A study found that high tides circulating under Thwaites are melting the glacier faster than expected. These flows accelerate the melting and retreat of the glaciers, causing global sea levels to rise. Thwaites Glacier is currently responsible for 4% of global sea level rise and is losing 50 billion tonnes of ice each year.
In this study conducted by the University of California Irvine and the University of Waterloo, it was revealed how warm currents affect the glacier using high-resolution satellite images and hydrological data. Glaciologist Christine Dow from the University of Waterloo, one of the study’s authors, drew attention to the situation by saying, “We were hoping it would take a hundred or five hundred years for this ice to disappear. But now our concern is that this process will happen much faster.”
On the other hand, there is also a promising study that shows that the complete collapse of the Thwaites Glacier can be prevented. A study by Dartmouth College and the University of Edinburgh suggests that the glacier is not subject to sea ice scar instability (MICI) as previously thought. According to the MICI theory, sea ice collapses rapidly when steep slopes return, creating high, brittle ice slopes. But this new study shows that thinning Thwaites could reduce such a fall.
According to the article on Physics.org; While the future of Thwaites remains uncertain, some scientists are proposing unprecedented environmental interventions to slow or stop the melting of the glaciers. This field, known as geoengineering, aims to stop the melting of glaciers even as global temperatures continue to rise. One of the most surprising ideas proposed in this context is to create huge curtains under the sea to prevent tidal currents from reaching the glacier. These curtains can reduce the melting rate by creating a barrier between the glacier and the warm water flow.
A report published by the University of Chicago’s Climate Systems Engineering Initiative argues that geoengineering against rapidly melting glaciers and ice sheets should be taken into account. Prof. from the University of Lapland, one of the authors of the report. John Moore says that a research process lasting at least 15-30 years is needed to assess whether such interventions will be successful. Moore emphasizes the urgency by saying, “We need to start working on this issue immediately. “
However, some scientists are meeting these ideas with skepticism. According to critics, such radical interventions can distract from the real need to reduce carbon emissions against global warming. Climate economist Gernot Wagner of Columbia’s Climate School believes that such engineering ideas can give society a false sense of urgency. However, Wagner also says that these observations can also be considered as a warning that more urgent measures need to be taken regarding climate change.
According to Wagner, “Such interventions can be mitigations at best, not solutions to climate change.” Insisting that geoengineering is not a solution, Wagner says, “These approaches can buy us time to reduce carbon emissions and develop sustainable solutions while ‘ reduce the worst effects. “
As a result, the melting of the Thwaites glacier and the threat of a rapid rise in global sea levels reveal a situation that could affect millions of people around the world. Although geoengineering is seen as a potential tool to reduce this process, it is not considered a solution on its own. Scientists agree that instead of such interventions, reducing emissions and sustainable climate policies should be the priority.
2024-11-03 20:21:00
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