hi thank you for letting me speak to you tonight about Arctic ice management
tonight about Arctic ice management
tonight about Arctic ice management which is a term I coined which means two
which is a term I coined which means two
which is a term I coined which means two things to me it means a call to arms to
things to me it means a call to arms to
things to me it means a call to arms to do something to preserve and restore the
do something to preserve and restore the
do something to preserve and restore the sea ice in the Arctic and also a
sea ice in the Arctic and also a
sea ice in the Arctic and also a possible means of doing so you may be
possible means of doing so you may be
possible means of doing so you may be wondering Steve you are an
wondering Steve you are an
wondering Steve you are an astrophysicist you are a planetary
astrophysicist you are a planetary
astrophysicist you are a planetary scientist what are you doing talking
scientist what are you doing talking
scientist what are you doing talking about the Arctic is so far away
about the Arctic is so far away
about the Arctic is so far away especially from Arizona we in the desert
especially from Arizona we in the desert
especially from Arizona we in the desert maybe you have a romantic notion of the
maybe you have a romantic notion of the
maybe you have a romantic notion of the Arctic as I do it is this distant place
Arctic as I do it is this distant place
Arctic as I do it is this distant place you know nobody even visited the Arctic
you know nobody even visited the Arctic
you know nobody even visited the Arctic the North Pole until 1926 so it’s only
the North Pole until 1926 so it’s only
the North Pole until 1926 so it’s only been a century that people have explored
been a century that people have explored
been a century that people have explored its full extent and it seems as a place
its full extent and it seems as a place
its full extent and it seems as a place that is ancient and unchanging and
that is ancient and unchanging and
that is ancient and unchanging and difficult to cross and so we may
difficult to cross and so we may
difficult to cross and so we may remember that there were people who are
remember that there were people who are
remember that there were people who are attempting to go through the Northwest
attempting to go through the Northwest
attempting to go through the Northwest Passage –is these areas in the
Passage –is these areas in the
Passage –is these areas in the northwest part of Canada for centuries
northwest part of Canada for centuries
northwest part of Canada for centuries and this is a depiction of the 1830’s
and this is a depiction of the 1830’s
and this is a depiction of the 1830’s attempt where a ship is mired in the ice
attempt where a ship is mired in the ice
attempt where a ship is mired in the ice and in 1845 the doomed expedition of
and in 1845 the doomed expedition of
and in 1845 the doomed expedition of Franklin this is not an easy place to
Franklin this is not an easy place to
Franklin this is not an easy place to get to
get to
get to we think it’s formidable ancient
we think it’s formidable ancient
we think it’s formidable ancient unchanging but it’s not it is changing
unchanging but it’s not it is changing
unchanging but it’s not it is changing rapidly this is a more recent picture of
rapidly this is a more recent picture of
rapidly this is a more recent picture of the Nordic Orion which is a cargo ship
the Nordic Orion which is a cargo ship
the Nordic Orion which is a cargo ship which in 2013 carried coal from
which in 2013 carried coal from
which in 2013 carried coal from Vancouver through the Northwest Passage
Vancouver through the Northwest Passage
Vancouver through the Northwest Passage to Finland and even more recently last
to Finland and even more recently last
to Finland and even more recently last September you could have booked a cruise
September you could have booked a cruise
September you could have booked a cruise on the Crystal serenity cruise ship
on the Crystal serenity cruise ship
on the Crystal serenity cruise ship which went through the Northwest Passage
which went through the Northwest Passage
which went through the Northwest Passage –is something that people had tried for
–is something that people had tried for
–is something that people had tried for centuries to do but is now something
centuries to do but is now something
centuries to do but is now something that can be done for tourism things are
that can be done for tourism things are
that can be done for tourism things are changing the Arctic rapidly the passages
changing the Arctic rapidly the passages
changing the Arctic rapidly the passages are open it’s an historic event we are
are open it’s an historic event we are
are open it’s an historic event we are going to see this more and more as the
going to see this more and more as the
going to see this more and more as the years go by says the director of the
years go by says the director of the
years go by says the director of the national snow and ice data center what
national snow and ice data center what
