GNP’s glaciers: Going, going . . .

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/64674/title/GNP%E2%80%99s_glaciers__Going%2C_going_._._._




This article details the dwindle of glaciers at Glacier Nation Park, Montana. The United States’ tenth national park once had over 150 named glaciers, but due to temperature and climate change that number has dropped to about 25. Additionally, scientists predict that within two decades there will no longer be glaciers at the National park. Scientists blame global warming which has quadrupled the annual number of “extremely hot days” from five days to nearly 20. The summer has also started earlier and ended later in recent years compared to those previous. There are about 20 fewer below freezing days, currently numbering at 170 a year. This means that spring thaws start three weeks earlier than they have in the previous hundred years. Within the past century there has been over a 3 degree increase of annual average temperature, double the warming increase worldwide. The climate change has also lead to flooding, erosion, and longer fires within the park.

This article is important to society because global climate change affects us all and has a plethora of negative impacts. The climate change creates less predictable, more sporadic, and more violent weather, resulting in deadly storms and other natural disasters that burden millions of people. Climate change also means the disappearance of natural landscapes such as the ice fields, or the extinction of those animals living in such environments. Global climate change also affects the populations of certain species, some of which can cause a great deal of harm when left to grow uncontrollably, such as jellyfish in Japan. I chose this article because I am concerned for the well being of the planet and would like to raise awareness to the fact that global climate change is happening, and happening much more quickly than previously anticipated.

The article is well written, clear, and informative. It explains the technical differences in temperatures, comparing current numbers to those of previous years, making points clear. However the article does not elaborate on the science that went into obtaining the figures or what the rate of climate change means for those currently inhabiting the planet, and those who will inhabit the planet for years to come.