What is the melting of ice caps?
First of all, ice caps are thick layers of ice and snow that cover large areas of land, usually found in the Earth’s North and South poles. Melting of ice caps is caused by human activities that contribute to global warming and climate change. Ice caps are rapidly melting due to higher temperatures caused by more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions. Not only does increased amounts of melting ice cause higher sea levels, ice itself serves as a habitat for animals like Arctic foxes and polar bears. Additionally, ice is used for ice roads in Newfoundland and in particular areas of Canada and around the world.
Where?
Specifically, we will be focusing on the effects of melting ice caps in Newfoundland. In this area, the Labrador Current carries ice south to the Grand Banks during the fall and winter. As we learned in ‘Factors that Affect Climate Change’, ocean currents [LOWERN] affects climate change. In shallow areas of the continental shelf, we can find many icebergs. Recently, icebergs have been used commercially for iceberg-viewing has become popular for tourists.
What’s going on?
The area is facing a shift in climate, as it is quickly becoming warmer and warmer. Some examples are melting glaciers, rapid growing vegetation, and changing terrestrial biomes. In addition, polar bear sightings have moved south, closer to habited areas where humans and polar bears pose a risk to each other. Nunatsiavut is an Inuit self-governing territory in Newfoundland and Labrador who heavily depend on sea ice as a mode of transportation and for hunting. The change in climate has been well noticed by Inuit elders. Typically, Nunatsiavut are dependent on sea ice for around 6 months a year. Unfortunately, polar bears and animals are not the only lives affected. Human lives have been lost because of decreased predictability in ice and snow cover.
Another effect of warming temperature are increased amounts of Arctic sea ice moving to Newfoundland and the East Coast, carried south by the Labrador Current.
Why is it happening?
The varying problems the area is facing makes it seem rather confusing- how is sea ice melting while more is coming in, and how does this pose a problem? Firstly, more and more ice is melting because the climate is getting warmer. As mentioned before in ‘What’s Going On’, this has many negative impacts to people and the environment. The root cause of this problem is warming temperatures, clearly linked to global warming.
On the other hand, changes in ocean and atmospheric circulation (ocean currents) caused by global warming makes sea ice more mobile. Ice arches and channels that usually block such high amounts of ice from entering have been melting lately, meaning higher amounts of icebergs come into the area. This poses another problem, as while the warmer climate means ice roads melting and less sea ice, it also means unexpected patterns of sea ice coming from the North. The unpredictability of sea ice coming in poses a threat to transportation ships and fleets.
Why is it a problem?
Melting sea ice is a problem as it forces polar bears to shift towards habited areas, a danger to humans and polar bears. Transportation modes (ex. Ice roads) also melt, creating a safety threat. In the long term (<80 years), a rapid decrease in icebergs will occur. With more ice caps melting, sea levels will continue to rise. In Newfoundland, millions of people live within one metre of sea level, meaning a best case scenario rise of one metre will displace many. For example, oil spills and conflicts over abilities to hunt on foods they are reliant on (ex. seal). While we are not only negatively affecting the climate, we are affecting Inuits who have long lived in the area. The land, the sea, and the climate defines their culture, and changes in climate heavily alters their culture.
Effects on Indigenous
Increasingly warm winter seasons impact the infrastructure of Indigenous communities. Not only are roads melting, energy production is threatened because of changes in water flow and transportation. Extreme weather events due to climate change and global warming impact water quality.
Another problem that stems from melting ice in some areas creates an increase in shipping routes. From an economic point of view, more shipping routes allow for more business. Unfortunately, security of First Nations is threatened as shipping routes have major implications on traditional land and natural resources.
While an increase in shipping routes from mobile ice may be economically beneficial but a danger to First Nations, it is also a problem because mobile ice results in unpredictable patches of ice. This results in more ships, vessels, and boats trapped in ice. In the short term, there may be an increase in ice caps and glaciers.
How are we contributing to melting of ice caps?
As mentioned in ‘Why is it happening’, global warming is linked to all the problems. Warming is mainly caused by putting too much carbon in the atmosphere when we burn coal, oil, and gas.
The beginning of the industrial era marks the beginning of a turning point where CO2 emissions increase drastically. Pre-industrial, the concentration of CO2 was ~280 parts per million (ppm). In 2017, this number was 400 ppm, a number we will never be able to dip below again. Drivers behind this number include climate change include emissions from cars and power plants, volcanic events, human-made pollution, and more. Fossil fuels burned emit particles like soot (black carbon) that absorb sunlight and raise temperatures in addition to releasing CO2.
Greenhouse gases and higher amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere raise temperatures, especially in the poles, resulting in ice caps quickly melting. When ice caps melt, it lowers surface albedo and reveals a darker ocean that absorbs more heat from the Sun, known as Arctic Amplification. As more heat is being absorbed, Arctic Amplification only increases the speed and intensity of ice caps melting.
Unfortunately, big companies are responsible for 70% or more of global greenhouse gas emissions. This means individually, we are contributing an immensely tiny amount but should still try our best to eat less meat, carpool and bike when possible, and carry out other actions.
Technological advancements
One geoengineering technological advancement to save melting ice caps involves building huge walls to prevent warm ocean water from melting the ocean-facing edges. Warm water causes the base of glaciers to melt and become unstable. Therefore, blocking the flow of water helps reduce the melt rate. This advancement of technology mainly helps by giving more time to people living in vulnerable areas to relocate or build more effective sea walls, or find better solutions to global warming. There is debate on whether attacking the problem at its source is more effective than directly using the money to find long term ways of lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
Potential Biases
In this report, the writers from the Union of Concerned Scientists explain how humans are the major cause of global warming. Since I know it comes from the Union of Concerned Scientists, research they select to use may be geared towards their goals. Looking at their mission, UCSCA is a nonprofit aiming to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future (mainly goals like combating climate change, sustainable transportation and power, making science accessible, etc.) Therefore, information may be biased to show we are the main cause of climate change, although beneficial to the world.
Some of the sources I used were from highly reputable organizations, such as WWF and NASA created for the main purpose of educating masses. These sources should be accurate, reliable, and unbiased.
Another source I used was an article from Heritage Newfoundland and Labrador. There are little openings for bias, because facts presented are mainly informational content on Newfoundland and Labrador. While it may not be biased, information might be slightly outdated as it was last updated 2014.
The NBC News article with the purpose of presenting two plans for global warming technological advancements is relevant to the project, has reliable and unbiased information from professionals and studies, and is unbiased as it presents both sides of the debate fairly.
Lastly, I sourced a report prepared by the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources for the Assembly of First Nations. I recognize that information chosen to be used in the report may be slightly biased as it used to bring forth climate change from the perspective of First Nations.
