The seven worst years for polar ice sheet melting and losing ice have occurred during the past decade, with 2019 being the worst year on record. Global heating is driving up sea levels and coastal flooding around the world, with melting ice sheets accounting for a quarter of all sea level rise.
A team of researchers found that ice sheets can retreat at speeds of up to 600 meters per day, 20 times faster than previous measurements. The study used high-resolution imagery to reveal corrugation ridges on the seafloor, which formed when the ice sheet's retreating margin moved up and down with the tides.
Recent research by Norwegian University of Science and Technology revealed that East Antarctica's ice sheet melted rapidly along its margins between 9,000 to 5,000 years ago. The study suggests that the less stable, rapidly flowing parts of the ice sheet were broken up more easily, leading to the ice sheet becoming much thinner within ...
Researchers have developed a new method to monitor shore ice using portable interferometric radar, which can detect small changes in the ice's distance and reveal signs of instability. This system can provide an early warning for humans working on shorefast sea ice and also aid in near-coastal navigation.
Researchers at Pusan National University have created a new algorithm that can accurately predict ice resistance and fracture points for ships navigating through the Arctic shipping routes. The model uses an elastic material approach, allowing it to study continuous ice-breaking processes, which is essential for efficient navigation.
Researchers used in-situ cryogenic TEM imaging to directly observe formation of pure-phase ice I c on low-temperature substrates. The study resolves the long-standing debate about cubic ice's existence, with implications for materials science, geology, and climate science.
Researchers warn that Arctic sea ice may soon vanish during summer months, mirroring a phenomenon from 10,000 years ago. This could lead to increased global warming and disrupt marine ecosystems, which rely on the sea ice for food chains.
Scientists have calculated that the Amundsen Sea Embayment in West Antarctica has lost over 3,000 billion tonnes of ice over a 25-year period. The ice loss is attributed to extreme snowfall events and changes in ocean temperature and currents, contributing up to nine millimetres to global sea levels.
Researchers have identified early warning signs of Antarctic ice shelf collapse prior to the 2002 Larsen B collapse. The study suggests that widespread flow acceleration and frequent small-iceberg calving may serve as precursors to destabilization, controlled by both atmospheric and oceanic warming anomalies.
Researchers have developed a new sea ice model that can analyze the size and thickness of individual ice floes and their motion in greater detail. This allows for more precise predictions about their behavior, especially in areas where climate change has led to an increase in loose sea ice.
A research team led by Britney Schmidt deployed an underwater robot, Icefin, to explore the Kamb Ice Stream in Antarctica. The robot's findings reveal unprecedented views of ice, ocean, and sea floor interactions, which can improve models of sea-level rise.
Researchers used AI to analyze thousands of satellite measurements, revealing four categories of ice movements linked to meltwater flow. The study provides insight into how the Greenland ice sheet reacts to warmer temperatures and more meltwater.
Researchers at the University of Bern and Empa have developed a new technique to measure greenhouse gases in ancient ice cores, enabling more accurate climate records. The method allows for high-resolution analysis of the oldest ice, which contains 15,000 to 20,000 years of climate history compressed into one meter.
A new study reveals that glaciers in Greenland move through a complex system involving basal temperate ice and varied landscapes. The research uses computer modeling to better understand the movement of the world's second-largest ice sheet, which could lead to more accurate predictions of sea-level rise.
Researchers found two distinct climate intervals where sea ice and ice-free summer conditions likely supported early human migration along the Pacific coastal route. These conditions, occurring from 22,000 to 24,500 years ago and again from 14,800 to 16,400 years ago, may have facilitated movement by providing a more traversable surfac...
Researchers have created a previously unrecognized amorphous form of ice with a density close to liquid water by using ball milling on ordinary ice at nearly -200 degrees Celsius. This discovery opens new questions about the structural nature of medium-density amorphous ice and its implications for our understanding of water.
Researchers at UCL discovered a new type of ice, medium-density amorphous ice (MDA), which has the same density as liquid water and exhibits properties similar to solid water. This finding may challenge existing models of water and raise questions about its anomalies.
A team of researchers at Cambridge and UCL created a novel amorphous form of ice called medium-density amorphous ice (MDA), which resembles liquid water in its solid state. MDA has a density similar to that of liquid water and displays unique properties not found in other forms of ice.
A new study reveals that recent high temperatures on the Greenland ice sheet are unique compared to the past millennium. The researchers updated existing ice core data with information from the most recent decades, showing a warming trend of 1.5 degrees Celsius above the long-term average.
New research reveals that West Antarctica's ice sheet collapse is not inevitable, with regional variations in climate and ocean circulation affecting the pace of ice loss. Changes in ocean temperature, driven by shifts in offshore wind patterns, have slowed down ice melt in vulnerable regions.
