Zoom Out Mycology
  • Home
  • About
  • Calendar
  • Tea Shop
  • Blog

Environmental SCIENCE Blog

We aim to inspire and spark interests in natural resources, sustainable living, and fungi.

Glaciers & Global Warming

5/25/2018

2 Comments

 
by Alyssa Leavy | Zoom Out Mycology
How glaciers serve as our main defense against one of the largest releases of greenhouse gases in history.
Picture
Dark particles on the surface of the Greenland ice sheet creates “dirty ice” which absorbs sunlight and accelerates the melting process, especially at the edges of a melt-water stream. Credit: Henrik Egede Lassen/Alpha Film. (1)
     Glaciers are an essential part of our planet’s landscape and climate. Although they seem remote, their presence is felt in every corner of the globe. Ten percent of land is covered with glacial ice, adding up to over 5.8 million square miles (NSIDC)(2). Glaciers contain so much water that if they were all to melt the sea level would rise 230 feet (NSIDC)(2). To put this in perspective, sea levels are expected to rise about 3 feet by 2070. Taking into account that many delta cities are concurrently losing their foundation sediment and our planet’s growing population, that 3 foot rise in sea level will put about 150 million people at risk of flooding in coastal areas (The World in 2050)(3). Another consideration is that as glaciers melt, we will also lose our fresh water reserve, since glaciers store about 75 percent of the world's fresh water (NSIDC)(2).
       Glaciers also influence climate patterns and reflect the sun's rays, protecting against intensifying natural disasters and rising global temperatures. That’s enough for me to change my habits, but if you’re not convinced that we need to conserve these icy habitats, then read on!
       Glaciers are integral to human survival in many ways and scientists are discovering another critical protection that dates back millions of years. As the Earth has cycled through warm and cold periods, organic matter has flourished, died and been encased in ice, unable to decompose. This makes glaciers one of the largest carbon sinks on the planet. If global warming trends continue, all of that organic carbon could be released as glaciers melt, spewing carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. It’s a startling thought to say the least, but before we can understand the magnitude of this issue, we need a little history lesson on the holocene.


Read More
2 Comments
    Zoom Out Mycology’s Environmental Science blog strives to explain and expose environmental topics and concerns to a wide audience. We hope that this knowledge will help all of our readers embrace a healthy and sustainable lifestyle! If you are interested in being a guest contributor, please email us at: shroom@zoomoutmycology.com

    Categories

    All
    Climate
    Energy
    Environmental Biology
    Environmental Justice
    Fungi
    Lifestyle
    Soil
    Water

    Archives

    November 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017

    Instagram:
    ​zoomoutmycology

    Picture

    Reishi Red

    $25.00
    Shop

    Maitake Mint

    $25.00
    Shop

    Reishi Rose

    $25.00
    Shop

    Berry Brain

    $25.00
    Shop
    *Price includes shipping

Services

  • ​Environmental Education 
  • ​Mushroom Growing

Company

About
Products

Reviews

Support

Contact Us
Partnerships
​
​Jobs

Picture
Picture
© COPYRIGHT 2018. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • About
  • Calendar
  • Tea Shop
  • Blog