Computer-generated Photo of Antarctica used to refute Global Warming

CLAIM

Photo of Antarctica from space shows that there is no ice melting and hence no global warming is happening

FACT

The photo in question is not real and is actually a computer generated imagery (CGI) produced by NASA. The data used to create the image is from the time of the year when ice cover in Antarctica remains at the maximum level. Hence, the image is being used to claim that there is no ice melting happening in Antarctica which is not true.

WHAT THEY SAY

Multiple Twitter users have reacted to an ‘as seen from space’ viral photo of Antarctica claiming that no melting is seen in the photo which proves that no global warming is actually happening. 

WHAT WE FOUND

We found out that the particular photo is actually a computer generated illustration (CGI) made by NASA based on data from Earth-observing satellites. It can be seen on NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio website. 

The visualization was created by NASA engineer Cindy Starr and was released by NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio in 2007. The viral photo seems to be the second one in the illustration (cropped and rotated version). 

We also found out that the image was originally created to show ice extent in the Arctic and the Antarctic region. The data used to create the image is from September 2005 when ice cover in Antarctica would be at a maximum level. This explains why for many climate change deniers the extensive ice cover in the photo seemed to be a moot point to drive home their claim that global warming is not happening and climate change is not real. 

(CGI stands for computer-generated imagery, which is the use of computer graphics in art and media. These can be 2D or 3D animations, objects, or renderings; the type of art or media can be a film, television program, video game, or simulation. Source: www.studiobinder.com)

Peter H. Jacobs, a climate scientist at NASA, told The Associated Press that AMSR-E, a microwave radiometer on NASA’s Aqua satellite, was used to create this visualization using sea ice data. He further said that data from the AMSR-E was used to determine the extent of the sea ice and its color.

Also, Climate Fact Checks has already published a detailed fact check stating that Antarctica is in fact really melting and it is quite alarming. We have also proven that it is happening because of human-induced global warming and climate change. It is also true that the melting of ice in the Antarctica region is contributing to the rise in global sea levels which has also been addressed in our fact check. 

We found that “Antarctic sea ice extent shows no clear long-term trend since 1979 but land ice of Antarctica is melting away at an increasing rate which is a major contributor to rising sea levels. East Antarctica seemed to be stable but recent reports point to the fact that glaciers are not only rapidly melting in West Antarctica but East Antarctica too is witnessing rapid changes. The melting of glaciers in the Antarctic region is contributing to the elevation of global sea levels.”

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