Climate Change and the Melting of Greenland’s Ice Sheet
Scientists have been measuring ice in Greenland since the 1990s and have found that the ice sheet is not in balance, with ice being delivered into the oceans and raising sea levels at an alarming rate. The melting of ice sheets, like Greenland’s, will have a significant impact on coastal populations around the world.
A Personal Journey with Glaciers
A scientist recounts their journey from Vermont to Oregon, where they fell in love with glaciers and were inspired to pursue a career related to them. They emphasize the importance of being friendly and outgoing when working in remote areas, as they spend long hours with their team and rely on each other.
Preparing for a Trip to Greenland and Operation IceBridge
The conversation shifts to preparing for a trip to Greenland, with sounds of ambient music and radio chatter in the background. The discussion then turns to Operation IceBridge, a NASA program that measures the Earth’s ice cover to understand its changes and contribution to sea level rise. The program uses radar to see internal horizons underneath the ice surface, allowing researchers to look back in time and understand how the ice sheet is changing.
Studying Glaciers and Climate Change
A scientist reflects on the privilege of studying glaciers from a unique perspective, collecting data from an airplane flying through a glacier valley. They express hope that open access to their data will lead to a better understanding of the Earth’s cryosphere, which is still in its infancy. They marvel at the advancements in technology, such as satellites, that have allowed for a greater understanding of ice sheet changes on human timescales, and acknowledge the devastating impact of climate-related disasters like Hurricane Katrina.
The Devastating Impact of Rising Sea Levels
The conversation shifts between Hurricane Harvey’s devastating impact and the effects of rising sea levels. A scientist explains how even a small increase in sea levels can magnify the impact of storms, displacing people who cannot afford to move.
A Native Voice on Climate Change
A native person recalls how they warned the world about melting ice in 1975, and how they’ve since become a prominent voice on the issue, traveling the world and meeting new people.
Hope and Action in the Face of Climate Change
The speaker reflects on their failed efforts to change the world’s leadership to address climate change, realizing that the key to making a difference lies in “melting the ice in the heart of man.” They acknowledge that it’s too late to stop the melting of the polar ice, but emphasize the importance of making informed public policy decisions based on facts, not politics, to prepare for the inevitable rise in sea levels and its impact on coastal cities and global populations. They conclude by emphasizing the power of individual action and hope in the face of climate change.
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Ice Sheet | A large, slow-moving river of ice formed from compacted snow, typically found in polar regions. | Scientists have been measuring ice in Greenland since the 1990s and have found that the ice sheet is not in balance, with ice being delivered into the oceans and raising sea levels at an alarming rate. |
| Climate Change | A long-term change in the Earth’s climate, including rising temperatures and altering weather patterns. | The melting of ice sheets, like Greenland’s, will have a significant impact on coastal populations around the world. |
| Operation IceBridge | A NASA program that measures the Earth’s ice cover to understand its changes and contribution to sea level rise. | The program uses radar to see internal horizons underneath the ice surface, allowing researchers to look back in time and understand how the ice sheet is changing. |
| Cryosphere | The portion of the Earth’s surface that is covered in ice, including glaciers, sea ice, and snow. | They express hope that open access to their data will lead to a better understanding of the Earth’s cryosphere, which is still in its infancy. |
| Rising Sea Levels | The increase in the average height of the ocean’s surface, caused by the melting of glaciers and ice sheets. | A scientist explains how even a small increase in sea levels can magnify the impact of storms, displacing people who cannot afford to move. |
| Glaciers | A slow-moving river of ice formed from compacted snow, typically found in mountainous regions. | A scientist recounts their journey from Vermont to Oregon, where they fell in love with glaciers and were inspired to pursue a career related to them. |
| Sea Level Rise | The increase in the average height of the ocean’s surface, caused by the melting of glaciers and ice sheets. | The melting of ice sheets, like Greenland’s, will have a significant impact on coastal populations around the world. |
| Ice Cover | The amount of ice that covers the Earth’s surface, including glaciers, sea ice, and snow. | The program uses radar to see internal horizons underneath the ice surface, allowing researchers to look back in time and understand how the ice sheet is changing. |
| Climate-Related Disasters | Disasters caused by changes in the Earth’s climate, such as hurricanes, droughts, and floods. | They acknowledge the devastating impact of climate-related disasters like Hurricane Katrina. |
Climate Change and Glaciers Vocabulary Quiz
What does the phrase “in balance” mean in the context of the Greenland ice sheet?
What is the purpose of Operation IceBridge?
What is the term used to describe the region of the Earth where ice and snow are present?
What is the effect of rising sea levels on storms?
What is the key to making a difference in addressing climate change, according to the speaker?
Answer Key
1. B) The ice sheet is receiving as much ice as it is losing.
2. B) To measure the Earth’s ice cover and understand its changes.
3. A) Cryosphere.
4. C) It magnifies their impact.
5. C) Melting the ice in the heart of man.
The Use of the Present Perfect Continuous in Describing Ongoing Situations and Their Consequences
| Explanation |
|---|
| The present perfect continuous is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present moment, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the action. In the context of climate change, this tense is particularly useful in describing the consequences of ongoing environmental changes. For example, in the sentence “Scientists have been measuring ice in Greenland since the 1990s and have found that the ice sheet is not in balance…”, the present perfect continuous “have been measuring” highlights the ongoing nature of the scientists’ efforts, while “have found” emphasizes the consequence of their research. |
Quiz
Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses to complete each sentence:
- The polar ice caps ____________________ (melt) at an alarming rate, causing sea levels to rise.
- By the time I arrived, they ____________________ (study) glaciers for over a decade.
- The NASA program ____________________ (measure) the Earth’s ice cover for years to understand its changes.
- Since the 1990s, the world ____________________ (experience) more frequent and severe climate-related disasters.
- The native person ____________________ (warn) the world about melting ice for over 40 years.
Answer Key:
- have been melting
- had been studying
- has been measuring
- has been experiencing
- has been warning
