If you didn’t follow along with us during last year’s Arctic Ocean expedition, let me introduce you to Willy the Box Turtle. Willy served as a kind of diplomatic mascot for that expedition, to show that even though Miami is about as far from the polar regions as you can get, changes in climate affect us all globally, and what happens in one place can affect other places. Willy came along on this Glaciology Summer School, where we are as we speak, to continue that mission, because glaciology is a prime example of the kind of research that illustrates that point. All of the scientists here study glaciers, but how and why glaciers grow, melt, and move depends on climate and environmental conditions. And when glaciers melt, it affects sea level rise and freshwater sources for communities around the world, both human and animal. For turtles, rising sea levels affect their coastal nesting habitats, and increasing temperatures can even have an impact on the gender ratio of hatchlings. So Willy had to come out and see the glacier for himself! (Don’t worry, he is a stuffed turtle.)
I also wanted to share a poem I received from a reader of blog during the Arctic expedition (who prefers to remain anonymous) that I want to share here again. I think it’s a really lovely way to sum things up.
A polar bear from the Arctic named Chilly
A turtle from Miami named Willy
Who would ever think?
Is there really a link?
Oh Yeah! It’s mankind we’ll name Silly.
So if the ice is crucial to Chilly
And water equally so to Willy
If we all hold the key
‘Cause we’re the powers that be
Isn’t it time to stop being “Silly?”
-Anonymous
I understand the connection between the glaciers melting and the sea level rising in Miami putting critters like Willy in harms way, but I was wondering, if glaciers are made of fresh water and they’re melting at an unpecedented pace as to radically affect sea level, then could this monster influx of fresh water into the oceans cause any grief for the current crop of sea life that’s accustomed to 100% salt water?
Good question! I spoke with a couple scientists here and the influx of freshwater will affect sea level, but the biggest indirect effects on ecology and sea life would be from the changing temperature, which could then affect larger scale ocean currents and mixing. In a more direct way, the addition of cold fresh water may affect ecology in areas in the immediate surroundings of where the glacier melt meets the sea, but the bigger effects are more large scale. Thanks for the question!