Greenhouse gases have become a growing problem since the industrial revolution and from overpopulation. In the past 40 years, global warming has caused the Arctic ice to melt drastically, with scientists predicting the ice will completely melt by 2040. Additionally, temperatures rising rapidly each year makes conditions tough for both humans and animals. The temperatures of summer are lasting longer, and the length of heatwaves has been increasing year by year. Due to this, many Canadians are opting for AC’s, which add even more greenhouse gases to the air. On top of that, we are also experiencing more wildfires every summer, and that’s causing a rise in lung and allergy related health problems. However, there is a chance we could bring back those good ol’ summer days with a bit of dedicated work from the public and a start-up called Arctic Reflections.
What are greenhouse gasses and how do they affect the Arctic?
Greenhouse gases (GHG) are gases that trap heat energy in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing temperatures to increase—also known as global warming. Some of the most common greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide: gases that have always been in the Earth’s atmosphere. To keep GHG from disrupting the global temperature, the Arctic plays a key role. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Centre, the Arctic acts as a refrigerator for the Earth by reflecting sunlight back into space. This, in return, balances the global climate. However, since the industrial revolution and the rise in human population, GHG have increased tremendously. Human activity has caused the global temperature to increase by about 1 degree Celsius according to NASA. This may not seem like much, but an increment of just 1 degree can cause oceans to warm up, leading to the ice in cold places, like the Arctic, to melt at a quicker rate. Additionally, water absorbs heat, so when ice melts, most of the sunlight gets absorbed by the ocean which creates more heat resulting in more ice to melt.
Arctic Reflections
Climate changes in the Arctic are not only a concern for humans but also for animals, and the only ones who can solve this growing problem are us. Many companies are incorporating greener practices, but this is not enough due to the damage that has already been done. Having said that, there is still a chance of saving the Arctic.
Arctic Reflections, a start-up company based in the Netherlands is on a mission to restore the Arctic ice. According to the brains behind the start-up, their plan is to target specific locations during winter around the Arctic Ocean and pump water onto existing ice sheets. The freshly pumped water will freeze quickly due to the cold climate, creating thicker ice sheets. Once the ice forms, the ice would be transported through existing ocean currents into the Arctic. This concept will help reduce the effect of the amount of ice melting in the summer, and hopefully save the Arctic.
Early this year, Arctic Reflections took their first field trip to the Arctic. There, they managed to pump out enough water to thicken the ice by 25-30cm over 4000m2 of surface. The team of scientists also tested the concept in Svalbard, using tools to measure the temperature of the ice over the coming months to prove their theory that the thickened ice will not completely melt during the summer.
Arctic Reflections is working hard to save our Earth, and we could do the same. If we all incorporate more environmentally friendly practices into our daily life, we might be able to save the Arctic, and us.