18. Dynamics of Past and Present Climate Change

Photo 31: The terminal moraine of 1908 at Athabasca Glacier: signs of global warming. 2011-05-18

Climate Change Evidence

The Earth’s climate changes slowly over time. The Earth has been covered with ice before and now some fear that most of the icecaps will melt. We know what past climates on earth have been like by drilling ice cores. Pockets of air in the ice cores are trapped since the time they got frozen over; as well, the composition of the frozen water can tell the chemical composition of the air and water at that time. Scientists can look up to about 1 million years back in time. Recently, our climate has changed at an unusually rapid rate. One sign of increasing surface temperatures is the receding Athabasca Glacier (photo 31). On our fieldtrip we came across measuring instruments that measured the water and perhaps other factors regarding the glacier (photo 32). 

Photo 32: Water testing at Athabasca Glacier, Alberta. 2011-05-18

Organizations

Governments and companies seem to take a continually more pro-active approach towards monitoring climate changes and attempting to change their conduct towards more sustainable ways of living and producing. There seems to be sharp division among scientists and organizations themselves regarding the best course of action in regard to environmental care. I have worked for a so-called 'green' company, called Carbon Busters, for about 2 years (photo 33). The director Godo Stoyke (top centre, photo 33) is one of many knowledgeable scientists concerned with the state of our planet. As rapid as the climate is supposedly changing, so equally rapid seem the changes in the ‘green’ sector. Personally, I am in favour a future where we as humans live in a way that is more sustainable, giving our children a healthy planet to live on.

Photo 33: Carbon Busters team, a company geared towards Sustainable Development 2009-09-24