Tag: Natural/Physical Science

Presenter(s): Maya O’boyle − Russian, East European And Eurasian Studies (Reees), International Studies

Faculty Mentor(s): Dave Sutherland

Poster 175

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science (Cryosphere)

Permafrost, a layer of subsurface that remains frozen for two or more uninterrupted years, plays a significant role in the global cryospheric system. Permafrost lends stability to some of the world’s most barren environments, perhaps most important to no other place than Russia, of which it covers “more than 60%” (Anisimov and Reneva 169). This particularly applies
to the Siberian region, whose factories, nuclear plants, large cities, and abundant natural resources remain under threat, vulnerable to permafrost thawing that often leaves the ground unstable, contaminated by leached mercury, and disrupted of vegetation. This permafrost deterioration also impacts the global climate, “acting through release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere” and accelerating climate change (Anisimov and Reneva 174). However, while many studies have been conducted on thawing impacts, few have explored the roll vegetation can have in preventing permafrost shrinkage, particularly native mosses, which serve as an effective natural insulator. This study will explore the impacts of permafrost thawing on these native mosses, paying particular attention to how thawing affects moss thickness, in order to better understand and predict Siberian climate change. What can studying this moss cover reveal about methods to halting permafrost deterioration and global warming?

Presenter(s): Kenzie Hudler − Public Relations

Faculty Mentor(s): Dave Sutherland

Poster 159

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science

Glaciers are formed from heavy snow accumulation and compaction. Glaciers also experience ablation or surface melting, which involves a loss of glacier mass, as glaciers are viscous fluids. There are numerous factors that control the ice flow speed of glaciers, including temperature of the ice, slope of the glacier, thickness of the ice, and the subglacial environment. Greenhouse gas emissions released into our atmosphere cause a warming that even the continental glaciers of East and West Antarctica cannot withstand, resulting in a rise in global sea-level. Here we show that the West Antarctic ice sheet is melting at a faster rate than the East Antarctic ice sheet, which seems relatively stable at the moment. However, recent data has revealed that the East Antarctic ice sheet could be more vulnerable to climate change than originally thought, after analyzing its past behavior in previously similar climate conditions. Consequently, global mean sea-level is rising at an accelerating rate. The results demonstrate how differently the East and West Antarctic ice sheets are melting, and how these increasing melting rates are impacting global sea-levels. My essay will serve as a comparison of the evolution/recent patterns of retreat and melting in the East and West Antarctic ice sheets and a starting point for how these patterns are impacting global sea-levels. Furthermore, the Antarctic glaciers are melting at accelerating rates, and even cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions may not be able to reverse this process.

Presenter(s): Isabella Cao − Journalism

Faculty Mentor(s): Dave Sutherland

Poster 144

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science

Low temperatures and the presence of moisture are conditions that allow for snowfall. When parcels of warm air containing moisture rise and cool, the water vapor condenses to form clouds. These clouds form precipitation, in the form of either water droplets or tiny ice crystals depending on surrounding air temperature. Precipitation and snowfall are a normal part of the hydrological cycle; however, global warming has changed the hydrological cycle and thus affects patterns of snowfall. A 4% increase in atmospheric moisture has been observed (warmer atmospheres holding 7% more moisture per 1°C). Many studies have been done on global warming’s contribution to dwindling snowpacks and high rates of snowmelt, however, few have studied heavy snowfall as an effect of climate change. Here I show patterns of decreased and increased snowfall in various regions. I found that warming of ocean surfaces and other water supplies can result in patterns of heavier snowfall. Japan predicts decreases in total winter snowfall, as well as an unusual heavy snowfall occurrence every 10 years. Further, I found that while most regions experience an overall decrease in snow, the distribution pattern changes significantly, with some places having much less or more more than usual. Climate change does not always result in immediate depletion of snow, but rather a continuous changing pattern that shows decreasing over time. This report could instigate more accurate portrayals of snowfall patterns, leading to more accurate studies. These findings will be useful in better utilizing water resources that rely on snowfall.

Presenter(s): Payton Becker − Economics, Political Science

Faculty Mentor(s): Dave Sutherland

Poster 141

Research Area: Natural/Physical Science

As a region of the world with great potential for economic growth, Southern Asia faces unprecedented levels of air pollution and snow melt. Darkening the Himalayan snow’s surface and increasing its ability to absorb sunlight, the presence of natural and man-made air particulates on ice trigger glacial melting that requires human response. Emission-creating practices in the industrial and agricultural sectors – such as those that originate from factories, long-distance transportation, and biomass burning (“slash and burn” farming) – combine with natural phenomena such as wind storms to spread Black Carbon and other aerosols. These contributors to air pollution lower the single-scattering albedo of snow after landing on it, leading to potential catastrophes and the need for human-initiated mitigation. As this region of the cryosphere continues to warm, countries such as Nepal and India must face the question of whether to formulate policies that pursue economic development or responsible climate practices. Here we show the effects of air particulates on glacial albedo using data collected over multiple years as well as society’s response to the symptoms of Himalayan melting. Actors working to prevent and reduce the severity of the problem take the form of governmental institutions implement policies, spanning from within Himalayan countries to the international community. At risk of facing destruction from a melting cryosphere, human lives and sacred places within the Asian continent rest in the hands of those with the power to regulate industrialization and raise albedo to levels that better reflect the sun’s rays.