Dark Snow Project: Difference between revisions
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'''The Dark Snow Project''' is a field and lab project to measure the impact of changing wildfire and industrial soot and snow microbes on snow and ice reflectivity.<ref name=DSP>[http://darksnowproject.org/ Their official website]</ref> Its initial goal |
'''The Dark Snow Project''' is a field and lab project to measure the impact of changing wildfire and industrial soot and snow microbes on snow and ice reflectivity.<ref name=DSP>[http://darksnowproject.org/ Their official website]</ref> Its initial goal was to raise funding to transport a research team to Greenland. The crowd funding campaign was successful. The funds were spent primarily on commercial air and chartering a helicopter to transport the team up onto to the Greenland ice sheet. One of its members is climatologist [[Jason Box]] formerly of the [[Byrd Polar Research Center]]. Peter Sinclair, a YouTube blogger from [[Midland, Michigan]] who makes global warming related videos, was invited to participate and ultimately was a powerful co-producer of the work.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2013/jan/17/dark-snow-project-kicktstarter-greenland 'Dark snow' project turns to crowdfunding for Greenland expedition]</ref> [[Bill McKibben]] will also be coming to Greenland with the team.<ref>[http://climatecrocks.com/2013/04/19/bill-mckibben-to-join-dark-snow-project-in-greenland/ Bill McKibben to Join Dark Snow Project in Greenland]</ref> Their project has been promoted on [[the Weather Channel]].<ref name=Laden>[http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2013/05/16/dark-snow-project-on-the-weather-channel/ Dark Snow Project on The Weather Channel]</ref> Should they succeed in proving that the soot from wildfires contributed to the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, then Box intends to encourage wildfire management "through the indirect policy of greenhouse gas emission reduction."<ref name=Outside>[http://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/adventure-ethics/Dark-Snow-Projects-Crowdfunded-Climate-Science-Experiment.html?page=2 DARK SNOW PROJECT'S CROWDFUNDED CLIMATE SCIENCE EXPERIMENT]</ref> Once they have made it to Greenland, "Box hopes to drill into the inland ice sheet to examine the black carbon littering the layers of snow, in order to determine where it's coming from: tundra fires, exhaust from ships or manufacturing dust from the continents, for example."<ref>[http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2013/01/scientist-seeks-donations-to-fund-greenland-research.html Scientist Seeks Connection Between Fire and Ice in Greenland]</ref> Box originally asked for funding from the [[National Science Foundation]]'s rapid funding program, but his request was turned down. As a result, the project has brought new attention to the concept of [[crowdfunding]] with regard to research projects. As [[Outside (magazine)|Outside]] put it, "If it takes off, crowdfunded science could create a platform for more nimble, fast-paced research that isn't bogged down by bureaucracy."<ref name=Outside/> |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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"[[Soot]] darkens snow and ice, increasing solar energy absorption, hastening the melt of the [[cryosphere]]."<ref name=DSP/> The soot comes in part from wildfires, of which there were many in 2012. Also in 2012, almost all of the surface of Greenland was observed to be melting.<ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/07/120725-greenland-ice-sheet-melt-satellites-nasa-space-science/ "Shocking" Greenland Ice Melt: Global Warming or Just Heat Wave?]</ref> The increase in size of the wildfires may itself be a result of global warming.<ref name=Laden/> Jason Box has spent the last 20 years studying Greenland. |
"[[Soot]] darkens snow and ice, increasing solar energy absorption, hastening the melt of the [[cryosphere]]."<ref name=DSP/> The soot comes in part from wildfires, of which there were many in 2012. Also in 2012, almost all of the surface of Greenland was observed to be melting.<ref>[http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/07/120725-greenland-ice-sheet-melt-satellites-nasa-space-science/ "Shocking" Greenland Ice Melt: Global Warming or Just Heat Wave?]</ref> The increase in size of the wildfires may itself be a result of global warming.<ref name=Laden/> Jason Box has spent the last 20 years studying Greenland. |
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Revision as of 00:07, 19 August 2013
The Dark Snow Project is a field and lab project to measure the impact of changing wildfire and industrial soot and snow microbes on snow and ice reflectivity.[1] Its initial goal was to raise funding to transport a research team to Greenland. The crowd funding campaign was successful. The funds were spent primarily on commercial air and chartering a helicopter to transport the team up onto to the Greenland ice sheet. One of its members is climatologist Jason Box formerly of the Byrd Polar Research Center. Peter Sinclair, a YouTube blogger from Midland, Michigan who makes global warming related videos, was invited to participate and ultimately was a powerful co-producer of the work.[2] Bill McKibben will also be coming to Greenland with the team.[3] Their project has been promoted on the Weather Channel.[4] Should they succeed in proving that the soot from wildfires contributed to the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, then Box intends to encourage wildfire management "through the indirect policy of greenhouse gas emission reduction."[5] Once they have made it to Greenland, "Box hopes to drill into the inland ice sheet to examine the black carbon littering the layers of snow, in order to determine where it's coming from: tundra fires, exhaust from ships or manufacturing dust from the continents, for example."[6] Box originally asked for funding from the National Science Foundation's rapid funding program, but his request was turned down. As a result, the project has brought new attention to the concept of crowdfunding with regard to research projects. As Outside put it, "If it takes off, crowdfunded science could create a platform for more nimble, fast-paced research that isn't bogged down by bureaucracy."[5]
Background
"Soot darkens snow and ice, increasing solar energy absorption, hastening the melt of the cryosphere."[1] The soot comes in part from wildfires, of which there were many in 2012. Also in 2012, almost all of the surface of Greenland was observed to be melting.[7] The increase in size of the wildfires may itself be a result of global warming.[4] Jason Box has spent the last 20 years studying Greenland.
References
- ^ a b Their official website
- ^ 'Dark snow' project turns to crowdfunding for Greenland expedition
- ^ Bill McKibben to Join Dark Snow Project in Greenland
- ^ a b Dark Snow Project on The Weather Channel
- ^ a b DARK SNOW PROJECT'S CROWDFUNDED CLIMATE SCIENCE EXPERIMENT
- ^ Scientist Seeks Connection Between Fire and Ice in Greenland
- ^ "Shocking" Greenland Ice Melt: Global Warming or Just Heat Wave?