Glaciers as an Indicator of Climate Change
Introduction:
It is now a well-documented scientific fact that both the 20th and 21st centuries have experienced a general trend in terms of global warming. Scientific research and evidence clearly indicate that the earth’s surface temperatures are gradually increasing. There have been a variety of theories pertaining to the fundamental causes of global warming. However, one of the outstanding beliefs is that human activities are distinctively responsible for global warming. Although this phenomenon is not experienced on all regions around the globe, the average temperatures on the globe have increased by 0.7°C since 1900 (Hansen et al., 2006).
According to Houghton et al. (2001), fluctuations in glaciers serve as one of the distinctive natural indicators of climate change because of their sensitivity. One of the underlying notions is that fluctuations in glaciers are mainly due to climate change. The original thought is that climate change mainly results in increase in global temperatures and consequently the melting of ice, snow and shifting of glaciers. In this way, changes in precipitation and wind result in changes in the amount of snow and ice accumulation. In addition, changes in radiation fluxes, temperature, and wind including other factors tend to have an impact on the surface energy balance and consequently ablation, a main source of mass loss through evaporation and melting (Dyurgerov 2000). Disturbances in the balance of glacial mass, the glacier’s volume as it shrinks or grows (Hall 2003), results in the change of flow regime and consequently, after a glacier specific delay, what results is either a glacial retreat or advance in a manner that the glacial geometry and a...
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People are responsible for higher carbon dioxide atmosphere emissions, while the Earth is now into the Little Ice Age, or just behind it. These factors together cause many years discussions of the main sources of climate changes and the temperature increasing as a result of human been or natural changes and its consequences; even if its lead to the global warming, or to the Earth’s cooling. In their articles, “Global Warming Is Eroding Glacial Ice” by Andrew C. Revkin and “Global Warming Is Not a Threat to Polar Ice” by Philip Stott, both authors discuss these two theories (Revkin 340; Stott 344). Revkin is right that global warming is taking place. Significant increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is due to human activities combined with natural factors such as volcanic emissions and solar radiation – all together they lead to climate changes and temperatures rising. At the same time, other factors such as deforestation contribute to environmental changes for some glaciers not less than air pollution. However, during global warming not all regions of the planet are affected in the same way, local warming and cooling are both possible during these changes.
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Chasing Ice is a documentary on climate change, the rise of CO2 gases and seeing what effect these two factors have on glaciers. Climate change is a incredibly serious problem because it kills off special species that the world needs in which humans are causing this problem. A photographer decided he wanted to try and capture life’s changing images of many glaciers to determine what effect climate change truly had on the world. He traveled to Greenland, Alaska, Montana, and Iceland and sets up cameras to grasp what effect climate change had on these glaciers. In a six month period, James, the photographer, captured that glaciers were not just shifting a couple of feet, however they were moving miles and miles from the current location. Climate
Global warming has become on of the most controversial issues in the media today. While most of the Western world countries have generally accepted the premise that man's chemical emissions in the atmosphere can and are affected by the world’s climate patterns, in the United States, the issue has become so politicized with many republicans challenging the science behind the theory. Global warming is a greenhouse effect whereby gases are trapped on the earth’s surface causing it to heat up (Maslin 14). It is based on the worldwide temperature records that have been maintained by human beings through their activities since the 1880,s. In addition, global warming is not only caused by human activities only but also through climate changes in solar radiance. The problem is that, humans continue to contribute to the global warming phenomenon. All citizens should work in reducing human activities that cause global warming and also support the development of nuclear power. Scientists deem that, global warming is mainly caused by human activities which accelerate the natural process by creating greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Human activities have become a great contribution to the greenhouse effect and this means that climate changes are inevitable. They further argue that, if these activities continue and are not reduced, it will lead to more trapping of energy radiated from the earth and this will likely lead to extreme weather and global warming. Global warming should be at reduced levels or else, it will be catastrophic.
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Our planet has two glaciers of continental size, one being present on Antarctica and the other on Greenland. Observations made by scientists over the last thirty-five years all agree upon the notion of shrinking, and or retreating of the ice sheets. The melting of ice sheets has powerful implications for the millions of people who depend on glacial melt for drinking water and the millions of people who will be displaced by the sea level rise occurring as a direct result of the melting. The observations of ice melting also show that the rate at which the ice is melting is accelerating. Mountain glaciers around the world are also on the retreat. Some instances of particular mountain glaciers may show expansion, but studies done by glaciologists show that the total mass of glaciers worldwide is decreasing at an accelerating rate. These studies have been done by a number of different methods that all show a trend in the same direction.
Glaciers transport materials as they move, while they also carve away the land underneath them. This ice formation picks up broken rocks and soil debris far from their original homes, this creates so interesting landforms.
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Furthermore, this analysis must take place amidst serious gaps in the existing research and technology concerning the developing climatic conditions. For these reasons, global warming stands as one of the most daunting policy issues facing our world today. This is compounded by the debate over the very existence of climate change. While countless sources of empirical evidence testify to the very real presence of climate change the world over, considerable denial of the phenomenon still exists. The argument has been made that evidence of climate change is a gross overstatement, or in some cases, a complete fabrication.
Glaciers are more or less permanent bodies of ice and compacted snow that have become deep enough and heavy enough to flow under their own weight. Glaciers require very specific climatic conditions. Glaciers develop where the temperatures are cold enough to allow the snow to accumulate and compacted. Most are found in regions of high snowfall in winter and cool temperatures in summer. These conditions ensure that the snow that accumulates in the winter isn't lost (by melt, evaporation, or calving) during the summer. Such conditions typically prevail in polar and high alpine regions. There are two main types of glaciers: valley glaciers and continental glaciers (Armstrong).
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Global Warming One of the most substantial problems in the world today is global warming. This gradual warming of the earth is in occurrence at an extremely slow rate but it is happening. Many scientists believe that as human’s work and release greenhouse gases into the earth’s atmosphere, it can become dangerous for the long lasting life of humans and our environment. “Unless we take immediate action, the impacts of global warming will continue to intensify, grow ever more costly and damaging, and increasingly affect the entire planet - including you, your community, and your family” (“Global Warming Impacts”).