We hear a lot about the climate crisis that our world is facing, especially in recent years. We see climate change as the main cause of many natural disasters. Being aware of this frequently may cause us to become less sensitive to the subject at some point and normalize this process. However, we should not move away from the idea that we are faced with this crisis for the first time and that we have to manage this crisis whose future is full of uncertainties. The changes we experience are a result of the modern age, and we can actually make this process better even by changing our personal preferences. The solution of the issue definitely requires political steps, but these steps will undoubtedly begin thanks to us. It is useful to remember that a social change will not occur unless individuals take action.
Research conducted by Ice Scientist Twila Moon in Greenland has brought us once again face-to-face with the truth about what we are losing on Earth due to climate change. Researchers have announced that the Arctic is melting three times faster than the rest of the Earth. Before going into the news, I would like to remind you that the researches made are foreshadows of possible disasters in the future, and how effective it can be to know what is happening in our world and to make small changes in daily life in order to combat the crisis.
The North Pole is now melting 3 times faster
The Arctic layer, formed by snow and ice, acts as a blanket covering the surface of the Arctic. This layer reflects sunlight and heat. Sea ice, which melts during the summer months depending on seasonal conditions, has been melting faster than ever in recent years. In a study conducted by Ice Scientist Twila Moon in Greenland, she explained that arctic ice sheets and glaciers are shrinking, and some glaciers have already disappeared. Surveys of the Arctic Monitoring and Evaluation Program between 1971 and 2019 revealed that the surface of the Arctic is warming 3 times faster than the rest of the world.
In this region, which is called the Last Ice Zone, there was a meltdown that exceeded expectations this year. In Siberia, the air temperature reached 38 degrees Celsius, forest fires broke out in the Arctic. Scientists announced that the powerful greenhouse gas release has thawed the icy soil (Permafrost) that holds the Arctic methane. Moon, a researcher at the US National Snow and Ice Data Center, said that when he returned to Greenland, he found himself “grieving the things we have already lost” at the sight.
This change will affect the whole world
Scientists think that in the next 15-20 years, sea ice in the Arctic will melt completely during the summer months. “Experiencing the melting of sea ice in the Arctic during the summer is very dangerous, something human civilization has never encountered before,” said Waleed Abdalati, a scientist who leads the environmental program at the University of Colorado. Abdalati, who is also a former NASA employee, stated that this change will create a sledgehammer effect in the climate system.
Melting ice sheets are also affecting rising sea levels. Of course, this is not only a problem for people close to the Arctic, it poses a serious danger to the entire world. Scientists warned that these changes could result in floods, droughts or severe wildfires or extreme weather events.
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