Image: Nasa Goddard Photo and Video [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Shrinking Antarctic sea ice will have global effects, researchers say
Leading New Zealand researchers have held an emergency summit to highlight the seriousness of this year’s decline in Antarctic sea ice.
The researchers, from four universities and three research institutes, gathered on 2 October ahead of the summer Antarctic research season. They issued a statement calling for “a dramatic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions now”.
“It is not too late to keep the climate within liveable conditions, but policy action is needed urgently,” the statement said.
The researchers warned that New Zealand’s proximity to Antarctica could mean it is directly affected by changes in the ice. They said that this year’s record low winter sea ice coverage was equivalent to “7 to 10 New Zealands’ worth” of sea ice being missing, out of a usual 50. The ice performs various functions, including reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and reflecting sunlight back into space.
Craig Stevens, principal scientist for marine research at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), said the speed of the changes meant that “the science system in general is having to respond quite a bit faster than is normal”.
“We thought [this] was an important point in time just to highlight to everyone the significant shifts we’re seeing in a big part of how our planet operates.”
Pressure on researchers
Stevens said the issue of climate change “weighed heavily” on him.
“I see that on my colleagues [too]. I don’t know if we signed up for being in this role or place…Our work has given us this awareness of a serious situation and it does figure into every aspect of my thinking throughout the day.”
Responding to a question about how voters should approach the New Zealand election on 14 October, NIWA researcher Natalie Robinson told a media conference that “whatever aspect [of the election] you are interested in, climate change will affect that and we ignore it at our peril. I’m not going to highlight any particular policies here, but there are complex impacts of climate change that will come into every area of our lives.”
Sam Dean, NIWA’s principal climate scientist, said he hoped voters would consider the issue. “Our priorities at elections tend to be short term…but climate change doesn’t go away.
“As scientists, we study the climate system and it’s beautiful. I see the sea ice as a beautiful living creature. It’s unwell, we’re poisoning it and we’re doing it in full knowledge of what we’re doing—and that’s upsetting and it’s distressing.
“I still fear that we don’t take it nearly seriously enough.”