Research warns that ice roads will become unsustainable as the climate warms, threatening remote communities and industry. The thickness of ice needed to support transport trucks varies by region, with some areas experiencing a 90% decline in safe days of ice.
Scientists found the Bering Land Bridge was flooded until 35,700 years ago, with its full emergence occurring shortly before human migration to the Americas. The study's findings suggest a less direct relationship between climate and global ice volume, casting doubt on some explanations for ice age cycles.
A new study reconstructs sea level history at the Bering Strait, finding it remained flooded until around 35,700 years ago, less than 10,000 years before the height of the last ice age. This discovery challenges previous timelines and human migration routes into the Americas.
Researchers have found that a weak ocean gyre near the Thwaites Ice Shelf allows more warm water to access its base, causing it to melt. This process is driven by waters from nearby melting ice shelves and can impact the stability of adjacent ice shelves, contributing to global sea-level rise.
A University of Otago study found that ice ages occurred every 41,000 years until 400,000 years ago, contradicting previous assumptions of a 100,000-year cycle. The research uses sediment cores and paleomagnetic analysis to reconstruct changes in the Earth's magnetic field.
Researchers used high-resolution radar systems to reconstruct past ice streams in Greenland, revealing they can 'shut down' rapidly. This insight offers new information on the future behavior of ice streams and how it affects sea-level rise predictions.
Researchers synthesized multisource data to explore spatiotemporal variations of melt/freeze onsets, revealing a 3-month delay in basal freeze onset compared to surface. The study highlights the importance of synchronous monitoring of air-ice-ocean system and suggests a possible delay in Arctic sea ice loss due to climate change.
Researchers found that using coupled atmosphere-ocean-sea ice circulation models with observation-based datasets, they can predict Antarctic sea ice variability over decadal time scales. The initialization of subsurface ocean temperature and salinity fields significantly improves prediction skills, especially in the west Antarctic region.
The Eurasian Ice Sheet sculpted Europe's landscape through extreme erosion over the last 100,000 years, with climate and geology playing key roles. The study reveals vast networks of subglacial rivers, promoting faster ice flow and sediment transport, with significant implications for marine carbon sinks and coastal communities.
The strongest Arctic cyclone ever observed poleward of 70 degrees north latitude caused a 30% greater loss of sea ice than previous records, with waves reaching up to 100 kilometers towards the center of the ice pack. Researchers suggest that existing models underestimate the impact of big waves on ice floes in the Arctic Ocean.
Recent studies challenge the chronology of the Guliya ice core, suggesting its age may be as young as 15,000-74,000 years. The discovery casts doubt on the exceptional length of the Guliya ice core record and has implications for climate reconstructions and hypotheses.
Researchers used NASA's Earth observing system to estimate light availability beneath Antarctic sea ice and found significant phytoplankton blooms in nearly all example floats. The study suggests that 50% or more of under-ice Antarctic waters may support blooms, potentially supporting life beneath the ice.
A new study combining GPS, satellite data, and numerical modelling indicates that existing models have underestimated ice loss from northeast Greenland, which could contribute up to 15.5mm to global sea levels by 2100. The Northeast Greenland Ice Stream's contribution will be six times greater than previously thought.
A 460km-long river under the Antarctic ice sheet affects the flow and melting of ice, potentially accelerating ice loss. The discovery reveals more active water flow than previously thought, which could make it more susceptible to changes in climate.
A new study suggests that rising air temperatures amplify the effects of ocean warming on the Greenland ice sheet, leading to greater ice loss. The combination of warmer liquid and movement accelerates melting, similar to ice cubes in a drink being stirred.
Scientists have observed distinct seasonal movements in the flow of land-based ice draining into George VI Ice Shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula, with glaciers speeding up by approximately 15% during the Antarctic summer. This finding suggests that similar seasonal variability may exist at other vulnerable sites in Antarctica, potential...
Researchers found that placing layers of white hollow glass microspheres onto Arctic sea ice would darken its surface, accelerate the loss of sea ice, and further warm the climate. The study challenges a previous claim that spreading hollow glass microspheres on young Arctic sea ice could increase reflectivity and protect it from the sun.
A new study found that ancient ice age valleys in the North Sea formed rapidly, within hundreds of years, and transported vast amounts of meltwater away from under the ice. This process has implications for how glaciers may respond to climate warming today.
The UBC Okanagan team has created a novel, passive-de-icing coating that integrates an ice-detecting microwave sensor. This technology enables automatic melting of ice without external energy input, reducing wear-and-tear and energy waste.
A new study predicts that global warming will shorten safe ice conditions on frozen lakes by 2-3 weeks over the next 80 years. This will have a significant impact on indigenous communities and regional economies that rely on ice roads.
