Monday, September 10, 2007

Melting Ice

It can be difficult to envision exactly what global warming looks like. In this AFP video [no longer available] about Andean glaciers, which scientists find melted five meters this year, the narrator equates the ice and the resulting waters that flow from it to endangered species.

Although glaciers may not have the aesthetic appeal of a Siberian tiger or a giant panda, they are even more vulnerable to climate change than many species on the brink of extinction. Thankfully, researchers have developed projects like the frozen zoo and the encyclopedia of life to preserve animal biodiversity, but it is a pretty sure bet that all glaciers will fall victim to global warming. Despite their chilly reception, glaciers are some of the best indicators of climate change and while they last, they will continue to help scientists better understand our environment.