As we are beginning to enjoy the spring here in the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere is heading into fall and winter, but scientist have become alarmed that the winter in Antarctica will not be cold enough. It’s 5 degrees right now at McMurdo, the American research station in Antarctica, but that’s a lot warmer than it should be.
Between 1992 and 2017 Antarctica has lost more than 3 trillion tons of ice, the ice shelf on the Western end collapsing into the sea. And when the shelf collapses, so do the glaciers. Global warming is impacting the area furthest south, which will create havoc for the rest of the globe.
Taking care of the earth God gave us means we must be proactive in how we approach our national energy policies. There’s clamoring for opening up oil drilling in sensitive areas as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its influence on gas prices, but that’s not a solution. Having to depend less on oil is the way forward.
Prayer for the Day
Fountain of life, together with all creation we praise you;
With gliding eagles, piping plovers, and Gentoo penguins;
We are humbled by the variety of your creation, the world about us.
The pampas grass waving in the wind, and the egrets at the river’s bank.
May we praise your holy name by caring for your creation around us
In the way we use the resources of the earth.
In the name of the One who cares for us all,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
The warming of the Arctic and Antarctic is cause for concern, and the increase in extreme weather events – of which these are an example – is a cause for concern as well. [but] extreme events are exceeding model projections. These events drive home the urgency of action.
- Michael Mann, Earth Systems Science Center, University of Pennsylvania
A cylinder filled with carbon dioxide warmed even more, and, once removed from the light, “it was many times as long in cooling. An atmosphere of that gas would give to our earth a high temperature.”
- Eunice Newton Foote, scientist (1819-1888)
Wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her,
I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I attain knowledge and discretion
Proverbs 9: 10-12