Articles tagged with Antarctic Ice
A new satellite mission has captured precise data on the elevation of the Antarctic ice sheet, demonstrating its potential as a valuable tool for long-term monitoring efforts. The Sentinel-3 satellite's performance over ice sheets shows promise in detecting areas where the ice surface is rapidly lowering.
Researchers found that filling and draining of meltwater lakes on Antarctic ice shelves causes them to flex, which can lead to instability. The study supports the idea that recent ice shelf breakup was triggered by large amounts of surface meltwater produced in response to atmospheric warming.
Researchers on an international ocean drilling expedition are studying the West Antarctic Ice Sheet's history to understand its role in future sea level rise. The study will help determine how changes in seawater and air temperature have affected ice gain or loss over millions of years.
A team of researchers, led by Julia Wellner and Karsten Gohl, will drill into the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to study its history and potential impact on sea level rise. The expedition aims to understand the past interplay between seawater and air temperature, which could provide insights into possible future behavior.
The Antarctic Ice Sheet has experienced a significant increase in mass loss over the past four decades, with West Antarctica being the primary contributor. The estimated rate of mass loss increased from 40 Gt/yr in the 1980s to over 250 Gt/yr in the 2010s.
The Antarctic Ice Sheet's growth and decay are linked to changes in obliquity and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Loss of sea ice could amplify the effects of Earth's astronomical motions on the ice sheet's stability.
The study found that Antarctic melting will delay atmospheric warming by about a decade but accelerate sea level rise. The global temperature is projected to increase by 2 degrees C by the year 2065, rather than 2053.
Researchers found a centuries-long delay in West Antarctic Ice Sheet contraction after the Ross Ice Shelf collapse, adding complexity to sea level rise computer simulations. This discovery was made by analyzing sediment cores and fossilized life forms from the seafloor.
A study suggests that parts of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet would melt if Antarctica warms by 2°C for millennia, contributing to rising global sea levels. The research found evidence from warm periods in Earth's history indicating the ice sheet had retreated during similar warming conditions.
A new study published in The Cryosphere estimates that the collapse of Larsen C and George VI Ice Shelves could contribute 4mm and 22mm to global sea levels, respectively. This research highlights the vulnerability of these ice shelves to rapid warming in the Antarctic Peninsula.
Researchers have discovered volcanic activity beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which could impact ice-sheet melting and sea level rise. The finding suggests that terrestrial ice on the continent may be more resilient to current carbon-dioxide levels than previously thought.
Scientists have discovered an active volcanic heat source beneath the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica, which plays a critical role in the glacier's movement and melting. The finding is significant as it suggests that volcanism is an additional factor contributing to ice sheet instability, alongside climate change.
A new study reveals that the bedrock beneath West Antarctica's Ice Sheet is rising rapidly in response to ice melt, potentially stabilizing the ice sheet. This finding has significant implications for understanding and predicting sea level rise.
Research suggests that the land-based portion of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has remained stable for the past 8 million years, with minimal retreat in response to current carbon dioxide levels. However, the team warns that increasing atmospheric emissions could destabilize the ice sheet and contribute to sea level rise.
Mass losses in Antarctic Ice Sheet have increased globally sea levels by 7.6 mm since 1992, with West Antarctica experiencing largest change. The study, published in Nature, combined satellite surveys and gravitational data to produce the most complete picture of ice sheet change.
Reduced sea ice coverage has triggered the catastrophic disintegration of Antarctic ice shelves, causing them to flex and break under storm-driven ocean swells. This leads to the formation of long thin 'sliver' icebergs that eventually calve from the shelf front, contributing to sea level rise.
A recent study found that much of East Antarctica's land-based ice sheet has remained stable over the past 8 million years, despite rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. This suggests that some ice on the continent could be resilient to a warming climate, but does not mean it will completely prevent sea-level rise.
A team of scientists has discovered that warm ocean water and surface meltwater are destabilizing Antarctic ice shelves, increasing the chances of catastrophic ice loss events. This finding is concerning as ice shelves slow down ice flow into the ocean and control sea level rise.
New research published in Nature shows that land-based sectors of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet were mostly stable throughout the Pliocene, a period with carbon dioxide concentrations similar to today's. The terrestrial segment is more resilient at current carbon dioxide levels, but marine-based ice may still contribute to sea level rise.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience found that strong El Nino events cause rapid melting of Antarctic ice shelves due to increased basal melt and reduced snowfall. In contrast, La Nina events lead to an increase in surface mass gain and reduce ice loss.
