Scientists Have a Wild Plan to Refreeze the Arctic
buy time: to delay something in order to gain more time to prepare, plan, or act
In the freezing Arctic Circle, a group of scientists is testing a bold plan. They are using pumps to spread seawater on top of the ice so it can freeze on top. This idea comes from a Dutch company called Arctic Reflections.
The team was inspired by ice skating rink builders in the Netherlands. These builders flood frozen surfaces with water to make the ice stronger. Now, the same method is being tested on Arctic sea ice in Svalbard.
Other teams are trying different ideas. Some are using small glass beads that reflect sunlight. These ideas are called “geoengineering.” The goal is not to fix climate change completely, but to slow it down.
By thickening the ice, the scientists hope to buy time. If the ice can survive a little longer, it gives the world a chance to cut emissions and develop better solutions.
Sample sentences
The government asked for a short ceasefire to buy time and evacuate civilians from the war zone.
As the floodwaters rose, volunteers stacked sandbags to buy time before the river reached the town.
The lawyer asked for a break to buy time while her assistant printed a copy of the missing evidence.
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Scientists Working on Desperate Plan to Refreeze Arctic