Arctic ‘Ice Seeder’ Robot: Scientific Efforts of ‘Ice Seeder’ Project
The Arctic sea ice is rapidly disappearing due to global warming. To address this crisis, scientists are now working on an ambitious and controversial project of ‘Geo-engineering’. The project utilizes an autonomous robot called ‘Ice Seeder’ to slow ice melting by distributing a special substance.
“Ice Seeder” robots disperse ultra-fine, luminous, and highly reflective silicate particles across the ice surface. These particles increase the Albedo , or the ability of the ice to reflect sunlight. As a result, the ice absorbs less heat and the rate of melting is significantly reduced.
A recent paper in Geophysical Research Letters reports that a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded project has successfully completed its initial pilot tests in the Arctic Circle.he thickness of the ice sheet in the short term.
However, there is widespread debate about the environmental impact of the project. Critics caution that spreading particles artificially in the Arctic’s delicate ecosystem could harm marine biodiversity, particularly plankton.
There are significant concerns about the commercial or political use of this technology, as large-scale interventions like this are not covered by international law. Scientists are now calling for an international discussion on the risks and benefits of the technology and for its research to be conducted within an ethical framework.