Researchers found that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has a history of expanding and shrinking, indicating it could contribute to global sea level rise. The study used geophysical and geological data to reconstruct how glaciers on the Sabrina Coast have advanced and retreated over 50 million years.
The East Antarctic Ice Sheet's stability is being questioned after a marine geologic survey found that some regions have been sensitive to climate change for millions of years. This ice mass loss could lead to catastrophic sea level rise, affecting Florida and other major US cities.
Thousand-year-old iceberg marks in Pine Island Bay show how West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreated rapidly as it balanced on sloping ground. Researchers warn that similar instability may occur again due to global warming, triggering rapid ice retreat and sea-level rise.
New research documents a 192-year series of volcanic eruptions in Antarctica that coincided with accelerated deglaciation about 17,700 years ago. These halogen-rich eruptions created a stratospheric ozone hole over Antarctica, leading to large-scale changes in atmospheric circulation and hydroclimate throughout the Southern Hemisphere.
A new study from Indiana University validates the stability of the East Antarctic ice sheet's central core, even if the West Antarctic ice sheet melts. The research team found evidence confirming the stability at an altitude of 6,200 feet, suggesting that climate change may not have a significant impact on the interior ice sheet.
Researchers found that a large area of West Antarctica partially melted due to warm air caused by an especially strong El Nino, with satellite data revealing a mix of melted snow and ice over most of the Ross Ice Shelf. The study suggests that this warming event could be more frequent in the future with a warming climate.
A massive surface melt event occurred on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet in 2015-2016, with melt episodes spanning most of the Ross Ice Shelf. The study suggests that strong El Niño events may become more common, leading to increased ice sheet instability and potential sea level rise.
New research contradicts previous study suggesting East Antarctic Ice Sheet gains mass, instead shows significant losses. The findings indicate Antarctica as a whole contributes to sea level rise, with the East Antarctic Ice Sheet playing a more limited role.
Scientists from British Antarctic Survey describe the role of föhn winds in influencing Antarctic ice shelf behavior. The study found that these winds contribute to melt pools and weaken the ice surface, making it more at risk of collapse.
Researchers found that Earth's rotation affects meltwater behavior, keeping it at depths of several hundred meters. The team measured turbulence in meltwater as it flowed out of a cave beneath the Pine Island Glacier and used a VMP23 to detect subtle fluctuations in water.
Researchers found that Antarctic ocean temperatures became more layered, leading to coastal melting of ice sheets. This stratification is now happening again due to global warming, potentially triggering a three-meter rise in global sea levels.
Researchers found a significant link between Antarctic Ice Sheet variability and global climate patterns over the past 8,000 years. The study suggests that ocean temperature changes in the Southern Hemisphere drive ice sheet melting and influence sea levels globally.
Researchers found the Antarctic Ice Sheet plays a significant role in regional and global climate variability. The ice sheet's dynamic behavior over the past 8,000 years has cascading effects on the entire climate system.
Researchers at Ohio State University discovered a crack that formed deep beneath the Pine Island Glacier, leading to its breaking apart in 2015. The rift's origin suggests that warming ocean waters are melting the center of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, potentially causing accelerated ice loss and sea-level rise.
Ancient leaves reveal that carbon dioxide levels increased dramatically as the ice sheet began to deteriorate, raising questions about its stability today. The study found a rapid decline in ice extent over a short period, similar to modern times, where CO2 concentrations are rising.
Researchers have discovered a 65% reduction in Antarctic sea ice around 128,000 years ago, which has significant implications for predicting the Earth's future climate. The study, published in Nature Communications, used analysis of ice cores to determine the state of Antarctic sea ice during this past warm period.
Researchers predict that Antarctica's ice sheet could contribute up to 15 meters of sea-level rise by 2500 if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated. An aggressive reduction in emissions could limit the risk of major Antarctic ice sheet retreat and associated sea-level rise.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and colleagues report that the Antarctic ice sheets are more susceptible to rising atmospheric CO2 levels than previously believed. The findings suggest large changes in the ice sheets could occur at lower CO2 levels than previously studied, highlighting a need for improved climate modeling.
A new paper in Nature presents an alternative narrative to the collapse of Earth's ice sheets. Research on the Laurentide Ice Sheet reveals that ice loss occurred through frozen rivers that turned on and off, shifting from place to place. The findings provide a window into ice streams' complex behavior over long periods of time.
A future warming of the Southern Ocean may cause the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, leading to a significant rise in sea levels. Model simulations suggest that critical temperature limits will be exceeded if ocean temperatures rise by more than two degrees Celsius, resulting in a sea level rise of three to five meters.
