A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
A Brief Colonial History Of Ceylon(SriLanka)
Sri Lanka: One Island Two Nations
(Full Story)
Search This Blog
Back to 500BC.
==========================
Thiranjala Weerasinghe sj.- One Island Two Nations
?????????????????????????????????????????????????Thursday, August 3, 2017
New Study Reveals Alarming Rate at which Sea Levels are Rising
Scientists have raised concerns over Greenland's melting ice sheets which are increasing sea levels at vastly accelerated rate.
Historically, Greenland has had little mention in comparison to places
such as Antarctica with regards to its melting environment. However, new
research published in the journal Nature Climate Change shows that at
present, Greenland is making up to 25% of the global mean sea level
rise. A sharp increase from just over 20 years ago when the figure sat
at 5%.
It appears warmer conditions have encouraged algae growth along
Greenland's ice sheets, creating a darkened surface over the ice. Due to
darker ice absorbing more solar radiation than its white counterpart,
it's not surprising to learn that it melts at a much faster rate.
Dark patches of algae can be seen along Greenland's ice sheet.
Greenland ice
Greenland ice
Research has shown that the white snow that rests on top of the ice
sheet reflects 90% of solar radiation. This is in comparison to the
darker patches of algae only reflecting 35% of the solar radiation, the
darkest spots only reflecting a mere 1%. Thus explaining why the algae
is causing such an increased rate of melting.
Greenland holds the largest mass of ice in the northern hemisphere. It
spans an area that is 7x the size of the UK, and that is 3km (2 miles)
thick. If these ice sheets were to melt completely, it would mean that
the average sea level around the globe would increase by an astonishing
7m.
This increase would leave the hundreds of millions of people already
affected by rising sea levels in a more vulnerable position. As it
stands, major coastal cities and small islands such as Miami and Mumbai,
are severely threatened by rising sea levels.
Just an increase of 1mm in local sea level makes coastal destinations
much more susceptible to frequent storms and unheard of flooding.
Furthermore, with this algae acting as a contributing factor to rising
sea levels, the effects upon communities would be detrimental. Some
communities have even already begun constructing plans for when their
homeland becomes uninhabitable.
A funded five-year UK research project called Black and Bloom is
currently underway investigating the algae found on Greenland's ice
sheets. It aims to identify the different species of algae forming on
the surface, and the way in which the organism is able to spread. The
research team is hoping that this new gathered information will enable
them to create more accurate computer projections of what future sea
levels will look like.
Microscopic images of the algae formed on top of the ice sheets
Algae
Algae
Over the last 20 years the natural balance that normally keeps the ice
sheets stable has been altered. It has been recorded that Greenland has
actually been losing more ice than it has gained through snowfall in the
winter time.
In addition to this, satellite pictures taken over much of the same
period have revealed that the years showing the darkest algae, are in
fact the years producing the most meltwater.
A member of the research team, scientist Dr Andrew Tedstone, has stated
that ''We still don't think we've reached a point where we've seen the
maximum darkness [of algae] that we're going to see in this area''.
Indicating the issue could in fact worsen over the coming years.
Global ice mass loss accounted for 50% of the rise in sea level in 1993, compared with 70% in 2014.
Greenland ice
Greenland ice
These new figures have whipped up much discussion and interest around
the world. Due to the Black and Bloom Project's new projections for sea
level rise not to be published for another two years, many are pushing
to raise awareness now in order to reduce the risk posed.
A thought to end on is from Dr Joe Cook, a glacial microbiologist from
Sheffield University. He states; ''only a small amount has to melt to
threaten millions in coastal communities around world''. His words
reiterate the fundamental message that rising sea level is an ever
increasing problem which, without serious attention could lead to
horrific irreversible consequences.
Sources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-40686984
https://phys.org/news/2017-06-greenland-major-driver-seas.html
http://mashable.com/2017/06/26/sea-level-rise-accelerating-because-greenland/#kPQ_jXXTkiqi
Photo Sources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-40686984