While the exploitation and burning of fossil fuels pollute the air we breathe, the effects of climate change may actually prevent us from having access to the internet, which is at least as essential to life as we know it.
The effects of melting polar sea ice and damage from extreme weather events are two potential threats to transglobal undersea cables, according to recent research published in Earth-Science Reviews.
Many people who think of satellites as the primary form of communication are surprised by our reliance on cables that are no bigger than a garden hose, according to lead author Mike Clare. Yet, satellites just lack the bandwidth necessary to sustain current digital systems. The cloud lies beneath the water, not in the sky.
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Major storms are significantly less common than damage to underwater cables caused by specific human activities, such as fishing operations and anchor hits. Yet, hurricanes and typhoons have the potential to cause more significant harm, such as jeopardizing the integrity of the continental shelf over a larger area or destroying cable networks that span entire areas.
