Scientists are planning to bombard the rapidly melting West Antarctic ice sheet, which is melting six times faster than it was in 1979, with artificial snowballs to save it.
Due to human-induced climate change, one-third of the West Antarctic ice sheet is now at risk of breaking apart at any moment. New research has revealed that the rate of ice melting in the region has reached six times the rate identified in 1979.
The research published by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) suggests that we can use technology to artificially strengthen the ice cover. The plan involves creating snow from ocean waters and launching the artificial snow onto the ice cover using cannons.
Anders Levermann, one of the study’s authors, stated that the plan, which would require high-level technology and investment, could be a long-term solution to the threat of rising sea levels. If successful, cities like Miami and Bangkok, which are expected to be submerged by the end of the 21st century, could be saved.
Levermann, a physicist at Columbia University, said, “We have to choose between protecting Antarctica and sacrificing life and cultural heritage in coastal areas. If nothing is done in the long term, many cities from New York to Shanghai will be underwater.”
Levermann emphasized that the West Antarctic Ice Shelf plays a critical role in the climate system and that if no measures are taken, the melting will continue until the entire ice shelf is gone.
Trillions of tons of artificial snow are needed. Scientists using computer simulations to calculate the future amount of melting have realized that the situation will not change with a slight reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the near future. Johannes Feldmann, who participated in the study, said that after long brainstorming sessions, the solution appeared to be to use an “extreme number” of cannons.
Launching artificial snow with cannons involves distributing a very large mass of water over a specific area. In total, the amount of artificial snow required will cover an area the size of Costa Rica or half of Iceland, or 52,000 square kilometres.
The energy required to fill such a large area with artificial snow is massive. Calculations show that 12,000 state-of-the-art wind turbines would be needed to extract ocean water, desalinate it, create artificial snow, and operate the snow cannons.
Feldmann noted that the extraordinary amount of water that needs to be extracted from the Amundsen Sea would also negatively affect an equal amount of habitat. Ultimately, it is a mystery how feasible the proposed (but not yet offered) plan is and how much it would impact nature under challenging Antarctic conditions.
At this point, Feldmann expressed his discomfort as follows:
“Trying to make it snow in Antarctica to stop the ice melting shows how serious the rising water level problem has become.”
Scientists have focused on highly futuristic plans in recent years, knowing that humanity will not stop polluting nature. While one group of researchers suggested building an artificial ice wall in Antarctica, a plan to use millions of water pumps to save the Arctic Ocean had been proposed.
I think floating cities will be the most realistic solution within the next 50 years.
Main image: Pixabay
This article is from 2019. To read the original TR article, click the link below:
