Glaciers

Editor's Note When talking about Cloud Computing, many may not realize the requirements of this service and what energy it consumes. This term, which was created mainly for promotional purposes, does not imply the existence of tangible physical infrastructure, like vibrations and wireless technology. The fact is that these services have a share of the carbon footprint, which ranges between 2.5 and 3.7 percent of global emissions. Someone might say: "How can a collection of cloud-stored personal files have such a negative impact on our planet?" First, the matter is bigger than just files; this service forms the cornerstone of the vast array of diverse digital services that continue to shape our modern lifestyle. Second, ensuring service continuity requires storing and transferring that data across a network of data centers in distant geographical areas; which demands a huge amount of energy. I am not against all things cloud-based; on the contrary, I rely heavily on cloud services both personally and professionally; without them, I wouldn't be able to manage my digital files wherever I go. But I fully understand that these files consume energy; so I handle them without "waste." I delete what is unnecessary through a periodic process of inventory, sorting, and scrutiny. Thus, I classify them into three categories: "Absolutely Necessary," "Archive," and "To Delete." The first category is of utmost importance because of the valuable data it contains; but that does not diminish the value of the archive category, which I "visit" from time to time and plan to print many of its contents, especially photos, to release them from the "digital cloud prison." Besides the historical, documentary— and sometimes emotional— nature of the archive, it becomes our savior and last refuge when it comes to obtaining information or data missing from other platforms. Returning to the archive is a common practice at National Geographic; and you will find this through a dreamy photographic journey in an article about "Autochrome" in this magazine issue. Those archival photos traveled across various clouds before reaching you; and I can almost guarantee that their aesthetic footprint may make some of you forget their carbon footprint. So, are there clouds that are environmentally friendly? I wish you an enjoyable read! In this issue you will read about: Glaciers after they withstood for a long time, do they now surrender to the tyranny of heat? Chilean Glaciers Mozambique Wilderness Autochrome from the archive Amazonian rock art