Hey people, I hope you are well, especially with climate change and Omicron. I thought today's post should be about sea ice, glaciers, and why they matter. There has been a lot of news about glaciers and sea ice, and I wanted to explain it to you. Let's get started...
To start, I want to explain the difference between sea ice and glaciers because they seem similar. They are both ice, but sea ice is created and melted in and only in the ocean, whereas glaciers are formed on land. This is why glaciers matter to climate change because since sea ice is melted and created in the sea, it does not allow more water to enter the ocean, but when glaciers melt, they allow an influx of water to enter the sea because they are formed on land, causing sea levels to rise. Sea ice in the Arctic has been declining fast since 1980. This could allow the Arctic to be ice-free, potentially destructive because all of the melted ice will go into the ocean, allowing sea levels to rise. Reducing sea ice can cause habitat loss for many animals, such as polar bears, health problems for indigenous people, and rapid erosion. Permafrost is also melting, which I have discussed previously in my other posts (Check it out!), also causing sea levels to rise. Rising sea levels also cause people to move, and if you live on the coast, you probably will have to move inland. But, melting sea ice and glaciers in the Arctic also affects global weather since the poles impact the circulation of oceans and seas, which also directly impacts any land's climate. As jet streams carry warm air, it causes the cold air to go south, and the Arctic gets warm air. The ecosystem that is balanced now will not be balanced anymore. It will impact populations from habitat loss and transportation. Climate change increases Antarctica's sea ice! Since there is more cold air in the south, it can cause thicker sea ice to form because of the increased precipitation and snow. One solution is if new ice becomes old ice because old ice can bounce off more reflected heat. Melting ice glaciers and sea ice in the Arctic and increasing sea ice in Antarctica is a big incentive to make a difference.
Some things you can do to prevent sea ice from decreasing in the Arctic and increasing in Antarctica are:
You can recycle plastic water bottles and bags, which have the recycle sign on them.
You can also help with clean clean-ups. There are plenty of clean-ups for beaches, roads, and many more.
You can educate people.
You can use less plastic.
You can walk or bike. When you walk or bike, you don't release carbon emissions. In worst cases, use public transportation because many people use it, and it doesn't release more carbon dioxide.
You can plant plants.
You can conserve water to have water left, like taking 5-minute showers. You can buy reusable stuff, so you don't need to use too much plastic. You can participate in peaceful protests.
You can also talk to people who have more knowledge about climate change so that you can tell other people.
You can put a bucket in the shower when you shower, so you can use that water for your plants or clean something up.
You can buy local produce.
You can build a garden and grow fresh produce.
You can buy organic produce.
Try to make a difference and have a joyful new year!
-Robotics Girl
References:
“Why Are Glaciers and Sea Ice Melting?” WWF, World Wildlife Fund, www.worldwildlife.org/pages/why-are-glaciers-and-sea-ice-melting.
“Sea Ice.” NASA, NASA, earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/SeaIce/page3.php.
ABC News, ABC News Network, abcnews.go.com/International/melting-arctic-ice-catastrophic-effects-world-experts/story?id=81588333.
“Home.” Arctic Ice Project, 7 Dec. 2021, www.arcticiceproject.org/.
Davies, Bethan. “Antarctic Sea Ice.” AntarcticGlaciers.org, 2 June 2021, www.antarcticglaciers.org/glaciers-and-climate/changing-antarctica/antarctic-sea-ice/#:~:text=Increases in snow and rain, area of Antarctic sea ice.
Copyright of Cover Image: "Arctic Ice" by U.S. Geological Survey is licensed under CC0 1.0
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