national snow and ice data center what is changing the Arctic is simple to
is changing the Arctic is simple to
is changing the Arctic is simple to understand the Arctic is melting as
understand the Arctic is melting as
understand the Arctic is melting as climate change is happening and
climate change is happening and
climate change is happening and temperatures are increasing we have
temperatures are increasing we have
temperatures are increasing we have increasingly less ice in the Arctic this
increasingly less ice in the Arctic this
increasingly less ice in the Arctic this is a graph depicting the amount of ice
is a graph depicting the amount of ice
is a graph depicting the amount of ice the volume of ice in thousands of cubic
the volume of ice in thousands of cubic
the volume of ice in thousands of cubic kilometers versus every month of the
kilometers versus every month of the
kilometers versus every month of the year
year
year so this is
so this is
so this is the normal trend this is the average
the normal trend this is the average
the normal trend this is the average from the 80s and 90s and to thousands of
from the 80s and 90s and to thousands of
from the 80s and 90s and to thousands of how much ice there is in January it is
how much ice there is in January it is
how much ice there is in January it is maximized at the end of Arctic winter in
maximized at the end of Arctic winter in
maximized at the end of Arctic winter in April it melts during the summer and is
April it melts during the summer and is
April it melts during the summer and is a minimum in September and then it
a minimum in September and then it
a minimum in September and then it freezes again during the Arctic winter
freezes again during the Arctic winter
freezes again during the Arctic winter and the gray band denotes the the
and the gray band denotes the the
and the gray band denotes the the average amount and what is normal the 1
average amount and what is normal the 1
average amount and what is normal the 1 into Sigma levels these colored lines
into Sigma levels these colored lines
into Sigma levels these colored lines show the results from the 7 most recent
show the results from the 7 most recent
show the results from the 7 most recent years and you can see that every year
years and you can see that every year
years and you can see that every year less ice exists in the winter less ice
less ice exists in the winter less ice
less ice exists in the winter less ice freezes in the winter more ice melts in
freezes in the winter more ice melts in
freezes in the winter more ice melts in the summer and the red line is this year
the summer and the red line is this year
the summer and the red line is this year and this is hot off the presses
and this is hot off the presses
and this is hot off the presses quite literally this is a record low
quite literally this is a record low
quite literally this is a record low amount of ice for this time of year if
amount of ice for this time of year if
amount of ice for this time of year if you plot the amount of ice that exists
you plot the amount of ice that exists
you plot the amount of ice that exists at the maximum time this time of year
at the maximum time this time of year
at the maximum time this time of year the end of the winter every year it’s
the end of the winter every year it’s
the end of the winter every year it’s getting smaller and this is the amount
getting smaller and this is the amount
getting smaller and this is the amount that exists at the end of the summer the
that exists at the end of the summer the
that exists at the end of the summer the minimum amount and every year it’s
minimum amount and every year it’s
minimum amount and every year it’s getting smaller these trends tell us
getting smaller these trends tell us
getting smaller these trends tell us that every year there’s 300 cubic
that every year there’s 300 cubic
that every year there’s 300 cubic kilometres less ice on average than the
kilometres less ice on average than the
kilometres less ice on average than the year before and to visualize this
year before and to visualize this
year before and to visualize this imagine an ice cube 4 miles on a side we
imagine an ice cube 4 miles on a side we
imagine an ice cube 4 miles on a side we have one less of those every year and
have one less of those every year and
have one less of those every year and there aren’t an infinite number of these
there aren’t an infinite number of these
there aren’t an infinite number of these ice cubes as you can see these trends
ice cubes as you can see these trends
ice cubes as you can see these trends past the line of zero ice by the end of
past the line of zero ice by the end of
past the line of zero ice by the end of the summer in around 230 2030 and that’s
the summer in around 230 2030 and that’s
the summer in around 230 2030 and that’s a time when we’ll have no ice in the
a time when we’ll have no ice in the
a time when we’ll have no ice in the Arctic at the end of the summer and
Arctic at the end of the summer and
Arctic at the end of the summer and that’s an unprecedented event
