Hazards Associated with Glacial Melting
Our project is on melting ice sheets. Within this topic, we will cover the impacts and hazards of melting glaciers from overall impacts like rising sea
Background
What are glaciers and why are they important?
- Ice acts like a protective cover over the Earth and our oceans
- These bright white spots reflect excess heat back into space and keep the planet cooler
How do glaciers form?
- Glaciers form when average annual snowfall exceeds melting and snow compresses into glacial ice
Why are Glaciers Melting and how is the environment affected?
Image of a glacier melting. Posted on November 27, 2018 by Elena Bragantini.
Since the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions have raised temperatures, even higher in the poles, and as a result, glaciers are rapidly melting, calving off into the sea and retreating on land.
- Glacial melting raises sea levels leading to more frequent and intense coastal storms like hurricanes and typhoons, increases air temperatures disrupting ocean circulation, and increases greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.
Ice Calving Examples:
Paradise Harbour Glacier, Antartica
The burning of fossil fuels and natural gases raises the Earth's temperature enough to spark glacial melting in Antarctica.
Apusiaajik Glacier, Southeastern Greenland
Due to unusual heatwaves in 2019, a record amount of ice was lost in Greenland.
South Sawyer Glacier, Alaska
Chunks of ice falling down due to rising temperatures. Glacier in Tracy Arm, a fjord in Tongass National Forest near Juneau, Alaska.
Paradise Harbour Glacier, Antartica
The burning of fossil fuels and natural gases raises the Earth's temperature enough to spark glacial melting in Antarctica.
Apusiaajik Glacier, Southeastern Greenland
Due to unusual heatwaves in 2019, a record amount of ice was lost in Greenland.
South Sawyer Glacier, Alaska
Chunks of ice falling down due to rising temperatures. Glacier in Tracy Arm, a fjord in Tongass National Forest near Juneau, Alaska.
Plate Tectonics
Isostatic Rebound of Earth's Crust YouTube Video
Earthquakes
In areas of land with thick ice cover such as Greenland or Antarctica, the immense weight of a layer of ice a few thousand meters thick may prevent plates from moving freely. If this ice were to melt, the plates could shift, releasing pent up energy and potentially triggering a quake.
Volcanoes
It isn’t necessary for an ice sheet to completely melt for a large volcano to erupt, after all — partial melting, and thus greatly reduced compression, could well be enough on its own to trigger widespread subglacial volcanic activity in the region. Glaciers and ice sheets on many active volcanoes are rapidly receding. There is compelling evidence that melting of ice during the last deglaciation triggered a dramatic acceleration in volcanic activity.
The Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland erupting leads researchers to believe melting glaciers have an effect on volcanic activity
Human and animal impact
Glaciers melting impacting human industries and communities
As sea ice and glaciers melt and oceans warm, ocean currents will continue to disrupt weather patterns worldwide. Industries that thrive on vibrant fisheries will be affected as warmer waters change where and when fish spawn. Coastal communities will continue to face billion-dollar disaster recovery bills as flooding becomes more frequent and storms become more intense.
Polar bears affected by glacier melting.
People are not the only ones impacted. In the Arctic, as sea ice melts, wildlife like walrus are losing their home and polar bears are spending more time on land, causing higher rates of conflict between people and bears.
Thank you for listening!
