The effects of melting ice on our future

Photo by Roxanne Desgagnés on Unsplash

Avital (Lower Sixth)

It is often speculated that climate change is causing ice loss, and that ice loss is creating a positive feedback effect. As the large areas of ice at our poles are shrinking, so is the ability of the Albedo Effect to reflect rays of radiation from the sun, which helps to cool the earth and maintain temperatures. The loss of our cryosphere will cause substantial changes and will continue to have a significant impact on us.

The cryosphere refers to all the frozen water elements on our planet, not limited to ice and snow, but including glaciers, permafrost, and sea ice. These stores maintain the earth’s temperature through the albedo effect and ocean currents and provide habitat to thousands of species of flora and fauna. Naturally, the recent drastic decline in the cryosphere has

sparked questions and research into the effects of such ice loss and the impact it could have on not only wildlife future, but also our future on this planet.

The most direct effect of shrinking ice sheets, both at each pole and in-between, will be devastating species extinction. The loss of any species poses a threat to both humankind and the animal kingdom, as the removal of any animal will cause the breakup of food chains, causing further extinctions and crumbling ecosystems.

As the land mass of ice sheets decreases, so does the home of 1,700 plant and 48 land mammal species including the grizzly bear, musk ox, snowy owl and polar bear,

accustomed only to the tundra biome, as well as the temporary home of millions of migrating birds. Species more adapted to slightly warmer climates, such as the taiga biome will invade their habitats, increase competition for food and resources, forcing out the tundra’s species leading to many extinctions. This will shatter the food web at every level, and the entire ecosystem.

The ice sheets which make up the north and south pole serve us hugely through the Albedo Effect – the large, white planes reflect radiation from the sun (as light, shiny objects reflect radiation well and absorb it badly), which cools the earth’s climate and keeps it at a constant temperature. However, as the ice shrinks, so will its ability to reflect solar radiation, and the stabilisation of our climate. This, in turn, will further heat up the earth as it changes the earth’s climate budget, increasing the consequences of climate change. A further example of a positive feedback loop created as a consequence of ice loss, is that of melting permafrost. This results in the release of greenhouse gas emissions; consequently, the climate will warm further, inducing further cryosphere loss.

Permafrost is a thick layer of soil which permanently remains below freezing point and is regarded as part of the earth’s cryosphere. However, just as increasing temperatures cause loss of ice sheets, it also causes loss of permafrost and with it, the release of toxic chemicals. Such include dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), which can contaminate ground reserves and lakes, as well as mercury, both of which microorganisms feed on, and subsequently release carbon dioxide and methane, two highly polluting greenhouse gases. Not only does this have a destructive effect on our climate, it also harms flora and fauna. DDT for example causes reproductive disorders, immune system disorders and weakens shells for animals.

Then, there is the issue posed by the melted ice. What form will it take? Where will it go? And what effect will this have on us? Thawed ice from the cryosphere takes the form of freshwater once it has melted, and accumulates in the oceans, the atmosphere, and throughout the water cycle. Much of the melted ice will enter the ocean by way of streams and rivers, and gather, increasing sea levels by 4cm, and adding 2.6% of water to the ocean because freshwater is less dense, and therefore has a larger volume than the equivalent mass of saltwater. During the past century, sea levels rose at an astonishing rate, and the rate is expected to continue to increase over the next century, expedited by thawing ice sheets. Due to 80% of the world’s population living within 62 miles of a coast, some effects of the rising sea levels will include large settlements becoming submerged, displacing thousands of people in the near future, as well as coastal ecosystems becoming overwhelmed. To cite one example of this, coastal mangrove forests, which create vital protection for tropical coastlines could be destroyed. Undeniably, rising sea levels will be the cause of many more violent and frequent weather events, alongside increased water vapour in the atmosphere.

Floods, hurricanes, storms – water is invading our land at a faster rate than ever before.

Natural weather events are occurring more frequently and with a higher magnitude; this will have a huge effect on our coastal and low-lying cities in the future. In the UK, since 2000, the risk of flooding has increased by a quarter, and by 2030, millions more people will be in danger. This is a direct effect of rising sea levels, and increased moisture in the air because of thawing ice and will have many dire consequences, including increased coastal erosion, destruction of buildings and infrastructure, as well as contributing to concerns for the mental and physical health of our population. To combat these effects, £4.4 billion of taxpayers’ hard-earned money is being spent on coastal defences, in a desperate attempt to offer protection. However, more frequent, and extreme weather events is not the only way that our lives will be hugely affected; the increased flow of melted ice into our oceans will also induce climate changes, particularly in the UK.

The thermohaline circulation is the process by which the earth’s heat is redistributed by way of ocean currents linking up the whole globe, driven by the different densities of water near the equator, versus the poles. This process, specifically the gulf stream (ocean current that flows from the Gulf of Mexico towards north-western Europe) is responsible for the climate we experience in Western Europe, which is much warmer than it would be without it. However, it could be in danger, because, as the Arctic ice caps melt, more and more freshwater enters our oceans. This water is of a very low density, and as it continues to melt, it will cause the North Atlantic to become lighter, preventing it from sinking, and driving the ocean currents. This will disrupt, and at worst completely halt the thermohaline circulation system, leading to the UK’s average temperature cooling by 5 to10 degrees Celsius. The UK would fall victim to ice storms whilst rainfall would decrease hugely, putting our agriculture at risk.

The cryosphere is melting at an unprecedented rate, a rate which is only going to increase in the future. It will continue to have many significant effects on our lives and whilst it is too late to stop ice melting completely, we are going to have to manage the consequences as they present themselves. However, there is a way to delay the thawing of ice and ensure that we never reach the worst-case scenarios presented by this problem – reducing our use of fossil fuels. A green future is one of technological advancements but also environmentally friendly behaviours; both together will work as a step in the right direction in reducing the impacts of global ice loss and climate change