graphs are one thing I think this visual
graphs are one thing I think this visual will help you visualize what’s going on
will help you visualize what’s going on
will help you visualize what’s going on this is a depiction of satellite imagery
this is a depiction of satellite imagery
this is a depiction of satellite imagery from NASA of how much the ice extends
from NASA of how much the ice extends
from NASA of how much the ice extends over the Arctic during September of each
over the Arctic during September of each
over the Arctic during September of each year and from the dawn of the satellite
year and from the dawn of the satellite
year and from the dawn of the satellite era in the late 70s through the 80s you
era in the late 70s through the 80s you
era in the late 70s through the 80s you have a typical amount of ice at the end
have a typical amount of ice at the end
have a typical amount of ice at the end of the summer
of the summer
of the summer over half of the arctic’s covered but
over half of the arctic’s covered but
over half of the arctic’s covered but starting in the late 90s you start to
starting in the late 90s you start to
starting in the late 90s you start to see that the extent of the ice is
see that the extent of the ice is
see that the extent of the ice is significantly less and the years 2007
significantly less and the years 2007
significantly less and the years 2007 and 2012 are particularly low and this
and 2012 are particularly low and this
and 2012 are particularly low and this is happening more and more each year so
is happening more and more each year so
is happening more and more each year so it’s easy to see how we are quickly
it’s easy to see how we are quickly
it’s easy to see how we are quickly reaching a state where there will be
reaching a state where there will be
reaching a state where there will be practically no sea ice at the end of the
practically no sea ice at the end of the
practically no sea ice at the end of the summer and that’s bad for the Arctic
summer and that’s bad for the Arctic
summer and that’s bad for the Arctic multi-year ice is stronger without
multi-year ice is stronger without
multi-year ice is stronger without multi-year ice
multi-year ice
multi-year ice I used to persist through the summer
I used to persist through the summer
I used to persist through the summer it’s harder for ice to freeze in the
it’s harder for ice to freeze in the
it’s harder for ice to freeze in the winter and the ice is weak or more
winter and the ice is weak or more
winter and the ice is weak or more easily disrupted and carried southward
easily disrupted and carried southward
easily disrupted and carried southward so this matters as well for the
so this matters as well for the
so this matters as well for the reflectivity of the earth the Arctic is
reflectivity of the earth the Arctic is
reflectivity of the earth the Arctic is the world’s air conditioner it reflects
the world’s air conditioner it reflects
the world’s air conditioner it reflects back a lot of sunlight the sea ice is
back a lot of sunlight the sea ice is
back a lot of sunlight the sea ice is reflective but in 2012 this much area of
reflective but in 2012 this much area of
reflective but in 2012 this much area of the Arctic was missing ice compared to a
the Arctic was missing ice compared to a
the Arctic was missing ice compared to a typical year of 1979 this area was much
typical year of 1979 this area was much
typical year of 1979 this area was much darker than previous years and that is
darker than previous years and that is
darker than previous years and that is because sea ice reflects back over 90%
because sea ice reflects back over 90%
because sea ice reflects back over 90% of the sunlight that hits it whereas
of the sunlight that hits it whereas
of the sunlight that hits it whereas once that ice melts and you have open
once that ice melts and you have open
once that ice melts and you have open ocean it absorbs over 90% of the
ocean it absorbs over 90% of the
ocean it absorbs over 90% of the sunlight this is a runaway process once
sunlight this is a runaway process once
sunlight this is a runaway process once you melt ice and the sunlight is
you melt ice and the sunlight is
you melt ice and the sunlight is absorbed into the ocean the temperatures
absorbed into the ocean the temperatures
absorbed into the ocean the temperatures increase and that makes it easier for
increase and that makes it easier for
increase and that makes it easier for the ice to melt and makes it harder for
the ice to melt and makes it harder for
the ice to melt and makes it harder for it to freeze again in the winter we call
it to freeze again in the winter we call
it to freeze again in the winter we call this the ice albedo feedback albedo is
this the ice albedo feedback albedo is
this the ice albedo feedback albedo is the ability of something to reflect
the ability of something to reflect
the ability of something to reflect light and that feedback is one of the
light and that feedback is one of the
light and that feedback is one of the reasons why temperatures are increasing
reasons why temperatures are increasing
