The icebreaker navigates its way through icebergs near Antarctica. Martin
Jeffries, a glaciologist now working in Alaska, studies these ice masses.
"I've spent quite a bit of time cruising those waters studying sea
ice," he says.
Bundled to keep out the cold, Jeffries hopped from one patch of sea ice
to the next, researching the ice, its growth and its decay. Marjorie Porter,
now also working in Alaska, assisted Jeffries on the Antarctic expedition.
"We cored and sliced ice, recorded temperatures and thicknesses, measured
salinities and identified the crystalline structure of the ice," says Porter.
What were Jeffries and Porter trying to find?
"The work that we are doing provides data that will help piece together
the global climate puzzle," she says. Antarctic sea ice feeds cold water currents
that help to regulate the Earth's temperature. "Is the seasonal growth
of ice changing, and if so, what are its implications?"
Jeffries and Porter are currently trying to solve climate questions in
Alaska, and have shifted their research to lake ice.
"On the north slopes, lakes can stay frozen much of the year," Jeffries
says. "I'm very interested in the growth and decay of the ice and how
it affects the local climate."
As ice grows and decays, there is an exchange of energy with the atmosphere.
This two-way exchange can affect the temperatures in the area. It is known
that glaciers and polar ice sheets affect the climate, but what about smaller
lakes?
"There is a question about the role of lakes in a local climate," says
Jeffries. "It can lead to many questions about the state of our weather."
"Arctic lakes have a unique relationship with the atmosphere," adds Porter.
"Evidence indicates that the air temperatures in Arctic regions are changing
faster than are global temperatures. Recording the seasonal fluxes and ice
growth histories of these lakes may help us better understand the implications
of climate change."
Brian Moorman, a glaciologist, is also concerned about the Earth's
climate. He spends much of his time studying glaciers on Bylot Island, a small
island north of Baffin Island in Canada's Arctic region.
"We are looking at how the glaciers are melting due to global warming,"
he says. "We are looking at how climate change is affecting the glaciers,
and the effects this is having on Earth."
But Moorman says scientists don't have to look so far afield to see
the effects of melting glaciers. "We are conducting research right here in
the Bow River Valley," he says.
The watershed in the Bow River Valley in Alberta, Canada, is partially
fed by glacier water. "It's a fact that glaciers are in retreat. There
is a fear that in the future a large chunk of the water supply for Calgary
and area will disappear."
Just visiting the Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Ice Fields gives an
idea of what Moorman is talking about. This glacier is near a highway, and
is easily accessible to the public. "In 1910, the glacier used to stretch
way across the road," says Moorman. "Now you have to hike up to see it."
The glacier is retreating about an average of 30 feet per year. By observing
the markers showing the glacier's retreat, it isn't impossible to
imagine a day when the glacier is gone. "There is a growing concern about
the way glaciers are melting," says Moorman.
What will a city such as Calgary do if the glacier water stops
flowing? "There is a lot of groundwater," says Moorman. But unfortunately,
just as the glaciers are affected by environmental damage, so are other water
supplies.
"The town was involved in wood production for many years, which left the
groundwater full of chemicals," says Moorman. "It's so polluted at the
moment that we just closed off that line of investigation. We hope to get
much more information looking into the future of the glacier water."
Whether on an iceberg or a mountain, glaciologists agree that the work
is environmentally important and exciting.
"I love the adventure," says Porter. "The harshness of the environment,
extreme temperatures and winds can sometimes interfere with what we are trying
to accomplish, but the aspects of this work that make it difficult are also
the things that make it thrilling."