ICE, ICE BABY!: Climate Change as it relates to ice | Aprille Ericsson | TEDxHowardUniversity

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ice ice baby yeah that’s what I’m here

ice ice baby yeah that’s what I’m here to talk about Ice Ice Baby it’s so

to talk about Ice Ice Baby it’s so

to talk about Ice Ice Baby it’s so wonderful to be here at hu that’s right

wonderful to be here at hu that’s right

wonderful to be here at hu that’s right feeling all the love for my community I

feeling all the love for my community I

feeling all the love for my community I want to talk a little bit tonight about

want to talk a little bit tonight about

want to talk a little bit tonight about the ice and how we’re seeing the ice

the ice and how we’re seeing the ice

the ice and how we’re seeing the ice change I’m gonna talk a little bit about

change I’m gonna talk a little bit about

change I’m gonna talk a little bit about the way that we’re able to address that

the way that we’re able to address that

the way that we’re able to address that with the NASA missions and so let me

with the NASA missions and so let me

with the NASA missions and so let me start off a little bit with the NASA

start off a little bit with the NASA

start off a little bit with the NASA vision it’s to reach for new heights and

vision it’s to reach for new heights and

vision it’s to reach for new heights and reveal the unknown so that we do and

reveal the unknown so that we do and

reveal the unknown so that we do and learn will benefit all of humankind and

learn will benefit all of humankind and

learn will benefit all of humankind and then of the mission I want you to focus

then of the mission I want you to focus

then of the mission I want you to focus on that last line it says the

on that last line it says the

on that last line it says the stewardship of Earth at the NASA Goddard

stewardship of Earth at the NASA Goddard

stewardship of Earth at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center which I just reached

Space Flight Center which I just reached

Space Flight Center which I just reached my 25th year anniversary they’re

my 25th year anniversary they’re

my 25th year anniversary they’re supporting awesome science and the

supporting awesome science and the

supporting awesome science and the science we focus there is on Helios

science we focus there is on Helios

science we focus there is on Helios physics or science astrophysics and

physics or science astrophysics and

physics or science astrophysics and planetary science I’ve been very

planetary science I’ve been very

planetary science I’ve been very fortunate that my career and training at

fortunate that my career and training at

fortunate that my career and training at Howard University and MIT started off in

Howard University and MIT started off in

Howard University and MIT started off in learning how to control spacecraft as

learning how to control spacecraft as

learning how to control spacecraft as you see here and then going on to be a

you see here and then going on to be a

you see here and then going on to be a headquarters program exec and then

headquarters program exec and then

headquarters program exec and then finally being an instrument manager and

finally being an instrument manager and

finally being an instrument manager and actually managing instruments for

actually managing instruments for

actually managing instruments for spacecraft missions starting from 10

spacecraft missions starting from 10

spacecraft missions starting from 10 million dollars up to five hundred

million dollars up to five hundred

million dollars up to five hundred million dollars and in this case

million dollars and in this case

million dollars and in this case icesat-2 which you see here is a billion

icesat-2 which you see here is a billion

icesat-2 which you see here is a billion dollar mission so when we’re able to

dollar mission so when we’re able to

dollar mission so when we’re able to look at the changes in the environment

look at the changes in the environment

look at the changes in the environment and particularly in Earth’s environment

and particularly in Earth’s environment

and particularly in Earth’s environment we use a collaborative observing network

we use a collaborative observing network

we use a collaborative observing network and that ultimately is to provide the

and that ultimately is to provide the

and that ultimately is to provide the consumers our communities with

consumers our communities with

consumers our communities with information on weather knowing things

information on weather knowing things

information on weather knowing things like how a long-term

like how a long-term

like how a long-term midterm climate is changing extreme

midterm climate is changing extreme

midterm climate is changing extreme weather occurring and the way that our

weather occurring and the way that our

weather occurring and the way that our electrical systems and the carbon cycle

electrical systems and the carbon cycle

electrical systems and the carbon cycle as we see it are all interacting

as we see it are all interacting

as we see it are all interacting together we’re going to focus mainly on

together we’re going to focus mainly on

together we’re going to focus mainly on that ecosystem and carbon cycle and the

that ecosystem and carbon cycle and the

that ecosystem and carbon cycle and the Sun and Earth interaction so ice plays

Sun and Earth interaction so ice plays

Sun and Earth interaction so ice plays an extremely vital role in our global

an extremely vital role in our global

an extremely vital role in our global environment I mean we we know about the

environment I mean we we know about the

environment I mean we we know about the precipitation and condensation but

precipitation and condensation but

precipitation and condensation but really we look at how is the weather

really we look at how is the weather

really we look at how is the weather changing the water rising and ices

changing the water rising and ices

changing the water rising and ices changing those things all affect our

changing those things all affect our

changing those things all affect our communities in particular isit is as

communities in particular isit is as

communities in particular isit is as being an enormous impact to the change

being an enormous impact to the change

being an enormous impact to the change in our temperatures around the globe

in our temperatures around the globe

in our temperatures around the globe Goddard leads that challenge by using

Goddard leads that challenge by using

Goddard leads that challenge by using observing satellites as you see here so

observing satellites as you see here so

observing satellites as you see here so I mentioned before there was a mission

I mentioned before there was a mission

I mentioned before there was a mission there Lola it’s actually Lunar

there Lola it’s actually Lunar

there Lola it’s actually Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lola is a

Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lola is a

Reconnaissance Orbiter and Lola is a laser altimeter if you look at that

laser altimeter if you look at that

laser altimeter if you look at that first photo of Apollo not much detail

first photo of Apollo not much detail

first photo of Apollo not much detail 1960s we are now able to create maps

1960s we are now able to create maps

1960s we are now able to create maps that have a resolution of three

that have a resolution of three

that have a resolution of three centimeters so I’m going to allow some

centimeters so I’m going to allow some

centimeters so I’m going to allow some of our scientists here dr. Tom Newman

of our scientists here dr. Tom Newman

of our scientists here dr. Tom Newman and Thor force in Markley will talk a

and Thor force in Markley will talk a

and Thor force in Markley will talk a little bit about how we actually do the

little bit about how we actually do the

little bit about how we actually do the concept of ice at

we can see the sea-ice can see a forest

we can see the sea-ice can see a forest but it’s much much harder to measure is

but it’s much much harder to measure is

but it’s much much harder to measure is how hight things are on a global scale

how hight things are on a global scale

how hight things are on a global scale almost impossible I said to adds the

almost impossible I said to adds the

almost impossible I said to adds the third dimension the elevation repeating

third dimension the elevation repeating

third dimension the elevation repeating measurements for my satu will allow us

measurements for my satu will allow us

measurements for my satu will allow us to measure changes in the ice sheets or

to measure changes in the ice sheets or

to measure changes in the ice sheets or in the ocean or in land I said to is

in the ocean or in land I said to is

in the ocean or in land I said to is designed to measure the changes that are

designed to measure the changes that are

designed to measure the changes that are going on in the cryosphere in the polar

going on in the cryosphere in the polar

going on in the cryosphere in the polar regions all the change is at the edges

regions all the change is at the edges

regions all the change is at the edges those are the steeply sloping parts of

those are the steeply sloping parts of

those are the steeply sloping parts of the glacier that interact with the ocean

the glacier that interact with the ocean

the glacier that interact with the ocean and that’s where all the action is

and that’s where all the action is

and that’s where all the action is that’s where all the mass is being lost

that’s where all the mass is being lost

that’s where all the mass is being lost in order to estimate the mass changes we

in order to estimate the mass changes we

in order to estimate the mass changes we need to know the height of things the

need to know the height of things the

need to know the height of things the mission ISO – carries a single

mission ISO – carries a single

mission ISO – carries a single instrument is called Atlas the advanced

instrument is called Atlas the advanced

instrument is called Atlas the advanced topographic laser altimeter system

topographic laser altimeter system

topographic laser altimeter system analyst sends out small pulses of laser

analyst sends out small pulses of laser

analyst sends out small pulses of laser light 10,000 times a second and by

light 10,000 times a second and by

light 10,000 times a second and by measuring precisely how long it takes

measuring precisely how long it takes

measuring precisely how long it takes that light to go from the spacecraft

that light to go from the spacecraft

that light to go from the spacecraft down to the earth and back up to the

down to the earth and back up to the

down to the earth and back up to the spacecraft allows us to figure out what

spacecraft allows us to figure out what

spacecraft allows us to figure out what the height of the surface is beneath ice

the height of the surface is beneath ice

the height of the surface is beneath ice a tube we need to measure the time of

a tube we need to measure the time of

a tube we need to measure the time of flight of a single photon or single

flight of a single photon or single

flight of a single photon or single laser pulse with a precision of a

laser pulse with a precision of a

laser pulse with a precision of a billionth of a second NASA engineers had

billionth of a second NASA engineers had

billionth of a second NASA engineers had to come up with entirely new ways of

to come up with entirely new ways of

to come up with entirely new ways of measuring time very precisely a

measuring time very precisely a

measuring time very precisely a billionth of a second translate to an

billionth of a second translate to an

billionth of a second translate to an elevation change precision of just a few

elevation change precision of just a few

elevation change precision of just a few centimeters climate change is amplified

centimeters climate change is amplified

centimeters climate change is amplified in the polar regions ice a 2 is designed

in the polar regions ice a 2 is designed

in the polar regions ice a 2 is designed to measure those areas and will help us

to measure those areas and will help us

to measure those areas and will help us to understand what’s going on with our

to understand what’s going on with our

to understand what’s going on with our planet

planet

planet [Music]

