Alaska is known for having the most beautiful, yet icy scenery. When my family and I went skiing in Alaska, we were given the opportunity to take a helicopter ride to the glaciers high up in the mountains. It was a spectacular view and an amazing experience of walking in an ice cave that naturally built itself for over seven years. While staying there, many Alaskans were not fazed by the fact that global warming could happen and that with losing 75 billion tons of ice per year from the melting glaciers has a large impact on sea level rise. This article shows that we are on the brink of devastation that can effect everyone. About 94% of the loss comes from glaciers that are located on land or by lakes where the heat beats down on them. One of the most viewed glacier in Alaska is the Columbia glacier in
Prince William Sound, which is a large shedder of ice, having an annual loss of mass at more than 3 billion tons a year. This glacier has retreated more than 12 miles since 1980. According to Shad O'Neel, a USGS research geophysicist, "the glaciers are on the border of all the climate divides. Climate zones are separated by mountains, so the fates of glaciers at the tops of those peaks are dependent in part on slope location."
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| I took this photo from the helicopter! |
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| I took this photo from inside the ice cave! |
I was also surprised by the rate at which ice in Alaska melts. Most people think that glacial ice melts at a snail pace which has little to no immediate impact on their lives. The sheer immensity of 75 billion tons of new seawater per year should startle people. Many of my family members live in Alaska and they seem to show no panic over the loss of glacial ice. When they see these numbers they might begin to think otherwise about what a serious issue this is.
ReplyDeletePeople do not realize how much we can effect this earth and what little things can do that cause the earth to change drastically. When seeing things like these glaciers first hand it really can open people's eyes.
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