Glacier Defense: A Material Science Proposal

[Geoengineering News]

https://www.espublisher.com/journals/articledetails/1692/

Authors: Qingchun Zhang, Zhang Chen, Qian Zhang and Yanfeng Gao

25 August 2025

Abstract

Global warming is accelerating the disappearance of glaciers, with approximately 200,000 glaciers worldwide being affected. In response to these crises, scientists are actively seeking glacier melt interventions, spawning a new discipline, the so-called glacial geoengineering. This paper proposes a new proposal mainly from a viewpoint that combines engineering thermophysics and material science. The measures proposed comprehensively consider the science, the engineering feasibility, the time cost, the environmental protection, and the economic burden, after a brainstorm and a deepening understanding of glacial geoengineering. If applied to glacier protection projects in the global cryosphere, our solutions delay glacier melting by at least a few decades. Compared with other geoengineering projects, our proposal is competitive in raw materials, low cost, feasible construction and protection efficiency. In the way towards glacier protection, we believe that our proposal provides decision-makers with options to contribute to the development of coastal zones, economic societies, and ecosystems.

Source: Engineered Science Publisher