we want to be able to look at things

we want to be able to look at things that you can see the elevation the

that you can see the elevation the

that you can see the elevation the crevices the cracks we want to be able

crevices the cracks we want to be able

crevices the cracks we want to be able to look out well at the tree canopy

to look out well at the tree canopy

to look out well at the tree canopy surfaces it takes us 10,000 photons per

surfaces it takes us 10,000 photons per

surfaces it takes us 10,000 photons per second to be able to make these

second to be able to make these

second to be able to make these measurements and we only capture a few

measurements and we only capture a few

measurements and we only capture a few so this gives you a little bit of an

so this gives you a little bit of an

so this gives you a little bit of an idea of what the life of an Atlas photon

idea of what the life of an Atlas photon

idea of what the life of an Atlas photon is it shoots down from the surface of

is it shoots down from the surface of

is it shoots down from the surface of the spacecraft attention photons prepare

the spacecraft attention photons prepare

the spacecraft attention photons prepare to measure Earth’s changing ice laser

to measure Earth’s changing ice laser

to measure Earth’s changing ice laser pulse 28 for

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[Music] excellent job though your travel time

excellent job though your travel time

excellent job though your travel time has been recorded let’s add it to the

has been recorded let’s add it to the

has been recorded let’s add it to the elevation data set

elevation data set

elevation data set ready the next group insanely cool is

ready the next group insanely cool is

ready the next group insanely cool is right so unfortunately it’s insanely

right so unfortunately it’s insanely

right so unfortunately it’s insanely terrible what’s happening to our sheets

terrible what’s happening to our sheets

terrible what’s happening to our sheets ice sheets and so some of the data that

ice sheets and so some of the data that

ice sheets and so some of the data that we’ve been able to collect is shown that

we’ve been able to collect is shown that

we’ve been able to collect is shown that this is the yeah copious Finn glacier

this is the yeah copious Finn glacier

this is the yeah copious Finn glacier it’s melting one of the fastest melting

it’s melting one of the fastest melting

it’s melting one of the fastest melting glaciers in Greenland in 10 years we’ve

glaciers in Greenland in 10 years we’ve

glaciers in Greenland in 10 years we’ve lost more than we’ve lost in the

lost more than we’ve lost in the

lost more than we’ve lost in the previous hundred years in terms of ice

previous hundred years in terms of ice

previous hundred years in terms of ice I’m about to show you an actual cowling

I’m about to show you an actual cowling

I’m about to show you an actual cowling event where the ice begins to break

event where the ice begins to break

event where the ice begins to break apart this ice that broke apart is about

apart this ice that broke apart is about

apart this ice that broke apart is about the size of Manhattan it’s one of the

the size of Manhattan it’s one of the

the size of Manhattan it’s one of the largest razor cleaving events we’ve ever

largest razor cleaving events we’ve ever

largest razor cleaving events we’ve ever seen we watched and recorded the largest

seen we watched and recorded the largest

seen we watched and recorded the largest witness calving event ever caught on

witness calving event ever caught on

witness calving event ever caught on tape so how big was this calving event

tape so how big was this calving event

tape so how big was this calving event that we just looked at will resort to

that we just looked at will resort to

that we just looked at will resort to some illustrations again to give you a

some illustrations again to give you a

some illustrations again to give you a sense of scale it’s as if the entire

sense of scale it’s as if the entire

sense of scale it’s as if the entire lower tip of Manhattan broke off except

lower tip of Manhattan broke off except

lower tip of Manhattan broke off except that the thickness the height of it is

that the thickness the height of it is

that the thickness the height of it is equivalent to buildings that are

equivalent to buildings that are

equivalent to buildings that are two-and-a-half or three times higher

two-and-a-half or three times higher

two-and-a-half or three times higher than they are

than they are

than they are [Music]

