Can This Ice-Making Submarine Save The Arctic?
Earth’s most precarious ecosystem could have a saviour.
It is easy to think that the frigid worlds of the Arctic and Antarctic are distant and isolated from our day-to-day lives. But in reality, they are deeply intertwined with every organism on the planet. So, the fact that climate change is already having a catastrophic impact on these crucial landscapes is troubling, to say the least. Fortunately, a new concept of an ice-making submarine promises to restore this icy ecosystem to its former glory and, in the process, make our world a little more resilient to our climate crimes. But why are these far-off ecosystems so important? How does this concept work? And can it really save our precious environment?
Before diving into this fantastic technology, we first need to understand why the polar ice caps are vital for the planet’s health. It boils down to two factors: currents and albedo.
The currents that encircle the globe are vital for ocean and terrestrial life. They disperse nutrients and warmth across our seas, allowing marine life to flourish and significantly stabilising weather patterns, which stops excessive droughts and storms. But these currents are driven by the ice in a process known as thermohaline circulation. Ice forms in the poles, making the water around them…
