The Cryosphere Grade 10 Science

Cryosphere (earth’s frozen water) Pack ice & ice flows: frozen seawater floating on oceans near the North and South poles Melting due to global warming Does NOT cause a significant increase in global sea levels when melted Glaciers: mass of ice on land DOES cause an increase in sea level Glaciers are frozen freshwater, therefore diluting sea water and adding to its volume Found a website that explains the decreasing land ice mass (glaciers) in Antarctica, in support of the negative effects of global warming. Also explains that pack ice is increasing down South, which is a little harder to explain. Also, did some research and it seems that pack ice is frozen seawater (brine is trapped between the ice crystals) so for our intents and purposes, it doesn’t increase sea levels…

79% of the world’s freshwater! Glaciers Found at the top of mountain Most of them are found at the pole (Greenland and Antarctica) 79% of the world’s freshwater!

Effect of melting glaciers Causing sea levels to rise, endangering coastal communities. Diluting the ocean, by the addition of freshwater. The change in salinity is affecting the thermohaline circulation, which accounts for much of the oceanic heat transport that regulates climate.  global-wide climate change

Melting Pack Ice

Energy Resources Hydroelectricity – dams across rivers & water falls Renewable? Pros Cons Hydro- electricity Waves & ocean currents Very little greenhouse gas emissions Environmental impacts (i.e. flooding) Yes No pollution Expensive Yes Hydroelectricity – dams across rivers & water falls Waves and ocean currents – buoys & underwater turbines

Water contamination: Examples: Oil spills, pesticides, fertilizers, large variety of chemicals discharged by industries, etc. EUTROPHICATION: Occurs when an excess of organic material and nutrients (rich in N and P) accumulate in waterways, resulting in a loss of dissolved oxygen. Nitrogen & phosphorous originate from the run-off of fertilizers and pesticides.

Cryosphere The cryosphere consists of all the frozen water on the Earth’s surface.

Pack Ice Pack ice is composed of the ice floating on the oceans near the North and South poles.

Glaciers A glacier is a mass of ice on land, formed by compressed snow.

Compressed snow turns to ice

Icebergs

Iceberg

Iceberg

Iceberg

Iceberg

Greenland

Glaciers and pack ice melting Impacts: Sea levels rise due to glacier melting Affects thermohaline ciculation Fresh water is released from glaciers  mixes with the Gulf stream density of water decreases  water does not sink  ocean currents slow (but will not stop)