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The Endangered Global Atmosphere
Published in Stanley E. Manahan, Environmental Chemistry, 2022
Ice, especially when covered by layers of snow, reflects incoming solar energy. As the ice melts, surfaces that absorb solar energy much more effectively are exposed. As an example, the melting of Arctic Ocean sea ice (Figure 13.6), which takes place during summer months, exposes seawater. The exposed seawater absorbs solar energy much more effectively than does ice, which leads to increased melting of the ice and additional absorption of heat. A second example is provided by the melting of ice that has covered Greenland's land mass for millennia. The melting exposes surface rock and soil that absorbs solar energy much more effectively than ice with the result that more heat is absorbed and more of the ice melts. Furthermore, the liquid water produced by the melting flows to a low spot on the ice where it burrows and creates a vertical shaft called a moulin that penetrates to the base of the ice mass. This infiltrating water lubricates the interface between the ice and the surface below, which enables large masses of ice to move physically into oceans, further contributing to ice loss. A particular concern is the possible melting and loss of the West Antarctic ice sheet now resting on bedrock below sea level.
The Endangered Global Atmosphere
Published in Stanley Manahan, Environmental Chemistry, 2017
Ice, especially when covered by layers of snow, reflects incoming solar energy. As the ice melts, surfaces that absorb solar energy much more effectively are exposed. As an example, the melting of Arctic Ocean sea ice (Figure 13.6), which takes place during summer months, exposes seawater. The exposed seawater absorbs solar energy much more effectively than does ice, which leads to increased melting of the ice and additional absorption of heat. A second example is provided by the melting of ice that has covered Greenland’s land mass for millennia. The melting exposes surface rock and soil that absorbs solar energy much more effectively than ice with the result that more heat is absorbed and more of the ice melts. Furthermore, the liquid water produced by the melting flows to a low spot on the ice where it burrows and creates a vertical shaft called a moulin that penetrates to the base of the ice mass. This infiltrating water lubricates the interface between the ice and the surface below, which enables large masses of ice to move physically into oceans, further contributing to ice loss. A particular concern is the possible melting and loss of the West Antarctic ice sheet now resting on bedrock below sea level.
Geotourism and geoparks for sustainable rural development and poverty alleviation: Huanggang Dabieshan UNESCO Global Geopark, China
Published in Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2022
A large Quaternary glacier with the characteristics of continental glaciers is found around the DBGG and is thought to be the source of large groups of moulins preserved in the riverways in Luotian County that spread to approximately 3000 m above the massive, middle Triassic medium- to fine-grained monzonitic granite. Circular and irregular moulins range in width and depth from 0.1 to 0.5 m and 0.3 to 2 m, respectively (Figure 2g) distributed in patterns caused by water erosion and flow. Moulins are formed by glacier erosion by prolonged ice-cover ablation.