The West Antarctic ice sheet may experience catastrophic collapse due to ocean warming, leading to a 3-meter increase in global sea levels. Researchers have identified that parts of the ice sheet have existed continuously for at least 1.4 million years.
A Syracuse University professor examines the impact of the deep Earth on ice-sheet stability, particularly the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. His research suggests that regions with sub-glacial topography may be more stable today than during past global warming periods.
Researchers found ancient lake deposits in Antarctica have remained frozen since at least 14 million years ago, supporting the idea that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has also remained intact during past climates. This study provides new hope that the EAIS could be stable in today's and future climate conditions.
A new study suggests that Antarctic ice sheet collapse will contribute to a significant but lower-than-expected 10-30 cm sea-level rise over the next two hundred years. The research uses an ice-sheet model to predict the consequences of unstable retreat of the ice, which recent studies suggest has begun in West Antarctica.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Christian Ohneiser found that a growing Antarctic ice sheet caused the Mediterranean Sea to evaporate and dry up around 5.6 million years ago. The study revealed an uneven effect on global sea levels, with the continent's ice growth resulting in complex interplay between gravitational and rotational eff...
The West Antarctic ice sheet could collapse completely if the Amundsen Basin is destabilized, resulting in a 3-meter sea-level rise. This process would be triggered by decades of ocean warming and would lead to centuries or millennia of continued ice loss.
A new study projects a doubling of Antarctic ice shelf surface melting by 2050 and a significant increase in melting by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. The research highlights the importance of climate policy in mitigating the effects of warming on ice shelves.
A recent study suggests that burning all accessible fossil fuels would lead to a 50- or 60-meter sea level rise, putting over a billion people at risk. The team's models indicate that the West Antarctic ice sheet becomes unstable within 60-80 years if carbon emissions continue at current levels.
A new study finds that burning all fossil fuels would eliminate the Antarctic ice sheet, causing unprecedented sea-level rise. The risk increases with every additional tenth of a degree of warming, threatening major coastal cities like Tokyo and New York.
Researchers found that global sea level during the Pliocene warm period was 30-44 feet higher than previously thought, but significantly lower than estimated. The study suggests that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet might be more resilient to climate change than previously assumed.
A new study reveals surprisingly high geothermal heating beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, contributing to melting of basal ice and potentially supporting microbial life. The measurement could help explain the ice sheet's rapid melting and destabilization, essential for predicting future behavior.
A new study reveals that the thickness of Antarctica's floating ice shelves has decreased by as much as 18 percent in certain areas over nearly two decades. The accelerated losses are attributed to climate change, with some ice shelves losing up to half their volume within the next 200 years.
Fossil corals on Seychelles islands suggest rapid Antarctic ice sheet retreat led to sea-level rise around 125,000 years ago. The study suggests the Antarctic ice sheet may partially collapse again due to warming temperatures.
Researchers found that Antarctic ocean temperature layering, similar to conditions 14,000 years ago, may lead to rapid collapse of glaciers and ice shelves, causing a steep rise in global sea levels. This stratification is caused by global warming adding freshwater to the ocean surface.
A US expedition has made a groundbreaking discovery, finding microorganisms thriving beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. The team, led by Montana State University professor John Priscu, drilled down to Subglacial Lake Whillans and discovered an active ecosystem with archaea-based life forms.
New research reveals that changes in Antarctic winds may accelerate global sea level rise by up to 4°C warmer water temperatures near ice shelves. This could lead to a massive increase in the rate of ice sheet melt, with direct consequences for global sea levels.
Thwaites Glacier is melting at a rate accelerated by geothermal heat from beneath the ice sheet. The researchers used radar techniques to map water flow under the glacier and identified significant sources of geothermal heat over a wider area than previously assumed.
The Antarctic Ice Sheet began melting 5,000 years earlier than thought, with eight distinct episodes causing rapid sea level rise. The study provides solid evidence that the ice sheet contributed to meltwater pulse 1A, a period of rapid sea level rise.
Scientists have observed a significant increase in ice losses from Antarctica, with the Antarctic ice sheet now losing twice as much ice as it did when last surveyed. The study uses measurements collected by the European Space Agency's CryoSat-2 satellite mission to reveal the extent of this loss.
Researchers have developed a new technique using radiometric krypton dating to accurately determine the age of Antarctic ice, dating back up to 1.5 million years. This breakthrough could help reconstruct Earth's climate history and understand the mechanisms that trigger ice ages.