Hi Janice. It must have been hard to see the glacial melt since your last trip to Alaska. What beautiful photos. And, I imagine, beautiful memories.
I am a 'down the rabbit hole' person, so I have spent the last hour+ clicking on link after link of scientific research, trying to understand the 'truth' behind climate change. So far, I haven't found it.
We're still in the interglacial period of an ice age, the Quaternary Glaciation period, Scientists seem to agree on that....and then the discussion begins. Some say we will be moving back into another ice age in about 50,000 years. Others say the industrial gases will slow that by 100,000 years or more.
I wonder if we humans, since we only learned to talk about 70,000 years ago, still need to take more time to understand the evolution of our planet and the ways we can best protect her.
I see other comments....and understand that everyone is concerned about our contribution to our planet's future.
I offer up some links for anyone wanting to dive down the rabbit hole, too.
Hi Heather, Thanks so much for the additional information. Your point is well taken - the underlying question really is "How do we best protect our planet?" whether the cause be global warming, natural evolution, or something else.
You brought up so many valid points. We can't know or understand exactly how to adjust, tackle, mitigate, or for that matter survive to thrive. Throwing money into a black hole of questionable action or reaction isn't the answer; of this, I'm certain.
There may not be a solution. I don't think Evolution and/or mother nature can be manipulated by man. At least not in the way we're led to believe.
However we can do our best to save what we have, and stop contaminating our precious resources being destroyed by plastic, dumping, waste, greed, and disrespect.
So much global change but as friends and I said yesterday, the moneyed echelons will never make decisions enough to protect the planet so we must do what we can in our own small lives. We plant trees (we've planted nearly 2000 in the last 5 years on the farm), grow our own food-supplies, are careful with our use of power (we have hydroelectricity) and try to reduce the amount of plastics and other stuff going into landfill. Every little bit helps. It gives us a sense of worth and positivity that we are helping those who really care.
Hi Prue, Climate change was never so apparent - for me - as seeing the difference in the glacier - not to mention the Maui fire, and the rain in Southern California. I applaud you for your actions - and you're right - it is going to be up to each of us to do our part. I make some small efforts, but I can certainly do more.
These images made me weep. They represent in real time what many of us don't see in our daily lives. Everyone should take a moment to understand the importance and mourn the loss. It is real.
Hi Patti, That's what caught me - I saw the difference in real time. I had remembered this magnificent glacier for all these years - and I didn't recognize it when I was there a couple of weeks ago.
My husband did not believe it when I showed him your images. It's so frustrating to me that the changes are very real time and not off in the distant future. I don't think this is due to human behavior, maybe some... but the planet is changing as everything does. Just hope we find ways to work with it and do our best to preserve what we can, in order to survive and thrive.
Oh Janice, it is so hard to believe it but I saw for myself what you saw. My husband and I waited to take our bucket list crews to Alaska when he retired. We looked forward to the glacier tour. He didn’t make because he only lived 5 months after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. That dream was over. However some of my girlfriends wanted to go a few years later and I went along. From the pictures that I had seen from years earlier the glaciers were so much smaller than I anticipated. Still beautiful but definitely smaller. It is sad.
HI Karen, It was hard to believe - I didn't recognize where I was on this last trip - and when I looked at the old pictures I saw why. The whole area was breathtaking - and yet diminished.
Fascinating, Janice! Thanks for sharing this personal up-close experience with us.
Truly amazing. Thanks for this.
Hi Janice. It must have been hard to see the glacial melt since your last trip to Alaska. What beautiful photos. And, I imagine, beautiful memories.
I am a 'down the rabbit hole' person, so I have spent the last hour+ clicking on link after link of scientific research, trying to understand the 'truth' behind climate change. So far, I haven't found it.
We're still in the interglacial period of an ice age, the Quaternary Glaciation period, Scientists seem to agree on that....and then the discussion begins. Some say we will be moving back into another ice age in about 50,000 years. Others say the industrial gases will slow that by 100,000 years or more.