that’s a magical miraculous horrible

that’s a magical miraculous horrible scary thing I don’t know that anybody’s

scary thing I don’t know that anybody’s

scary thing I don’t know that anybody’s really seeing the miracle and horror of

really seeing the miracle and horror of

really seeing the miracle and horror of that it took a hundred years for it to

that it took a hundred years for it to

that it took a hundred years for it to retreat eight miles from 1900 to 2000

retreat eight miles from 1900 to 2000

retreat eight miles from 1900 to 2000 from 2000 to 2010 it retreated nine

from 2000 to 2010 it retreated nine

from 2000 to 2010 it retreated nine miles so in 10 years it retreated more

miles so in 10 years it retreated more

miles so in 10 years it retreated more than it had in the previous 100

so we live in a very delicate balance

so we live in a very delicate balance with the Sun we can’t alter its pattern

with the Sun we can’t alter its pattern

with the Sun we can’t alter its pattern so we must be very mindful of what we

so we must be very mindful of what we

so we must be very mindful of what we can alter in particular when we look at

can alter in particular when we look at

can alter in particular when we look at things like the changing of the seasons

things like the changing of the seasons

things like the changing of the seasons and ice we see that the ice is

and ice we see that the ice is

and ice we see that the ice is decreasing and the sea ice is also

decreasing and the sea ice is also

decreasing and the sea ice is also melting things are no longer coming back

melting things are no longer coming back

melting things are no longer coming back as you say the growth periods they’re

as you say the growth periods they’re

as you say the growth periods they’re shortened and why is that well we notice

shortened and why is that well we notice

shortened and why is that well we notice effect of soot I just had a friend who

effect of soot I just had a friend who

effect of soot I just had a friend who went to Alaska last week and she saw

went to Alaska last week and she saw

went to Alaska last week and she saw black on the surface of ice where do you

black on the surface of ice where do you

black on the surface of ice where do you think it comes from comes from pollution

think it comes from comes from pollution

think it comes from comes from pollution from carbon so as a result I want you to

from carbon so as a result I want you to

from carbon so as a result I want you to think about the things that you can do

think about the things that you can do

think about the things that you can do to change that variability that we have

to change that variability that we have

to change that variability that we have the ability to change which is carbon

the ability to change which is carbon

the ability to change which is carbon cycle our carbon burning fuels and cars

cycle our carbon burning fuels and cars

cycle our carbon burning fuels and cars the things that we actually do not think

the things that we actually do not think

the things that we actually do not think about where we put fertilizer in the

about where we put fertilizer in the

about where we put fertilizer in the ground all of these have an impact on an

ground all of these have an impact on an

ground all of these have an impact on an environment and it’s been told by many

environment and it’s been told by many

environment and it’s been told by many scientists that this is the thing that

scientists that this is the thing that

scientists that this is the thing that they think we can actually change so

they think we can actually change so

they think we can actually change so what are we doing in the United States

what are we doing in the United States

what are we doing in the United States it’s not all completely bad we’ve

it’s not all completely bad we’ve

it’s not all completely bad we’ve actually son said that we’re doing about

actually son said that we’re doing about

actually son said that we’re doing about 30% of recycling and think about

30% of recycling and think about

30% of recycling and think about recycling something as simple as a

recycling something as simple as a

recycling something as simple as a luminol can because many times people

luminol can because many times people

luminol can because many times people say oh this doesn’t have an impact but

say oh this doesn’t have an impact but

say oh this doesn’t have an impact but it does an aluminum can to make a new

it does an aluminum can to make a new

it does an aluminum can to make a new one that takes 95% more energy than just

one that takes 95% more energy than just

one that takes 95% more energy than just recycling one you can save the energy on

recycling one you can save the energy on

recycling one you can save the energy on the order of say running your TV for

the order of say running your TV for

the order of say running your TV for three hours we are also being very

three hours we are also being very

three hours we are also being very creative and innovative by creating new

creative and innovative by creating new

creative and innovative by creating new technologies like hybrid cars and being

technologies like hybrid cars and being

technologies like hybrid cars and being able to use old blue jeans to make

able to use old blue jeans to make

able to use old blue jeans to make insulation but I want you to know that

insulation but I want you to know that

insulation but I want you to know that it takes all of us the diversity that

it takes all of us the diversity that

it takes all of us the diversity that ideas are afforded the ability to

ideas are afforded the ability to

ideas are afforded the ability to collide and spark innovation is

collide and spark innovation is

collide and spark innovation is important things like the International

important things like the International

important things like the International Space Station don’t happen without your

Space Station don’t happen without your

Space Station don’t happen without your ability to be involved and engaged we

ability to be involved and engaged we

ability to be involved and engaged we see no boundaries from space

see no boundaries from space

see no boundaries from space Gene Roddenberry believed that space was

Gene Roddenberry believed that space was

Gene Roddenberry believed that space was for everyone like the Star Trek crew

for everyone like the Star Trek crew

for everyone like the Star Trek crew and it is the children here in this

and it is the children here in this

and it is the children here in this audience the students at Howard you are

audience the students at Howard you are

audience the students at Howard you are part of that vision of diversity be

part of that vision of diversity be

part of that vision of diversity be impactful remember to aim high as I say

impactful remember to aim high as I say

impactful remember to aim high as I say shoot for the moon and even if you miss

shoot for the moon and even if you miss

shoot for the moon and even if you miss you’ll still be amongst the stars I

you’ll still be amongst the stars I

you’ll still be amongst the stars I always say peace because I believe in

always say peace because I believe in

always say peace because I believe in peace and not war but positive energy

peace and not war but positive energy

peace and not war but positive energy activates continuous elevation thank you

activates continuous elevation thank you

activates continuous elevation thank you for having me tonight

for having me tonight

for having me tonight [Applause]

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