Activity 2.2- Cryosphere: Robson Glacier, British Columbia, Canada

Original Photo 1911

                                                               (Beedle, 2011)


Second photo

                                                                (Beedle,2011)



Google maps view 2018

                                                                            (Google maps, 2018)
 

Robson Glacier, in British Columbia, Canada 1911-2018


Problem:

The Earth's glaciers are melting as a result of global climate change 

Explanation:

    To begin to understand why and how glacial melt is detrimental to the environment, we must first understand some important things about water and glaciers. Firstly, Earth's surface is made up of  about 71% water. Of that number only 2% of it is fresh water suitable for human consumption. Most of this fresh water is trapped in glaciers and ice caps, so realistically only less than 1% of the world's water is accessible for humans to ingest.  A majority of this fresh water is groundwater that gets stored deep underground where it can later be accessed for use (Mutiti, et al.). Areas of the world that don't have access to groundwater often rely on the streams and rivers created by the melting of glaciers as their source of water. 
    There has been an increase of greenhouse gas emissions into the Earth's atmosphere as a result of increased anthropogenic activity over the last century. This is causing the greenhouse effect from those gases to work at an expedited rate, meaning more heat is being trapped in the atmosphere. This trapped heat is increasing temperatures globally, and ultimately making ice caps and glaciers melt or recede (Freedman, Bill, n.d.2). The reduction in size and number of global glaciers and ice caps means there is less surface area available to provide albedo. Albedo is the measurement "of how much light hitting a surface is reflected without being absorbed." (Albedo). White reflects the most light, so the glaciers and ice caps play an important role in helping to cool the earth by reflecting that light energy instead of absorbing it (Albedo). Glaciers also play an important role in the world of agriculture. Streams and rivers take fresh water to areas that otherwise wouldn't have any. They also carry sediments and minerals downstream which encourages plant growth. If glacier and ice cap reduction continues at the rate it is going some of the most populated areas of the world will be without water, and we will begin to experience food shortages like we've never seen before (Fowler, Rebecca).
 

Works cited

“Albedo.” Albedo | North Carolina Climate Office, AASC Recognized State Climate Office , climate.ncsu.edu/edu/Albedo.

Beedle, Matthew J. “Robson Glacier: Repeat    Photography.” GlacierChange.org, glacierchange.org/scrapbook/robson-glacier-british-columbia/repeat-photography/.

Freedman, Bill. “Chapter 17: Atmospheric Gases and Climate Change .” Environmental Science: a Canadian Perspective, by Bill Freedman, W. Ross MacDonald School Resource Services Library, 2012, pp. 407. 

Fowler, Rebecca. “The Glaciers Are Going: Why This Matters.” Center for Climate and Life, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory , 9 May 2017, climateandlife.columbia.edu/2017/05/08/the-glaciers-are-going-why-this-matters/.

Google maps, (2018). Robson Glacier, British Columbia. Retrieved from https://earth.google.com/web/@53.15170858,-119.11309015,1674.92289312a,7111.40443675d,35y,134.50213006h,60.05381724t,0r

Mutiti, s, et al. (2018). "Chapter 7: Water." Introduction to environmental science (3rd ed.), by Mutiti et al, Biological Science Open Textbooks. University system of Georgia, 2018, pp. 9. 


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