresh water per second last year. The melting ice sheets are not going to make resource extraction any easier. 'There's this fantasy that the ice sheets are going to melt away overnight, and all these new exotic minerals are going to appear where they used to be a thousand feet of ice,' says Bierman. 'That's not going to happen.' Ice melt caused by climate change can trigger landslides, which can damage mining infrastructure in seconds. 'It's going to destroy the port infrastructure, or, if you're unlucky enough, destroy your mine,' says Bierman. What's more, if Greenland's ice sheet were to melt completely, it would raise global sea levels by 23 ft. 'Even just a fraction of that is going to have huge impacts on global sea level rise,' says Rennermalm. It will radically change the rest of the world—coasts from Mumbai to Mar-a-Lago could be underwater. 'If we don't take care of that ice sheet. There are estimates in the many trillion dollars of economic losses if that happens, and that's going to eclipse any critical minerals,' says Bierman. 'That to me is the piece that doesn't fit in the four year political cycle.' Write to Simmone Shah at
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump wants Greenland. But much of the island is vanishing
President Donald Trump has set his sights on Greenland — even as Greenlanders insist they do not want to be a part of the United States. While the president says he wants the territory for 'national security' purposes, his ambition ignores an inconvenient and increasingly concerning truth. The Greenland ice sheet, which makes up most of the autonomous Denmark territory, is rapidly melting and cracking, with global consequences. 'Picture yourself pouring a liter of water into the ocean, the stream quickly disappearing into the surf. Now imagine every person on Earth, all 8.025 billion of us, adding a liter of water to the ocean every 15 minutes, day in and day out, for the last 22 years,' wrote Dr. Twila Moon, the deputy lead scientist and science communication liaison at the National Snow and Ice Data Center. 'The steady and substantial influx of freshwater would change the ocean's salt content, alter current patterns, and raise sea levels. This is what's happening as the Greenland Ice Sheet shrinks.' The more than 656,000-mile sheet — an area about three times the size of Texas — is nearly two miles thick, and contains about 696,000 cubic miles of ice. Like the Antarctic ice sheet, the mass helps to reflect solar energy and cool the planet. It also serves as a global water tower, keeping fresh water frozen. The more fresh water that's dumped into the ocean, the more currents that rely on a delicate balance of density, temperatures, and salinity can slow. Ocean circulation also helps to regulate the planet's climate and is critical for the survival of marine life. Slowing currents can result in ocean warming and sea level rise — up to 23 feet in this case. But, the oceans are already warming due to human-caused climate change and the fossil fuel industry that backed the president's 2024 campaign. The greenhouse gases oil and gas companies emit heat the planet's atmosphere. The ocean, which is one of Earth's largest carbon sinks, takes in most of that heat and is acidifying with harmful effects to corals and shellfish, as it absorbs the polluting carbon dioxide that humans release. The Arctic is warming at a faster rate than anywhere else in the world. And, the Greenland ice sheet is melting faster than Antarctica's sheet. There is research to suggest that the entire Greenland Ice Sheet could melt by the year 3,000 if the world maintains its current levels of greenhouse gas emissions, the National Snow and Ice Data Center said. Protecting the Greenland ice sheet from climate change is critical, Moon and scientists say. But, it also needs to be protected from other possible threats. Notably, as the sheet melts more avenues are opening up for shipping and mining. And, Greenland could be a rich source of rare earth minerals, like those Trump seeks from Ukraine. Those include zinc, lead, and gold, according to the D.C.-based Brookings Institution. The U.S. Congressional Research Service estimated that the Arctic contains one trillion dollars' worth of precious metals and minerals. Valuable metals are found in the deep seabed, according to the Columbia Climate School. While contracts have been approved for seabed exploration, mining the ocean floor could cause serious harm to marine ecosystems. The Arctic also holds 13 percent of undiscovered gas resources and 30 percent of undiscovered natural gas, according to an estimate from the United States Geological Survey, which is mostly offshore. American oil companies have been exploring the possibility of drilling there for years. However, as Oil & Gas Watch points out, there are no roads or pipelines and the weather can be deadly. Just four years ago, Greenland's parliament passed legislation that banned uranium mining and voted to stop all exploration for oil and gas on the island. Most of Greenland's residents are Inuit, and they live along the coasts. Ice is a major part of their lives. "Everything we do involves the ocean and sea ice, which is highly affected by climate change," Natasha Simonee, a member of the Inuit community in Pond Inlet, told the BBC in 2021. They've had to contend with other outside interests, including the Australian mining company Energy Transition Minerals Ltd. They have been looking to construct a uranium mine near the town of Narsaq for years. Residents worry about the mining company's plans and possible environmental and health impacts. The fight for Greenland's mineral wealth could be just as stressful. "There is a lot of potential to make money from the ice sheet in terms of these minerals, that is no question," Joerg Schaefer, a climate geochemist at the Columbia Climate School's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, told Newsweek. "But the land of Greenland belongs to the Greenland people. How can it be legal that a bunch of billionaires go in and steal the minerals from a land that is not theirs?"