reasons why temperatures are increasing faster in the Arctic than anywhere else
faster in the Arctic than anywhere else
faster in the Arctic than anywhere else this is a graph from 1880 to the present
this is a graph from 1880 to the present
this is a graph from 1880 to the present day of global temperatures that’s the
day of global temperatures that’s the
day of global temperatures that’s the black line and they have increased by
black line and they have increased by
black line and they have increased by about a degree centigrade over the last
about a degree centigrade over the last
about a degree centigrade over the last century but the blue line denotes the
century but the blue line denotes the
century but the blue line denotes the temp
temp
temp in the Arctic and they have been
in the Arctic and they have been
in the Arctic and they have been increasing at a faster rate and they are
increasing at a faster rate and they are
increasing at a faster rate and they are much warmer today than ever before this
much warmer today than ever before this
much warmer today than ever before this is one feedback that exists in the
is one feedback that exists in the
is one feedback that exists in the Arctic and another feedback is the
Arctic and another feedback is the
Arctic and another feedback is the methane release feedback there are
methane release feedback there are
methane release feedback there are regions of the globe around the Arctic
regions of the globe around the Arctic
regions of the globe around the Arctic that are permanently frozen the
that are permanently frozen the
that are permanently frozen the permafrost regions are denoted in this
permafrost regions are denoted in this
permafrost regions are denoted in this dark blue these are regions that have
dark blue these are regions that have
dark blue these are regions that have stayed frozen since the last ice age but
stayed frozen since the last ice age but
stayed frozen since the last ice age but they’re beginning to thaw and as a
they’re beginning to thaw and as a
they’re beginning to thaw and as a result they are releasing methane
result they are releasing methane
result they are releasing methane methane natural gas is something that is
methane natural gas is something that is
methane natural gas is something that is naturally found in swamps and other
naturally found in swamps and other
naturally found in swamps and other places where your vegetative decay and
places where your vegetative decay and
places where your vegetative decay and that methane has remained trapped under
that methane has remained trapped under
that methane has remained trapped under the permafrost since before the ice age
the permafrost since before the ice age
the permafrost since before the ice age but now that the permafrost is thawing
but now that the permafrost is thawing
but now that the permafrost is thawing it’s releasing methane so much that you
it’s releasing methane so much that you
it’s releasing methane so much that you could ignite it just like the burner on
could ignite it just like the burner on
could ignite it just like the burner on your stove we have seen methane
your stove we have seen methane
your stove we have seen methane emissions increase from half a million
emissions increase from half a million
emissions increase from half a million tons per year 20 years ago to over 17
tons per year 20 years ago to over 17
tons per year 20 years ago to over 17 million tons released in 2013 this is a
million tons released in 2013 this is a
million tons released in 2013 this is a problem that’s accelerating because of
problem that’s accelerating because of
problem that’s accelerating because of the feedback the ice I’ll be too a
the feedback the ice I’ll be too a
the feedback the ice I’ll be too a feedback because of the methane feedback
feedback because of the methane feedback
feedback because of the methane feedback what happens in the Arctic affects the
what happens in the Arctic affects the
what happens in the Arctic affects the entire climate system and because of
entire climate system and because of
entire climate system and because of these feedbacks it turns out the Arctic
these feedbacks it turns out the Arctic
these feedbacks it turns out the Arctic is one of the most sensitive places to
is one of the most sensitive places to
is one of the most sensitive places to the climate that’s happening elsewhere
the climate that’s happening elsewhere
the climate that’s happening elsewhere in the world and the more I learned
in the world and the more I learned
in the world and the more I learned about this and the more I understood the
about this and the more I understood the
about this and the more I understood the problem the more compelled I felt to do
problem the more compelled I felt to do
problem the more compelled I felt to do something about it
something about it
something about it so in 2013 I taught a class with my
so in 2013 I taught a class with my
so in 2013 I taught a class with my colleagues here at ASU Hilary Hartnett
colleagues here at ASU Hilary Hartnett
