Air Impurities Affecting the Melting of Icebergs and the Possibility of Airborne Microplastics Influence on Icebergs

Abstract

The glaciers and icebergs are important not only for the hydrology but also the ecosystem of earth. The melting of glaciers will release the stored organic carbon and further accelerate the melting rate, thus affecting the global climate. Previous explorations have demonstrated that an important factor in the glacier retreat is human emissions. Carbon particles are major components, which could further be divided in to two categories by existing forms: light-absorbing aerosols (LAAs) and light-absorbing impurities (LAIs). Nowadays, microplastic particles (MP) have been discovered as a new form of pollutants in the environment. By comparing and analyzing the data of radiative forcing (RF) as well as optical characteristics, MPs have a great potential to accelerate the melting of glaciers and an impact on the ecosystem. Therefore, further research on the MPs are necessary to be completed.