Picture: This picture
shows a segment of a glacier in Alaska that is being impacted by global warming
and another factor, Black carbon (which is also found in soot) lies inside the
ice. As you can see, black carbon has formed in the ice and dramatically speeds
up the melting of the glaciers.
Summary: Around the world you are always hearing about
how global warming affects the glaciers and many other things on our planet.
Not only does increases in temperature affect the glaciers around the world,
but so does black carbon. Have you ever looked up your chimney while having a
fire? All that black smoke is disgusting isn’t it? Well that’s black carbon
going back into the carbon cycle, and that black carbon is the same carbon that
is stuck in the ice. We all know that dark colors absorb light while lighter
colors reflect light, and since the black
carbon is stuck in the ice, it naturally absorbs more sunlight causing the ice
to melt even faster. The main source of black carbon is from burning excess
amount of fossil fuels. Black carbon is not all that bad though, it is
naturally part of the carbon cycle. As rain and snow deposit the carbon on the
surface of the glacier, and new layers form, and over a period of years, the
old layers eventually make their way down to the bottom. In spring when little
parts of the ice start to melt, the carbon is then released into the ocean. Providing
food and nutrients for living organisms. Glaciers are part of costal marine ecosystems
that cover about ten percent of earth and destroying them will be disastrous.
The Alaskan glaciers are not the only ones affected by this. Glaciers around
the world are also impacted, even in the Himalayas. Glaciers also provide us
humans with ice core samples. (A long cylinder chunk of ice that is taken out
of a glacier) With these samples we are
able to tell how much carbon was in the air during the year that the new ice
layer was formed. Recent samples have seen a dramatic increase in black carbon
since the late 18th century. Overall this is a very big problem and we
as a human population are not doing enough to stop or even decrease the melting
of glaciers.
Opinion/Reflection: Until I read this article I never knew that
the black stuff in the ice was black carbon. I always thought it was dirt. Even
if it was dirt I would have never guessed that it helped speed up the melting
of the glaciers. I was pretty shocked that the stuff we burn not only affects
the atmosphere but also affects the glaciers too. Even the organisms in the
cold cold waters around them!!This article made me realize that the carbon
cycle is a wonderful thing yet an increase in carbon in the atmosphere can
affect every little thing in the world one way or another.
Questions:
1.
Describe what “black carbon” is and where it
comes from.
2.
Why do you think this hasn’t been paid enough
attention to prevent and or stop the over producing of black carbon?
3.
What are some ways our community can decrease
our production of black carbon?
4.
If the glaciers continue to melt at the speed
they are now, what will happen to the ecosystem that relies on the glaciers?
5.
Why are Ice core samples important to us? And
what changes to our human lifestyle can people around the world make based on
the information provided by the samples?
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am responding to question 1: Describe what "black carbon" is and where it comes from.
ReplyDeleteBlack carbon is the carbon stuck inside glaciers that form from burning excess amount of fossil fuels. Black carbon is a natural part of the carbon cycle so it does not harm the glaciers. The only bad thing it does is attract sunlight to the glacier because of the dark color. This makes the glaciers melt faster. Some times the melting is good because when those carbon layers reach the water, the carbon is released into the ocean providing food and nutrients to the animals.
I am responding to Question 3 which is how our community can decrease "Black Carbon" and that is using less fire wood. We can use heaters instead. Cutting down on fire wood can also help with the habitats in the woods so we don't have to cut down forests.
ReplyDeleteI am responding to question 4. This hasn't been payed much attention to because there is a market surrounding fossil fuel. Also, this comes back to the energy crisis Americans depend on fossil fuel, and we don't have an efficient way to create energy without putting out black carbon. Maybe when electricity replaces fossil fuel we'll pay more attention to the problem.
ReplyDeleteI am very shocked by this blog, I had always thought the black stuff in the ice was natural and healthy. As a response to question 4: If the glaciers keep melting at the rate they are now, it would completely mess up so many ecosystems. The water would become colder and deeper, and some species may not be able to adapt to the climate change and may die off. Also, if there are any bacteria that live on the glaciers, they would die off, and they may have been an important part of the ecosystem.
ReplyDelete