Story by Anna Mattson

Photos by Thompson Bain, Haley Justus, and Josh Grant

GLACIAL ECOSYSTEM

How years of science have brought us to the unfortunate present

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As you lay comfortably on the lawn, legs extended, drink in hand, basking in the heat of the July sun, a slaughter to thousands of years of history in the most Northwestern part of the United States is taking place. The slow but persistent drip of ice melt spills into countless new lakes every minute, leaving surrounding communities swimming in unease.

 

Each year, upwards of two million tourists flock to the state of Alaska to see brilliant ice structures resting on the Pacific Ocean. Glaciers occupy upwards of 28,800 miles of land amid the never-ending greenery. Pieces of both scientific and cultural branches of life are powered by glaciers, for both residents of Alaska and the world.

 

Glaciers can take from several decades to several centuries to form. Glacial water differs from any other type of precipitation because of its ability to craft an established surface, giving glaciers an excellent shield of protection against the brutality of climate cycles.  When glaciers go through those patterns, compression condenses air out of the ice. The removal of air creates an extremely concentrated and durable face. The first indication that snowfall is in transition to glacier is a firn; they are created from the freezing sequences it endures. For glaciers to survive it is crucial that avalanches and continual snowfall occur for these firns to build, especially after periods of warmer weather.

 

There has been a global increase of temperature occurring to the Earth’s surface and the effects are quickly imposing themselves upon these once-vast sculptures. In the early 1900’s, temperatures began to rise at accelerated speeds globally. Though the world naturally fluctuates between frigid and warm climates, the rate at which it is rising now is historically unheard of.

 

The release of greenhouse gases trap heat into the atmosphere similarly to a lidded pot filled to its brim with steam. Carbon dioxide and methane are two main contributing emissions. Both are produced mostly by agriculture and the use of gasoline-driven vehicles. The global destruction of forest land prevents the capture and release of these two gases. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this combination adds to the issue of global warming. Consistent temperature changes are gradually impacting the physical environment of the planet. Consequently, glaciers across the globe have commenced a descent in mass and volume.

 

Thunderous sounds of cracking, slipping, and breaking ice announce the presence of glacier loss. The biggest indicator of retreat is based on terminus withdrawal. When glaciers are measured for shrinkage annually, they are measured by their receding terminus border. The glacier terminus is described as the outermost edge of the structure- meaning it stretches itself across the planet’s surface farthest.

 

Heat and wind cause glacier structures to ablate, or shrink. Glaciers then break off into new separated icebergs that shift, change shape, and melt into a larger body of water. This form of calving, or breakage, has increased in cohesion with heat.  New icebergs are susceptible to movement due to their lack of stability, allowing them to create new museums of ice daily. Their alterations establish an unpredictable environment with new vibrant blue palettes to behold.

 

Globally, glaciers have been melting at exponential speeds, and have already lost 9 trillion tons of ice in the span of fifty-five years from 1961 to 2016. Alaskan glacier melt in particular has been a focus for scientists in more recent years. New multibeam sonar technology has uncovered the hastening rate of melt in Alaska, based on data from a glacier in the area. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a 2019 survey showed that the glacier melt recorded at one-hundred times faster than predicted.

 

Glaciers are not only delicate elements of geographical history, but they also work as critical pieces for local and global ecosystems. Once glaciers completely recede, sea levels are projected to rise 265ft, leaving every coastal town globally submerged, according the USGS. The till that glaciers emit creates excellent and fertile soil for growing crops, and the gravel works as concrete and asphalt. Their white surfaces reflect the heat of the sun’s rays, cooling the Earth. Without them, the darker planet will only absorb heat, further contributing to the complex issue of rising temperatures.

 

The phenomenon of glacier destruction is a global concern. Freshwater and sea levels are dependent on these historical ice masses. In fact, 69% of the world’s freshwater is held inside of glaciers. They are the world’s air conditioner, reflecting heat rather than absorbing it. If they disappear, the rising temperatures will increase. Many predictions have been made about a future without glaciers, however, there are many consequences that no one can yet assume. Glacier melt is not a reversible feat, but rather one will need preparation and perseverance. The slow but persistent drip of ice melt will only continue to spill into the growing lakes. Hopefully, a slow but persistent world will only continue to search for a solution.