colleagues here at ASU Hilary Hartnett and Chris crappie where we explored
and Chris crappie where we explored
and Chris crappie where we explored these issues and we explored a possible
these issues and we explored a possible
these issues and we explored a possible technology that I came up with for
technology that I came up with for
technology that I came up with for possibly restoring some of the sea ice
possibly restoring some of the sea ice
possibly restoring some of the sea ice and restoring the Arctic to it’s cooling
and restoring the Arctic to it’s cooling
and restoring the Arctic to it’s cooling role in the climate we taught this class
role in the climate we taught this class
role in the climate we taught this class and we explored some of these aspects of
and we explored some of these aspects of
and we explored some of these aspects of this technology and then finally we
this technology and then finally we
this technology and then finally we published our results in the refereed
published our results in the refereed
published our results in the refereed journal Earth’s future and this is a
journal Earth’s future and this is a
journal Earth’s future and this is a copy of the paper and all the students
copy of the paper and all the students
copy of the paper and all the students were made co-authors something that
were made co-authors something that
were made co-authors something that we’re quite proud of the idea expressed
we’re quite proud of the idea expressed
we’re quite proud of the idea expressed in this paper is one we have to do
in this paper is one we have to do
in this paper is one we have to do something about the Arctic but also
something about the Arctic but also
something about the Arctic but also here’s something that might work the
here’s something that might work the
here’s something that might work the idea is quite simple if you had a device
idea is quite simple if you had a device
idea is quite simple if you had a device of
of
of we that you put out into the ocean in a
we that you put out into the ocean in a
we that you put out into the ocean in a place where multi-year ice was not
place where multi-year ice was not
place where multi-year ice was not forming and you left it there in the
forming and you left it there in the
forming and you left it there in the summer then as the winter came and the
summer then as the winter came and the
summer then as the winter came and the ice started to freeze around it this
ice started to freeze around it this
ice started to freeze around it this buoy would support a wind turbine and
buoy would support a wind turbine and
buoy would support a wind turbine and there is plentiful wind power in the
there is plentiful wind power in the
there is plentiful wind power in the Arctic even through the Arctic winter
Arctic even through the Arctic winter
Arctic even through the Arctic winter and that wind power could be used to
and that wind power could be used to
and that wind power could be used to raise water from below the sea ice which
raise water from below the sea ice which
raise water from below the sea ice which is only a few meters thick raise it up
is only a few meters thick raise it up
is only a few meters thick raise it up to above the sea ice where it would be
to above the sea ice where it would be
to above the sea ice where it would be held in a tank until distribute it and
held in a tank until distribute it and
held in a tank until distribute it and then distribute it over the ice where it
then distribute it over the ice where it
then distribute it over the ice where it would freeze more rapidly
would freeze more rapidly
would freeze more rapidly right now the freezing of seawater into
right now the freezing of seawater into
right now the freezing of seawater into sea ice is limited once the ice gets to
sea ice is limited once the ice gets to
sea ice is limited once the ice gets to be more than a few meters thick because
be more than a few meters thick because
be more than a few meters thick because the ocean is relatively warm and the
the ocean is relatively warm and the
the ocean is relatively warm and the cold part is on the top by putting the
cold part is on the top by putting the
cold part is on the top by putting the water on top it freezes faster and we’ve
water on top it freezes faster and we’ve
water on top it freezes faster and we’ve calculated these effects by our
calculated these effects by our
calculated these effects by our calculations we estimate that one device
calculations we estimate that one device
calculations we estimate that one device like this could increase the thickness
like this could increase the thickness
like this could increase the thickness of sea ice over the course of one Arctic
of sea ice over the course of one Arctic
of sea ice over the course of one Arctic winter by about one meter over an area
winter by about one meter over an area
winter by about one meter over an area of 1/10 of a square kilometer now one
of 1/10 of a square kilometer now one
of 1/10 of a square kilometer now one meter doesn’t sound like a lot but these
meter doesn’t sound like a lot but these
