Orange Haze and Caramel Ice

Franz Josef Glacier   (Photo by Dramatic)

Although Orange Haze and Caramel Ice sound like yummy desserts, they are more likely warnings of further havoc.

The wildfires that are plaguing Australia are spilling over into New Zealand.  Where there’s fire there’s smoke, and sooty smoke can travel great distances.

As a result of such pollution, New Zealand skies recently turned orange while the glaciers turned brown.  These immediate effects are troubling enough without also considering the long-term effects of intensified glacial melting.

When ice and snow have a high "whiteness value,” radiation is reflected away.  This results in colder glaciers.  When ice and

snow turn brown, radiation is more fully absorbed, which leads to warming and melting..

Resources

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/02/australia/new-zealand-glaciers-australia-bushfire-intl-scli/index.html 

Copyright January 2, 2020 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved