Recent research points to the alarming destabilization of the giant West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS). Experts warn that it now lies on the brink of a total collapse. However, the potential saving grace could come in the form of a high-stakes engineering project, which proposes to cover the surface with “artificial snow.”
The Concept of Artificial Snow
Scientists behind the project suggest employing around 12,000 wind turbines in a bid to pump seawater approximately 4,900 feet to the surface. Here, the seawater would undergo freezing and transform into “snow.” The primary aim is to provide sufficient weight to the WAIS and prevent further collapse. They propose depositing at least 7,400 gigatons of artificial snow over the Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers within a span of ten years. The snow, compacted into ice, would push down the glacier, thereby stabilizing it and increasing its thickness.
Current Conditions: Findings From Recent Studies
The WAIS is facing accelerated degradation due to warmer ocean water being channeled towards it. Much of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet resides below sea level and is hence categorized as a Marine Ice Sheet. The inherent vulnerability of Marine Ice Sheets stems from their exposure to warm waters, making them prone to collapse. Currently, West Antarctica houses the planet’s largest marine ice sheet.
A significant number of these glaciers have a reverse bed slope. This means that as they recede, they expose thicker and deeper ice layers to the ocean. This exposure leads to instability and triggers a positive feedback effect, which escalates the rate of retreat and consequent contribution to sea level rise.
| Fact | Evidence |
|---|---|
| Antarctic Ice Melt | Over 3 trillion tons of ice lost between 1992 and 2017 |
| Ice Loss Rate | Triplication in West Antarctica in the last quarter century |
| Sea Level Rise | Projected at least three-metre global rise following WAIS collapse |
The Role of Climate Change
It is imperative to address the gravity of climate change effects on the South Pole. From 1992 to 2017, Antarctica lost over three trillion tons of ice, with the majority resulting from West Antarctica, where the ice loss rate has tripled in the past 25 years. Global warming-induced melting has set the WAIS on a plausible course to disintegration, prompting a predicted global sea level rise of at least three meters (10 feet) over upcoming centuries.
Although this complete sea level rise may not occur for hundreds of years, it poses severe threats to coastal cities like Hamburg, Shanghai, New York, and Hong Kong. Any ice melt from Greenland, the Arctic, or shrinking glaciers globally could exacerbate the issue even if nations meet the Paris Agreement’s objectives.
A Balanced Path Forward
While geoengineering projects such as artificial snow offer a glimmer of hope, they could potentially harm the planet and its ecosystems in unforeseen ways. Therefore, these measures should not serve as a justification to postpone critical emissions cuts. We have to tackle the underlying issue of climate change head-on to protect our environment and future generations.
