The first video by SomeoneSmol, “May 11, 2022 (a).” provides an overview of the methods of studying the Greenland ice sheet, revealing how exactly the age of the ice and the conditions it existed in can be determined. For example, one of the most recent ways of researching Greenland ice is by drilling wells in it and retrieving the ice cores. These ice cores are formed due to the immense pressure of the layers of ice that developed throughout the time of the ice sheet’s existence, and they carry the specific marks of each period. The deeper the ice core was extracted from, the older it is, and the more information it can provide. Scientists can assess the color, density, and thickness of the ice core, as well as the various additions, such as volcanic ash, to form an accurate image of the past.
However, drilling wells is a relatively slow method, and it requires a lot of effort. Therefore, scientists have created another way of studying the cryosphere – radar observations. The radar installed on board the aircraft sends a signal to Greenland’s surface, which penetrates the snow shell. Parts of the signal are reflected back, and the radar receives them. The return time of the signal and its strength indicate the specific properties of the glacier, such as depth, density, and others. In the case of Greenland, it was possible to penetrate the ice to reach the layers that developed around 115-130 thousand years ago, when it was about as warm as it is today. As a result, three specific types of ice were identified, corresponding to three periods: The Holocene (~12 thousand years ago), the last ice age (~125-12 thousand years ago), and Eemian (~125 thousand years ago). Based on the data obtained, 3D models and maps were built to offer a much more detailed understanding of the cryosphere, which will help model the behavior of glaciers under various climate change scenarios.
To achieve significant progress in climate research, it is essential to validate and implement a global climate observing system such as Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM). This topic is discussed in the second video, “May 11, 2022 (b).”, which elaborates on the processes that occur in the troposphere, such as the formation of monsoons, blizzards, hurricanes, and other specific kinds of precipitation. When monitoring global changes occurring on Earth, the objects of observation of the atmosphere are temperature, atmospheric humidity, cloud cover, and the characteristics of atmospheric dynamics. For example, it is important to study how rainfalls are distributed in accordance with temperature to determine the correlation between them. In areas with higher temperatures, such as the equator, water evaporates in larger amounts, which leads to tropical storms and monsoons.
The connections between sea surface temperature and precipitation are also necessary to study, as with the changes in water temperature, the patterns of precipitations also transform. It is another important problem that requires long-term measurements of many parameters of the atmosphere and surface, as it is adjacent to the problem of weather control and forecasting. As in other areas of physics, these measurements play a decisive role in understanding the patterns of various processes and quantitatively describing various atmospheric phenomena. The analysis of changes in the state of the atmosphere-surface system, in particular, changes in the climate of the planet, is crucial in assessing the possibilities of natural disasters. Forecasting these events in the future can help prepare for prevention or emergency measures and evade the dire consequences.
Works Cited
“May 11, 2022 (a).” YouTube, uploaded by SomeoneSmol, 2022.
“May 11, 2022 (b).” YouTube, uploaded by SomeoneSmol, 2022.