Some of us learn tea leaves or examine the celebs, others flip to predictions written in historical texts. Scientist Lonnie Thompson, nevertheless, is aware of that many secrets and techniques to our local weather future are within the ice. And never simply any ice, however a few of the oldest, most distant and most harmful ice on the planet—a lot of it sitting at elevations exceeding 3.5 miles above sea degree.
Paleoclimatology is the scientific analysis of local weather circumstances throughout previous geologic ages. It’s been Thompson’s space of examine since 1974, when he fell in love with frozen local weather histories on a analysis task in Antarctica. Whereas there, Thompson realized that extracted ice cores comprise proof of natural world, atmospheric chemical compounds together with greenhouse gases, desert mud, volcanic ash, even viruses and micro organism—all of which can assist scientists recreate an thought of the meteorological circumstances and patterns within the area and, from these, probably predict its future.
“I used to be completely satisfied there was historical past in these tropical mountaintop glaciers that nobody was taking a look at,” Thompson, an REI Co-op Member, advised Unusual Path in 2020. “We simply needed to develop the expertise to work at these high-elevation, distant locations after which preserve the ice frozen till we obtained again to the freezers.”
Skeptical colleagues advised him it was unimaginable—the heights have been too excessive, the expertise wasn’t sturdy sufficient, the ice would soften too shortly to be studied—however the naysaying solely added flint to his hearth. It took Thompson eight years to determine it out, however he’s since led 65 expeditions investigating core drilled from tropical and subtropical ice fields in additional than 16 international locations utilizing light-weight and generally solar-powered drilling tools. These ice cores supply perception into how the setting adapts to pure phenomena like rising temperatures, drought, soil acidification, earthquakes and extra.
All through his five-decade profession, Thompson has sought to raised perceive world local weather change by drilling deep into ice on peaks like Mount Kilimanjaro (19,340 toes) and Peru’s Mount Huascarán (22,204 toes). These heights are difficult for even skilled mountaineers, and when Thompson started working as a paleoclimatologist, he hadn’t thought of scaling a mountain. Now, it’s possible that he’s spent extra time at or above 18,000 toes than every other particular person, residing or lifeless.
As he’s aged, well being has been an rising concern for Thompson, who’s now 75 years outdated. On a 2009 expedition at 20,000 toes in Peru, he awoke to swelling in his decrease extremities that was extreme sufficient to pressure him to hunt medical consideration. Upon his return residence, he realized he wanted a coronary heart transplant; the operation was profitable in 2012, and if it slowed him down in any respect, it’s exhausting to inform. In 2015, Thompson and his group drilled ice cores at 22,000 toes in Tibet, and he set a world report for the very best elevation gained by a cardiac transplant recipient.
Nobody is aware of the race in opposition to time—and rising temperatures—like Thompson, who has seen the ice caps melting firsthand. Within the new documentary movie Canary, co-produced by REI Co-op Studios, we comply with Thompson into harsh terrain and face exhausting, however not hopeless, information about local weather change.
CREDITS
Danny O’Malley – Director, author
Alex Rivest, PhD – Director
Devin Whetstone – Cinematographer
Paul Doucette – Music
Jeff Russo – Music
Lee Lustig – Editor
J. Santos – Editor
That includes Lonnie Thompson, PhD