The University of Macau (UM) held a talk titled ‘Global Change & Global Climate Transition Triggered by Antarctic Ice Sheet Growth’ today (21 May) as part of the University Lecture Series. The speakers were An Zhisheng and Zhou Weijian, academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The talk was well attended by people from different sectors of the community.
Speaking at the event, UM Vice Rector Michael Hui said that amid the growing challenges posed by global climate change, developing an in-depth understanding of the Earth’s evolution is essential for addressing future environmental change. He also highlighted the research achievements and contributions of Academicians An and Zhou in their respective fields.
During the talk, the two academicians discussed the mechanisms of global climate change in depth, as well as the profound influence of Antarctic ice sheet growth on the Earth’s climate system. They also pointed out that, in the context of global warming, it is crucial to evaluate the impact of asymmetric polar ice sheet evolution on global climate. This will enhance our ability to predict future climate change and deepen our understanding of how the Earth system responds to the changes in polar ice sheets.
In addition, the two speakers engaged with the audience during the Q&A and discussion session, which was moderated by Li Yongjie, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the UM Faculty of Science and Technology.
澳門大學今(21)日舉辦“大學講壇”,由中國科學院院士安芷生與周衛健以“全球變化與南極冰蓋生長觸發全球氣候轉型”為題發表演說,深入探討全球氣候變化機制及極地冰蓋演化對地球氣候系統的重要影響,吸引社會各界人士到場參與。
澳大副校長許敬文表示,在全球氣候變化挑戰日益嚴峻的背景下,加深對地球系統演化規律的理解對應對未來環境變化至關重要。安芷生長期致力於地球系統科學及第四紀研究,系統揭示中國黃土與氣候演變的關係,並推動多圈層交互作用研究方向的發展;周衛健則在放射性碳測年與第四紀地質領域開展了重要研究,為重建地球環境變化歷史提供關鍵科學依據。
講座中,兩位院士從全球變化研究進展出發,以中國黃土為重要氣候記錄與研究範例,介紹如何結合地質觀測證據與數值模擬方法,探討南極冰蓋生長在中更新世氣候轉型中的作用。他們指出,約200萬年至125萬年前,南極冰蓋及海冰的持續擴張,透過影響跨赤道氣壓梯度及大洋經向環流,促使北半球氣溫下降與水汽增加,為其後北極冰蓋的發展創造條件,並最終引發地球冰期旋回由四萬年向十萬年的轉變。
兩位院士亦指出,在全球暖化背景下,有必要進一步評估南北半球冰蓋不對稱變化對全球氣候系統的影響,以提升對未來氣候變化的預測能力,並加深對地球系統回應極地變化機制的理解。
問答及交流環節由澳大科技學院土木及環境工程系副系主任黎永杰主持,兩位院士和與會者交流互動,討論氣氛熱烈。



