Global Warming 101 Expedition to Ellesmere
by Allie Comeau on March 2, 2008 
2 comments
National Geographic Adventure’s new blog is reporting on a third Global Warming 101 Expedition — this time to Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
Led by legendary polar explorer Will Steger, the Ellesmere Island team consists of six young explorers all under the age of 28 - including Richard Branson’s 22 year-old son, Sam, and Norwegian dogsledding champion, Sigrid Ekran.
Crossing fjords, mountain ranges, and sea ice, the Expedition Team will record the impact global warming has had on the northern coast of the third largest and northernmost island in the Canadian Arctic.
The 1400-mile, 60-day dogsled expedition begins in April and will record the drastic loss of ice on the island due to global warming. With dispatches to popular social media sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Youtube, the team hopes to show the world that global warming is here now… and it’s redefining the planet. The hope is that the younger generation will realize it’s time to make some serious changes.
“It all has to do with social engagement. We don’t have ten years to take action against global warming,” said Steger.
Hosted by the Will Steger Founation, the Global Warming 101 initiative includes a number of polar expeditions designed to document climate change. The first expedition, to Baffin Island in 2007, included Branson and his famous father. The Larson Ice Shelf Expedition, with famous adventure/environmental writer Jon Bowermaster, concluded on February 2 of this year. You can read about that Antarctic journey here.
March 2nd, 2008 @ 6:35 pm
There is no historical data that supports the premise that human activity has any significant effect on climate. The observation of glaciers melting may look dramatic on TV but does not show that human activity is the cause. There is, however, substantial evidence that atmospheric carbon dioxide level does not significantly influence climate. You can check it out yourself. Credible websites are included in my post at http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2008/perspectives.html
March 5th, 2008 @ 9:04 am
Hi Dan,
Thanks for your comment. It’s a tough debate, that’s for sure. I’ve heard the arguments for both sides. I just can’t imagine all of that carbon dioxide not having an effect on our climate.
Either way, the world is changing and it’s difficult to watch. If there’s something I can do, as an individual, that may help lessen these severe changes, I’m going to do it. I’d much rather see us lower carbon emissions and pollutants and it not have an effect, than see us do nothing and have it make all the difference in the world.
I appreciate your comment and respect your research.
Thanks again.