Chinese scientists test film that protects glaciers from melting 11:26

A group of scientists led by Associate Professor Zhu Bing from Nanjing University (Jiangsu Province, China) tested a special film designed to protect against melting on the glacier’s surface. It has been reported Bloomberg.

During the experiment, the scientists spread over more than 400 square meters. A m film on the surface of the melting Dagu Glacier in Ngawa-Tibet-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in southwestern China. The peculiarity of the material is that it reflects 93% of the sun’s rays, protecting it from snow and ice.

“This is a very good solution for the local fight against the effects of climate change,” said Matthias Huss, professor of glaciology at ETH Zurich.

Covering glaciers with rolls of reflective material is not a new idea, according to Bloomberg. Ski resorts in Europe have been using white material to prevent glaciers from melting for nearly two decades.

However, Chinese scientists are making such methods more technologically advanced to combat warming. To create their material, they used cellulose acetate derived from plants to minimize the impact on the environment. Also, the substance can be used in the form of an aerosol that can be sprayed using drones even in hard-to-reach areas.

Previous similar studies have shown that covering parts of glaciers with special materials can reduce snow and ice melting by 50-70%, but experiments are still ongoing. In September, the scientists plan to return to the film and take additional measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of the new technology. Experts also collected meltwater samples to study the material’s environmental impact. The experiment will take three to five years, after which scientists will decide whether to use similar materials in other glaciers in China or abroad.

Previously, scientists from the USA and South Africa to create traces of the oldest glaciers in the world.