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The climate change discussion may soon owe much of its statistical information to GPS tracking. Changes in global climate have been the subject of numerous debates, discussions, scandals, federal investigations, and even international summits over the past several decades. The basis for all those discussions comes from many thousands of hours of research conducted by climate change scientists in various parts of the world. The data used in climate change research is not always easy to come by, but tracking technology may soon give scientists a more reliable way to keep their fingers on the pulse of the planet.

For years, scientists have studied the movements of glaciers in an attempt to predict overall changes in global climate. Because the huge masses of moving ice respond to infinitesimal changes in global temperature, scientists can learn much about climate patterns by observing the speed at which glaciers move. Changes such as sudden (for a glacier) bursts of speed or increases in rates of movement offer clues about what’s coming on a global scale.

GPS and Glaciers

One recent project that has been undertaken by researchers from the University of Kansas involves following the movements of the well-known Byrd Glacier using GPS tracking devices. The devices were placed on poles and inserted at various points along the top of the glacier. They will send signals at intervals detailing their precise location down to fractions of inches, cluing scientists in on the glacier’s current speed as well as any changes in predicted motion.

What can the public expect to learn from the study? As with previous glacier studies, scientists will be able to make predictions about climate change based on glacier movements and their relationship to temperatures and storm patterns, all part of the larger study of global climate. The difference with the Byrd Glacier study, however, is that the tracking units will provide base data for scientists to use as a comparison point when changes happen. Without this base data, determining the meaning of glacial movements and speeds must rely heavily on speculation.

The field of GPS tracking has enhanced industries across the spectrum of society, from law enforcement to car dealerships to construction companies. As the technology continues to penetrate the various structures of society, it can also help ensure that our planet will be around for many centuries to come by giving scientists the information they need to study and predict changes in global climate patterns.

Article Written by Greg Bartlett