Mendenhall Glaciers: Climate Analysis

Ehrlich says, “The retreat and disappearance of glaciers-means we’re burning libraries and damaging the planet…” (89). The author includes this deep thought burning quote to the reader to explain that there is a problem with the loss of all this environmental information these ice masses hold. Ehrlich makes this inference to repulse and further engage the reader into this natural disaster. Then follows step by step the effects melted glaciers would have upon the Earth. She starts with the Albedo effect, continues to the loss of ice and snow, and finishes with, “our sources of fresh water will disappear” (90). This addresses the effects aspect, but also appeals to audience, due to the fact that humans cannot live without freshwater. The author uses the human items of an air conditioner and sponge to dramatize the consequences of contraction glaciers.

With his arctic home melting away, this majestic-yet-adorable, pathos-stirring polar bear mascot begins his journey. We first see him stranded on a sheet of ice. The glaciers are melting; chunks are falling into the ocean. The camera pans backward as our bear begins to swim for it, and as he swims we are shown the vastness, the beauty, and the solitude of his home, as well as the confusion and alarm this bear must be feeling. Polar bear fans are in awe. Animal activists are glued. Nature-lovers and environmentalists are captivated. Nissan successfully reaches its target audience with a simple melody and stunning scenes.

Collaborating on an international level remains important for conducting ice patch research due to the rapid melting of alpine ice and decay of valuable artifacts. The work conducted for this thesis included cooperation from Parks Canada. Ice patch research was conducted not only on the U.S. side of the international border, but also on the Canadian side of Chilkoot Pass. Parks Canada allowed me and KLGO archaeologists to use the Canadian warden cabin at the summit of Chilkoot Pass as a basecamp for the ice patch study (Figure 1.4). Working between two sovereign countries emphasizes the matter of climate change as a global issue and the importance in maintaining international relations. Maintaining international relations benefits the scientific community on a global scale and provides significant research opportunities.

In Henry Fountain’s “Alaska’s Permafrost is Thawing”, Fountain discusses how Alaska’s permafrost is slowly thawing away. Alaska is known for its vast, snowy landscape, but that soon could be all gone. This article is directed towards people who are interested in the warming of Alaska. As the Arctic is warming at an alarming rate, wildlife is slowing disappearing and sea levels are rising.

In Greenland and in the Arctic I was astonished to see that ancient glaciers are rapidly disappearing well ahead of scientific predictions. All that I have seen and learned on this journey has terrified me. For decades, scientists have struggled to get the same basic message across: global

Global warming persists as one of the world’s biggest issues today that is causing several problems that include the world’s severe climate and rising sea levels while possibly being the main cause as to why all of mankind could go extinct. This global crisis is known as the steady increase in the world’s average temperature of the earth’s atmosphere and oceans that are proven to be permanently changing the world’s climate (Live Science, 2014). This phenomenon is strongly evident as Earth’s temperature has also increased by 2 degrees Celsius since the last century. As a result of this, Canadian glaciers are melting at a higher rate of 2 to 3 feet than of what it was a decade before (Lerner, 2014). All astoundingly happening while the Artic Canadian permafrost has begun to melt (Davidson,2015). The state of this issue in Canada does not seem to be improving as validated through both the scientific evidence as well as the blatant and irrefutable observable evidence.

For "Field Notes From a Catastrophe," Elizabeth Kolbert journeys to Alaska, Greenland, Iceland, Yorkshire, Oregon—amongst other places—introducing her readers to a slew of individuals either studying or simply experiencing, aspects of global warming.

Ice Mountain is a place of beauty and rarity. All four of the systems of the earth, the geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, helped to contribute to make Ice Mountain the rare astounding piece of our collective geoheritage that it has become. Ice Mountain’s creation and uses helps make it one of the most interesting and important mountains in West Virginia that has been impacted by many earth systems throughout history. Ice Mountain is very important to the biosphere. It provides habitats for breeding warblers, thrushers, vireos, as well as several other important types of birds. It also carries several species of arboreal plants from starflowers to hemlocks. Eastern hemlocks help to cool the ice vents, which help to cool the mountain and give it its name of Ice Mountain.