meter doesn’t sound like a lot but these are the average depths of the sea ice
are the average depths of the sea ice
are the average depths of the sea ice throughout the Arctic and it’s no more
throughout the Arctic and it’s no more
throughout the Arctic and it’s no more than a few meters and in most places
than a few meters and in most places
than a few meters and in most places it’s less than a meter so if you could
it’s less than a meter so if you could
it’s less than a meter so if you could add one meter to the thickness of the
add one meter to the thickness of the
add one meter to the thickness of the ice you would significantly increase the
ice you would significantly increase the
ice you would significantly increase the volume of ice that’s there and we
volume of ice that’s there and we
volume of ice that’s there and we estimate that ten million devices
estimate that ten million devices
estimate that ten million devices distributed over a million square
distributed over a million square
distributed over a million square kilometers 10% of the area of the Arctic
kilometers 10% of the area of the Arctic
kilometers 10% of the area of the Arctic could actually produce a thousand cubic
could actually produce a thousand cubic
could actually produce a thousand cubic kilometers of ice extra per year and
kilometers of ice extra per year and
kilometers of ice extra per year and offset the loss of ice that we’re seeing
offset the loss of ice that we’re seeing
offset the loss of ice that we’re seeing 10 million that seems like a big number
10 million that seems like a big number
10 million that seems like a big number but I want to remind you that we make in
but I want to remind you that we make in
but I want to remind you that we make in this country 10 million cars every year
this country 10 million cars every year
this country 10 million cars every year and these are not as complicated as cars
and these are not as complicated as cars
and these are not as complicated as cars so it’s something that we decided in the
so it’s something that we decided in the
so it’s something that we decided in the paper is feasible doable and if we could
paper is feasible doable and if we could
paper is feasible doable and if we could employ these we might see 10 million of
employ these we might see 10 million of
employ these we might see 10 million of these devices increase the amount of ice
these devices increase the amount of ice
these devices increase the amount of ice and restore the the Isis there now to be
and restore the the Isis there now to be
and restore the the Isis there now to be sure we’re not trying to solve all of
sure we’re not trying to solve all of
sure we’re not trying to solve all of the world’s climate change problems we
the world’s climate change problems we
the world’s climate change problems we can’t until co2 emissions are brought
can’t until co2 emissions are brought
can’t until co2 emissions are brought under control but what we are advocating
under control but what we are advocating
under control but what we are advocating is studying this method for reducing the
is studying this method for reducing the
is studying this method for reducing the worst of the feedbacks for footage
worst of the feedbacks for footage
worst of the feedbacks for footage pushing on the
pushing on the
pushing on the break rather than the accelerator in the
break rather than the accelerator in the
break rather than the accelerator in the Arctic now this may sound like
Arctic now this may sound like
Arctic now this may sound like geoengineering and it is it’s a project
geoengineering and it is it’s a project
geoengineering and it is it’s a project where we are purposely intervening in
where we are purposely intervening in
where we are purposely intervening in the climate to change something about it
the climate to change something about it
the climate to change something about it but we think it’s relatively benign
but we think it’s relatively benign
but we think it’s relatively benign compared to some standard geoengineering
compared to some standard geoengineering
compared to some standard geoengineering concepts such as stratospheric aerosol
concepts such as stratospheric aerosol
concepts such as stratospheric aerosol injection where sulfuric acid is sprayed
injection where sulfuric acid is sprayed
injection where sulfuric acid is sprayed into the stratosphere suspended there
into the stratosphere suspended there
into the stratosphere suspended there for months to reflect back sunlight that
for months to reflect back sunlight that
for months to reflect back sunlight that will cool the earth but with other
will cool the earth but with other
will cool the earth but with other effects or iron fertilization of the
effects or iron fertilization of the
effects or iron fertilization of the oceans where iron is poured into the
oceans where iron is poured into the
oceans where iron is poured into the ocean to help fertilize the growth of
ocean to help fertilize the growth of
ocean to help fertilize the growth of plankton which would draw down co2 these
plankton which would draw down co2 these
