"How Soot Killed the Little Ice Age"
by Quirin Schiermeier
Scientific American Online
After the end of the Little Ice Age, which lasted from the late 1200s to 1850, the Alpine glaciers started shrinking, even though global temperature had not risen. This contradicted the predictions that the glaciers would have continued to grow until 1910. Recent studies from the University of Innsbruck indicate that the
air pollution from the Industrial Revolution could play an important role in the retreat of the Alpine Glaciers. This is because the dark soot can accelerate the melting of the ice because it absorbs more heat. Samples from the Gnifetti glacial saddle and the Fiescherhorn Glacier show that ice from 1860 had high amounts of soot. After 1970, climate change became the leading cause of glacial melting, since the air quality had improved significantly. This new theory offers an answer for a longstanding geological conundrum and can answer why some glaciers started melting before global temperatures dropped.
I think this is a fascinating development in climate science; it provides a new theory of glacial issues taking into account their historical context. It brings into question the extend of long-term damage the Industrial Revolution had on the planet, which could be different than previously estimated. It also acts as a warning sign for modern global warming; we can take this discovery as a warning against the dangers of excessive air pollution, as well as the eventual impacts rising temperatures. I think glacial studies should be more heavily funded. It is unfortunate that the Alps were the only region with enough data to conduct this study. Glaciers can help us estimate the results of climate change globally and eventually help us gain a more accurate perception of our impact on the environment.
by Quirin Schiermeier
Scientific American Online
After the end of the Little Ice Age, which lasted from the late 1200s to 1850, the Alpine glaciers started shrinking, even though global temperature had not risen. This contradicted the predictions that the glaciers would have continued to grow until 1910. Recent studies from the University of Innsbruck indicate that the
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| Gnifetti glacial saddle |
I think this is a fascinating development in climate science; it provides a new theory of glacial issues taking into account their historical context. It brings into question the extend of long-term damage the Industrial Revolution had on the planet, which could be different than previously estimated. It also acts as a warning sign for modern global warming; we can take this discovery as a warning against the dangers of excessive air pollution, as well as the eventual impacts rising temperatures. I think glacial studies should be more heavily funded. It is unfortunate that the Alps were the only region with enough data to conduct this study. Glaciers can help us estimate the results of climate change globally and eventually help us gain a more accurate perception of our impact on the environment.
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