 

"There has been a global increase of temperature occurring to the Earth’s surface and the effects are quickly imposing themselves upon these once-vast sculptures."

"In fact, 69% of the world’s freshwater is held inside of glaciers. They are the world’s air conditioner, reflecting heat rather than absorbing it."

As you lay comfortably on the lawn, legs extended, drink in hand, basking in the heat of the July sun, a slaughter to thousands of years of history in the most Northwestern part of the United States is taking place. The slow but persistent drip of ice melt spills into countless new lakes every minute, leaving surrounding communities swimming in unease.

 

Each year, upwards of two million tourists flock to the state of Alaska to see brilliant ice structures resting on the Pacific Ocean. Glaciers occupy upwards of 28,800 miles of land amid the never-ending greenery. Pieces of both scientific and cultural branches of life are powered by glaciers, for both residents of Alaska and the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glaciers can take from several decades to several centuries to form. Glacial water differs from any other type of precipitation because of its ability to craft an established surface, giving glaciers an excellent shield of protection against the brutality of climate cycles.  When glaciers go through those patterns, compression condenses air out of the ice. The removal of air creates an extremely concentrated and durable face. The first indication that snowfall is in transition to glacier is a firn; they are created from the freezing sequences it endures. For glaciers to survive it is crucial that avalanches and continual snowfall occur for these firns to build, especially after periods of warmer weather.

 

There has been a global increase of temperature occurring to the Earth’s surface and the effects are quickly imposing themselves upon these once-vast sculptures. In the early 1900’s, temperatures began to rise at accelerated speeds globally. Though the world naturally fluctuates between frigid and warm climates, the rate at which it is rising now is historically unheard of.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The release of greenhouse gases trap heat into the atmosphere similarly to a lidded pot filled to its brim with steam. Carbon dioxide and methane are two main contributing emissions. Both are produced mostly by agriculture and the use of gasoline-driven vehicles. The global destruction of forest land prevents the capture and release of these two gases. According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), this combination adds to the issue of global warming. Consistent temperature changes are gradually impacting the physical environment of the planet. Consequently, glaciers across the globe have commenced a descent in mass and volume.

 

Thunderous sounds of cracking, slipping, and breaking ice announce the presence of glacier loss. The biggest indicator of retreat is based on terminus withdrawal. When glaciers are measured for shrinkage annually, they are measured by their receding terminus border. The glacier terminus is described as the outermost edge of the structure- meaning it stretches itself across the planet’s surface farthest.

 

Heat and wind cause glacier structures to ablate, or shrink. Glaciers then break off into new separated icebergs that shift, change shape, and melt into a larger body of water. This form of calving, or breakage, has increased in cohesion with heat.  New icebergs are susceptible to movement due to their lack of stability, allowing them to create new museums of ice daily. Their alterations establish an unpredictable environment with new vibrant blue palettes to behold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Globally, glaciers have been melting at exponential speeds, and have already lost 9 trillion tons of ice in the span of fifty-five years from 1961 to 2016. Alaskan glacier melt in particular has been a focus for scientists in more recent years. New multibeam sonar technology has uncovered the hastening rate of melt in Alaska, based on data from a glacier in the area. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), a 2019 survey showed that the glacier melt recorded at one-hundred times faster than predicted.

 

Glaciers are not only delicate elements of geographical history, but they also work as critical pieces for local and global ecosystems. Once glaciers completely recede, sea levels are projected to rise 265ft, leaving every coastal town globally submerged, according the USGS. The till that glaciers emit creates excellent and fertile soil for growing crops, and the gravel works as concrete and asphalt. Their white surfaces reflect the heat of the sun’s rays, cooling the Earth. Without them, the darker planet will only absorb heat, further contributing to the complex issue of rising temperatures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The phenomenon of glacier destruction is a global concern. Freshwater and sea levels are dependent on these historical ice masses. In fact, 69% of the world’s freshwater is held inside of glaciers. They are the world’s air conditioner, reflecting heat rather than absorbing it. If they disappear, the rising temperatures will increase. Many predictions have been made about a future without glaciers, however, there are many consequences that no one can yet assume. Glacier melt is not a reversible feat, but rather one will need preparation and perseverance. The slow but persistent drip of ice melt will only continue to spill into the growing lakes. Hopefully, a slow but persistent world will only continue to search for a solution.