Countless beautiful places in the world lie undiscovered by scientists. Fortunately, other places have been found, and now people are capable to safely visit them. Located in northwestern Montana, Glacier National Park has become one of the most eye-catching tourist sites in the country. Capped in white, the glaciers of Glacier Park capture God’s incredible work in the world. Glacier was formally established a national park in 1910, making it the tenth national park of the United States. This Park is undeniably a phenomenal site because of its history, incredible science, and gorgeous hiking paths. Exemplifying God’s marvelous creations, Glacier National Park provides an incredible trip for individuals and families. (110)

Society has ignored the changing climate for too long. With the hope of enlightening our generation, McKibben addresses this topic in a hostile manner to bring awareness. By illustrating an image of desolation, describing our planet to be an “inhabitable place” if we don’t change our habits, the author captures the attention of his readers (1). Eaarth is stylistically written in a suitable manner for the intended audience. McKibben refrains from scolding his audience by using “we” rather than “you”—intending that change is only possible if everyone, from all over the world, works together. Rather than simply discussing how climate changed has affected America, he speaks globally about this disaster—as it is typically worse in other countries due to their location on Earth. In addition to adding as aspect of fear, McKibben provides scientific evidence with every statement he makes about the changing environment. Rather than simply stating that temperatures are globally at an all-time high, he states, “Burma set the new mark for the Southeast Asia at 118 degrees, and Pakistan the new zenith for all of Asia at 129 degrees…warmest six months, the warmest year, and the warmest decade for which we have records” (214). On the other hand, McKibben provides so many statistics that it’s almost overwhelming to the

Climate change is causing glaciers to melt. In the video it says “when the ocean gets warmer it swells on top of that glaciers and ice sheets are melting”. This is important because it shows glaciers are melting because the ocean is too warm. This

In alpine environment, within the critical zone, the top layer acts as an open system that is subject to elemental gain and losses. Rock glaciers are an important component of high mountain systems, a common occurrence in Arctic and alpine permafrost regions, play an important role in alpine mass balances and aspects of morphologic stability (Jansen and Herganten, 2006). In addition, rock glaciers can serve as a visible indicator of mountain permafrost (Barsch, 1977 and Haeberli, 1985). Permafrost phenomena in mountain areas are a function of: Mean Annual Air Temperature (MAAT), and elevation, direct solar radiation, local relief and topography, snow cover thickness and duration, and avalanche activity (Heaberli, 1992). As a critical zone, rock glacier landform focuses on the interconnected chemical, physical and biological processes shaping alpine landscape. Rock glacier is a dynamic system, change in mean annual air

"Climate change is a change in the statistical properties of the climate system that persists for several decades or longer" (Montgomery, 2015). Climate change (or global warming) can be caused by a natural progress such as sun 's radiations and volcanoes, or it can be caused by human 's actions such as land use, deforestation, and pollution. (Hardy, 2003).This phenomenon not only affects the environment, but it also affects human lives. Alaska is the largest state in the United States. It includes lands on both sides of the Arctic Circle. Sixteen national wildlife refuges are home to a great variety of flora and fauna. In the past 60 years. The Alaska 's environment changed drastically; the climate is warming up as twice as much in comparison to all the other states. This essay will discuss firstly the climate change in the Alaskan environment. Then it will highlight the changes in the ocean and costs, the effects that global warming is having on Alaska 's natives and the melting permafrost. It will then finally address who is responsible for this effects and some measures that can be taken.

“Increasingly, anthropologists are encountering the local effects and broader social, cultural, economic, and political issues of climate change with their field partners” (Crate and Nuttall 2009). Native Alaskans are already experiencing and seeing the effects of climate change. For Native Alaskans, climate change is not something to happen in the near future, but is an immediate, lived reality impacting daily lives and livelihoods. “Climate change is the result of global processes that were neither caused nor can be mitigated by the inhabitants of the majority of climate-sensitive world regions now experiencing the most unprecedented change” (Crate and Nuttall 2009).

Ice is one of the first indicators of global warming actually occuring and it is important for research to be done on these layers of before they disappear. The recession of glaciers and the fragmentation of ice caps has been a clear sign to many that rising temperatures are having an impact, even on our very lives.