Saving Antarctica's Ice – Discussion with John Moore, David Wadhams and Paul Beckwith
In the "Saving Antarctica’s Ice" video discussion, John Moore, the lead of the UArctic Thematic Network on Frozen Arctic Conservation explains to climatologists Peter Wadhams and Paul Beckwith his proposal to set up underwater curtains anchored to the sea bed in deep channels that funnel warm water under the Thwaites Ice Shelf that resists the flow of the Thwaites glacier, the so-called "Doomsday Glacier".
Thinning the ice shelf is now leading it to collapse and the release large volumes of ice into the ocean. Because of the geometry of the glacier and its bed, and the very long time it takes for oceans to cool, “simply” reducing greenhouse gas emissions will probably not slow the glacier fast enough to prevent its collapse.
Placed properly in the deep channel, the underwater curtains can keep the warmer water out, and allow the ice shelf to thicken helping to hold the glacier in place. This technological project might take about thirty years to build. But first Moore argues that the Precautionary Approach and the responsibilities of the 29 nations in the Antarctic Treaty System that have pledged to protect Antarctica should contribute funds to further research to manage global sea rise.
For the video, audio podcast, transcript and public comments, please visit the Project Save the World website.