Researchers explore new method for glacial melt reduction

[Renaud de RICHTER]

phys.org /news/2022-06-explore-method-glacial-reduction.html

Researchers explore new method for glacial melt reduction

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June 17, 2022

by Chinese Academy of Sciences

Ortho-mosaic on 28 August 2021 (left panel), hillshade generated from the DEM on 28 August 2021 (middle panel), and changes in elevation between 24 June and 28 August 2021 (right panel). Glacier ablation was monitored using ablation stakes (S1–S3). Credit: Wang Feiteng

Glaciers are experiencing fast and significant changes under global warming. Glacier shrinkage significantly impacts global sea level, regional water cycles, ecosystems, and natural hazards.

Many studies have considered glacier changes and the mechanisms driving such changes. However, few studies have focused on mitigating glacier ablation.

Recently, a research team from the Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of the Chinese Academy of Sciences conducted the evaluation of glacier cover efficiency for melt reduction on the Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Tien Shan, China.

Their results were published in Remote Sensing.

By combining two high-resolution digital elevation models derived from terrestrial laser scanning and unmanned aerial vehicles, albedo, and meteorological data, the researchers quantified the glacier ablation mitigation under three different cover materials.

The results showed that material-covered areas could slow down glacier melting by approximately 29–56% compared with uncovered areas. The researchers also found that the nanofiber material showed higher efficiency (56%) than the geotextiles used in the experiment.

The method of artificial reduction of glacial ice melt provides a scientific and practical basis for decision-making on mitigating and adapting to climate change.

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More information: Shuangshuang Liu et al, Quantifying the Artificial Reduction of Glacial Ice Melt in a Mountain Glacier (Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Tien Shan, China), Remote Sensing (2022). DOI: 10.3390/rs14122802

Provided by Chinese Academy of Sciences

[SALTER Stephen]

Hi All

I can see that this would reduce melting in summer but what does it do about refreezing in winter? They mention only 24 June to 28 August. It would be a pain to have to lay cleaned material again every year.  We want to do more that just a ski slope.

(I hate strangling babies).

Stephen

 

From: healthy-planet-...@googlegroups.com <healthy-planet-...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Renaud de RICHTER
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phys.org /news/2022-06-explore-method-glacial-reduction.html

Researchers explore new method for glacial melt reduction

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[Andrew Lockley]

See also our paper discussing this

Glacier geoengineering to address sea-level rise: A geotechnical approach

Author links open overlay panelAndrewLockleyaMichaelWolovickbBowieKeefercRupertGladstonedLi-YunZhaobeJohn C.Moorebd

a

University College London (Bartlett School), London, WC1H 0QB, UK

b

College of Global Change and Earth System Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, PR China

c

120 Manastee Road, Galiano Island, British Columbia, BC V0N 1P0, Canada

d

Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, 96101, Finland

e

Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Zhuhai, 519082, China

Received 15 January 2020, Revised 3 August 2020, Accepted 27 November 2020, Available online 5 December 2020, Version of Record 1 February 2021.

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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2020.11.008

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Under a Creative Commons licenseOpen access

Abstract

It is remarkable that the high-end sea level rise threat over the next few hundred years comes almost entirely from only a handful of ice streams and large glaciers. These occupy a few percent of ice sheets’ coastline. Accordingly, spatially limited interventions at source may provide globally-equitable mitigation from rising seas. Ice streams control draining of ice sheets; glacier retreat or acceleration serves to greatly increase potential sea level rise. While various climatic geoengineering approaches have been considered, serious consideration of geotechnical approaches has been limited – particularly regarding glaciers. This study summarises novel and extant geotechnical techniques for glacier restraint, identifying candidates for further research. These include draining or freezing the bed; altering surface albedo; creating obstacles: retaining snow; stiffening shear margins with ice; blocking warm sea water entry; thickening ice shelves (increasing buttressing, and strengthening fractured shelves against disintegration); as well as using regional climate engineering or local cloud seeding to cool the glacier or add snow. Not all of these ideas are judged reasonable or feasible, and even fewer are likely to be found to be advisable after further consideration. By describing and evaluating the potential and risks of a large menu of responses – even apparently hopeless ones – we can increase the chances of finding one that works in times of need

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