I wonder if we humans, since we only learned to talk about 70,000 years ago, still need to take more time to understand the evolution of our planet and the ways we can best protect her.
I see other comments....and understand that everyone is concerned about our contribution to our planet's future.
I offer up some links for anyone wanting to dive down the rabbit hole, too.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-020-00063-w#:~:text=Abstract,129%2C000%20to%20116%2C000%20years%20ago.
https://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=117576#:~:text=The%20overall%20trigger%20for%20the,northern%20hemisphere's%20large%20ice%20sheets.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/mapped-world-the-last-ice-age/#:~:text=Flora%20and%20Fauna%20in%20the%20Last%20Ice%20Age&text=Most%20of%20Canada%20and%20Northern,Mojave%E2%80%94were%20filled%20with%20lakes.
https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna41300534
Peace,
Heather
Hi Heather, Thanks so much for the additional information. Your point is well taken - the underlying question really is "How do we best protect our planet?" whether the cause be global warming, natural evolution, or something else.
Yes, that is definitely the question.
You brought up so many valid points. We can't know or understand exactly how to adjust, tackle, mitigate, or for that matter survive to thrive. Throwing money into a black hole of questionable action or reaction isn't the answer; of this, I'm certain.
There may not be a solution. I don't think Evolution and/or mother nature can be manipulated by man. At least not in the way we're led to believe.
However we can do our best to save what we have, and stop contaminating our precious resources being destroyed by plastic, dumping, waste, greed, and disrespect.
So much global change but as friends and I said yesterday, the moneyed echelons will never make decisions enough to protect the planet so we must do what we can in our own small lives. We plant trees (we've planted nearly 2000 in the last 5 years on the farm), grow our own food-supplies, are careful with our use of power (we have hydroelectricity) and try to reduce the amount of plastics and other stuff going into landfill. Every little bit helps. It gives us a sense of worth and positivity that we are helping those who really care.
Hi Prue, Climate change was never so apparent - for me - as seeing the difference in the glacier - not to mention the Maui fire, and the rain in Southern California. I applaud you for your actions - and you're right - it is going to be up to each of us to do our part. I make some small efforts, but I can certainly do more.
From little things big things grow...
and you have to start somewhere - whatever the reason why.
Very sad. Almost ever time I travel now, since my husband and I love visiting natural beauty, I’m reminded of how much we’ve messed up this planet.
Amazing photos and very interesting! Sad to see the glaciers decline but like how you tied it into our aging process
These images made me weep. They represent in real time what many of us don't see in our daily lives. Everyone should take a moment to understand the importance and mourn the loss. It is real.
Hi Patti, That's what caught me - I saw the difference in real time. I had remembered this magnificent glacier for all these years - and I didn't recognize it when I was there a couple of weeks ago.
My husband did not believe it when I showed him your images. It's so frustrating to me that the changes are very real time and not off in the distant future. I don't think this is due to human behavior, maybe some... but the planet is changing as everything does. Just hope we find ways to work with it and do our best to preserve what we can, in order to survive and thrive.
Hi Patti, So true. For whatever reason, things are changing and we need to change accordingly to preserve what we can.
Oh Janice, it is so hard to believe it but I saw for myself what you saw. My husband and I waited to take our bucket list crews to Alaska when he retired. We looked forward to the glacier tour. He didn’t make because he only lived 5 months after he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. That dream was over. However some of my girlfriends wanted to go a few years later and I went along. From the pictures that I had seen from years earlier the glaciers were so much smaller than I anticipated. Still beautiful but definitely smaller. It is sad.
HI Karen, It was hard to believe - I didn't recognize where I was on this last trip - and when I looked at the old pictures I saw why. The whole area was breathtaking - and yet diminished.
It had to be heartbreaking for you have seen it in person! I have been urging my son to take his family and go. I
Cannot imagine how they are going to look in the years to come! He should go now while there is something beautiful to see.