Towards Glacier Conservation: Preserving Glaciers in a Warming Climate Prof. Sławek Tułaczyk, Earth and Planetary Sciences, UCSC
Summary: – There is no guarantee at this point that humanity will be able to slow down carbon emissions sufficiently to avoid large and rapid climate warming – Hence, we need to actively research glacier preservation to counteract the impact of warming on these amazing polar environments – We already have a pretty good idea how we can try to do this but more field research needs to be done (e.g., start with small glaciers and work our way up to larger ones)
Presentation April 22 2024, UCSC Earth Day
Background
Many people may not be aware of both the accelerating nature of the Climate Crisis and that models predict that EVEN IF we make drastic cuts in Greenhouse gases and are able to stabilize the world temperature at around 1.8 C above 1950 level, the SEA LEVEL WILL CONTINUE TO RISE. This will destroy low island nations and devastate many heavily populated low lying cities such as Miami, Mumbai, London, New York, The SF Bay Area.
Below are three graphs showing results of strong mitigation (reduction) strategies including extensive electrification. Here are a few screens from my EN-roads simulation. (try your own ideas here)
Scientists well aware of this problem attended a conference in Dec 2023 and the report is posted below. Ideas they reviewed included:
- Drilling through the ice to the liquid water below which is allowing low friction rapid movement. Pumping up the water and turning it to snow would let the glacier refreeze to the rock below and greatly slow it down.
- Another possibility is installing thermal siphons which would have a similar effect.
Professor Tułaczyk says his research indicates these methods could work on a moderate scale, much smaller than the three aircraft carrier system detailed in the fictional 2019 novel “Ministry for the Future” by K Stanley Robinson.
Glacier Stabilization Conference
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Update 11/30/21 Zoom with Krista in Antartica
please excuse a few signal breaks – format improves half way through
Krista Myers is a researcher who has spent five Antarctic summers leading a science group in the McMurdo dry valleys, Antarctica. She lives in Santa Cruz and is an active member of both Citizens Climate Lobby and Santa Cruz Climate Action Network. On February 17, 2021 she gave a zoom presentation on her experiences and answered lots of questions.
If you’re interested in learning more about Extreme research here are some suggestions:
Nova PBS Antarctic Extremes Series
A Year on Ice – Netflix or Amazon
Chasing Ice – Set in Greenland 0- Netflix
Encounters at the End of the World
Santa Cruz Climate Action Network 