Low Carbon, High Albedo, and Biodegradable Spray Foam for Glacial Ice Insulation

Rising global temperatures are causing glaciers to melt at an alarming rate, which elevates sea levels and threatens coastal communities, freshwater supplies, and global ecosystems. The loss of glaciers also decreases Earth’s overall surface reflectivity (albedo), resulting in greater absorption of solar heat and further accelerating global warming in a vicious cycle. From a heat transfer perspective, glacier ice loss can be prevented by applying a solar-reflective and thermally insulating layer. However, practical implementation faces challenges related to cost, environmental impact, carbon footprint, and the logistics of transportation and application.

This project aims to create a non-toxic, biodegradable spray foam to protect glaciers from melting. The foam’s pore size, thickness, and density will be designed to maximize both albedo and thermal resistance, while also being mechanically robust. Although various kinds of materials could satisfy these physical properties, this project will implement a life-cycle assessment and amortized cost analysis to evaluate the feasibility and guide strategies for large-scale field testing and deployment.