plankton which would draw down co2 these are ideas which have been discussed and
are ideas which have been discussed and
are ideas which have been discussed and each of them has effects and our project
each of them has effects and our project
each of them has effects and our project may also have effects that we haven’t
may also have effects that we haven’t
may also have effects that we haven’t thought through but the point is that
thought through but the point is that
thought through but the point is that it’s relatively benign because what
it’s relatively benign because what
it’s relatively benign because what we’re doing is trying to get a natural
we’re doing is trying to get a natural
we’re doing is trying to get a natural process to go a little bit faster to
process to go a little bit faster to
process to go a little bit faster to restore the ice to the state that it
restore the ice to the state that it
restore the ice to the state that it existed in just 20 years ago our next
existed in just 20 years ago our next
existed in just 20 years ago our next steps are to build and test a prototype
steps are to build and test a prototype
steps are to build and test a prototype to see if such a device could actually
to see if such a device could actually
to see if such a device could actually survive the Arctic winter
survive the Arctic winter
survive the Arctic winter and whether it would thicken the ice as
and whether it would thicken the ice as
and whether it would thicken the ice as advertised and to improve the modeling
advertised and to improve the modeling
advertised and to improve the modeling we need to understand how this would
we need to understand how this would
we need to understand how this would affect ice in the Arctic spraying salt
affect ice in the Arctic spraying salt
affect ice in the Arctic spraying salt water over ice can weaken it we need to
water over ice can weaken it we need to
water over ice can weaken it we need to understand all of these things but if
understand all of these things but if
understand all of these things but if the choice is to not have ice or to have
the choice is to not have ice or to have
the choice is to not have ice or to have this ice we think that it’s better but
this ice we think that it’s better but
this ice we think that it’s better but we need to model at all and our goal is
we need to model at all and our goal is
we need to model at all and our goal is to provoke a technical discussion and
to provoke a technical discussion and
to provoke a technical discussion and also a non-technical discussion it’s
also a non-technical discussion it’s
also a non-technical discussion it’s important to widen the dialogue to bring
important to widen the dialogue to bring
important to widen the dialogue to bring in the relevant stakeholders and the
in the relevant stakeholders and the
in the relevant stakeholders and the people who live in the Arctic and
people who live in the Arctic and
people who live in the Arctic and discuss the ethics of such projects and
discuss the ethics of such projects and
discuss the ethics of such projects and who would manage such projects and I
who would manage such projects and I
who would manage such projects and I just want to leave you with one final
just want to leave you with one final
just want to leave you with one final thought which is that climate change is
thought which is that climate change is
thought which is that climate change is a big problem and the loss of sea ice in
a big problem and the loss of sea ice in
a big problem and the loss of sea ice in the Arctic is staggering in its scope
the Arctic is staggering in its scope
the Arctic is staggering in its scope but climate change is an accidental
but climate change is an accidental
but climate change is an accidental byproduct of our great industrial
byproduct of our great industrial
byproduct of our great industrial capacity and we have the ability to
capacity and we have the ability to
capacity and we have the ability to great things and if one small fraction
great things and if one small fraction
great things and if one small fraction of our capacity was directed at solving
of our capacity was directed at solving
of our capacity was directed at solving these problems I have every hope that we
these problems I have every hope that we
these problems I have every hope that we can restore the ice in the Arctic and
can restore the ice in the Arctic and
can restore the ice in the Arctic and buy us time to work on all the other
buy us time to work on all the other
buy us time to work on all the other problems too we have great powers as a
problems too we have great powers as a
problems too we have great powers as a species we have great imagination and
species we have great imagination and
species we have great imagination and innovative capability as a species what
innovative capability as a species what
innovative capability as a species what we don’t have is time
we don’t have is time
we don’t have is time thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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