A team of researchers has found new evidence for the presence of liquid water beneath Mars' south polar ice cap using spacecraft laser-altimeter measurements and computer model predictions. The findings agree with earlier radar data interpretations and provide independent confirmation of the existence of subglacial liquid water.
Researchers found a remarkable record of how the East Antarctic Ice Sheet responded to changes in climate over 100,000 years, with cycles of melting and freezing driven by Southern Ocean temperatures. The study provides new insights into the sensitivity of the ice sheet to small, short-term climate fluctuations.
Researchers at UiT The Arctic University of Norway have developed a new dataset measuring Arctic sea ice thickness throughout the year. This breakthrough allows for safer shipping in the Arctic and more accurate weather and climate forecasts.
Researchers analyzed eight ice caves in Tyrol, Styria, Upper Austria, and Carinthia, finding a decline in ice mass over the past 2000 years due to human-induced climate change. The study mirrors the evolution of glaciers during the Late Holocene period, with significant consequences for these underground ice formations.
Researchers studied heat movement near North Pole and under Arctic sea ice, providing insights into the mechanisms of Arctic sea ice decline. Their findings suggest that strong winds cause mixing of water where ice and ocean meet, leading to enhanced heat transfer and changes in seawater salinity.
A new study suggests Europa's ice shell could be orders of magnitude purer than previously thought due to the formation of frazil ice, which keeps salt in seawater. This could affect the ice's strength and heat transfer, making it crucial for understanding Europa's habitability.
A new model suggests Antarctica's ice shelves are melting at an accelerated rate due to the Antarctic Coastal Current. Freshwater from melting ice can trap warm ocean water beneath the shelves, causing them to melt further. This mechanism could increase sea level rise predictions by up to 40%.
A new study by Durham University suggests that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet can be protected from devastating effects of global warming if temperature increases are kept below 2°C. The researchers found that staying within this limit could prevent significant ice loss and contribute less than half a metre to sea level rise by 2500.
A new AI algorithm, IcePic, has been developed to predict ice crystal formation with high accuracy. It outperformed human scientists in an online quiz, identifying areas where humans were wrong and providing valuable insights for atmospheric science research.
New research reveals that precession played a significant role in driving Northern Hemisphere ice age cycles during the early Pleistocene period. The study suggests that more intense summers caused by precession led to melting of ice sheets, but with less devastating effects before 1 million years ago.
Researchers found that 85% of the eastern Antarctic Peninsula's ice shelf perimeter has advanced since the early 2000s, linked to decade-scale changes in atmospheric circulation. The advance is due to more sea ice being carried to the coast by wind, which stabilises ice shelves.
The study found that even if Earth's climate stopped warming, it would be difficult to rebuild the ice shelf once it has fallen apart. The researchers suggest that the ice shelf may not recover unless the future climate cools considerably. This has significant implications for sea-level rise and the stability of polar ice sheets.
Researchers have found a deep sub-ice stream groundwater system in West Antarctica, containing more than ten times the volume of shallow hydrologic system above. This discovery highlights the critical role of groundwater hydology in understanding ice sheet dynamics and its potential impact on sea level rise.
Researchers have made the first detection of groundwater beneath an Antarctic ice stream, providing new insights into the region's hydrology. The study confirms what scientists had previously suspected but couldn't verify until now, improving our understanding of how the Antarctic ice sheet might affect sea levels.
Researcher Douglas Kurtze's study reveals that gravitational pull can cause local sea level drops near melting ice sheets, contrary to global-mean sea level rises. The phenomenon occurs due to the weakening of gravity as the ice mass decreases.
A new study reveals highly variable year-to-year changes in surface meltwater lakes around the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Warmer seasons lead to deeper and larger lakes, potentially vulnerable ice shelves are at risk of break-up due to climate change.
A new study by University of Washington researchers explains why Antarctic sea ice retreats quickly during the summer months, finding that it follows simple rules of physics. The seasonal cycle is consistent, showing a fast retreat relative to slow growth.
Scientists have discovered a novel way to prevent the formation of ice crystals in ice cream by adding cellulose nanocrystals. The additive, which is more effective than current stabilizers, works by stopping the growth of ice crystals and slowing down their recrystallization process.
Researchers at UNLV's Nevada Extreme Conditions Lab have discovered a new form of ice with unique properties. The team found that the transition to Ice-X occurs at much lower pressures than previously thought.
A new study by MIT researchers reveals that glacier ice flow is more sensitive to stress than previously calculated, with revised estimates potentially refining predictions of sea level rise. The improved model could help glaciologists better understand the impact of Antarctic ice flow on future sea levels.