Articles tagged with Glaciation
A 304-million-year-old warming event could inform scientists about rapidly changing Earth conditions. A small temperature spike led to a larger one from melting permafrost, with global sea surface temperatures rising by over 7 degrees Celsius.
Scientists found that meltwater destabilized methane hydrates beneath northwest Greenland, releasing large stores of methane. This process may have contributed to past climate events and could influence future climate change as polar ice sheets continue to retreat.
Researchers reveal that seafloor weathering may be responsible for the discrepancy in Snowball Earth event durations, with faster rates linked to longer glaciations. This finding has significant implications for predicting future climate change.
Researchers found a surprising correlation between West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreat and marine algae growth over the past 500,000 years. The study suggests that global warming may lead to reduced CO2 uptake if the ice sheet continues to shrink.
The i2B Arctic Ocean Expedition will collect geological archives to shed light on past 'warmer-than-present-day' Arctic climate. The expedition aims to understand the impact of a 'blue' (free of seasonal sea-ice) Arctic Ocean during key interglacial periods, approximately 130,000 and 400,000 years ago.
A global analysis using machine learning predicts glacial erosion rates for 180,000 glaciers worldwide, with most experiencing erosion between 0.02-2.68 millimeters per year. The study identifies complex factors influencing erosion, including temperature, water under the glacier and rock type.
A new study found that chemical reactions in newly uncovered glacial sediments initially suppress greenhouse gas emissions, but as soil matures, it produces more methane, contributing to warming. The research provides insights into the role of soil and water in the climate change cycle.
Researchers found that thick ice cover suppressed volcanic eruptions, but as glacial ice melts, pressure builds and magma is released, leading to more frequent and explosive eruptions. This phenomenon could occur worldwide, including Antarctica, and may have global climate impacts, including long-term warming.
Research team studied sediment cores and found evidence of seasonal sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. The study's findings suggest that warm Atlantic water continued to flow into the Arctic gateway, keeping some parts of the ocean from freezing over completely.
Researchers at Stockholm University have uncovered the evolutionary history of the Norwegian lemming, revealing it to be one of the most recently evolved mammal species. The study found that the Norwegian and Siberian lemmings diverged approximately 35,000 years ago, with no evidence of interbreeding between them.
Scientists have discovered land-based evidence of ancient meltwater pulses from the Cordilleran Ice Sheet, shedding new light on climate change mechanisms. The findings suggest that additional climate forces were needed to kick-start ice-sheet retreat beyond energy changes in Earth's orbit.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have found that one glacier in Antarctica is rapidly losing ice to its neighboring glacier due to changes in flow direction. This 'ice piracy' effect has been observed over less than 18 years, contrary to previous estimates of hundreds or thousands of years.
Researchers found that melting ice sheets in North America and Greenland may have increased horizontal motion of plates by 25% and up to 40% at the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Ridge. This could lead to an increase in volcanic eruptions in Iceland.
A recent study revealed a record-breaking increase in Antarctic Ice Sheet mass between 2021 and 2023, with significant mass gain observed in four key glaciers. This shift counters decades of mass loss, driven by anomalous precipitation accumulation.
Research finds that strengthened westerly winds enhance clockwise oceanic circulations, transporting warm seawater and causing accelerated ice sheet melting in East Antarctica. This study's findings improve future sea level rise projections.
Since the turn of the millennium, glaciers worldwide have lost around 273 billion tonnes of ice per year, corresponding to about five and a half times the volume of Lake Constance. The loss of ice from glaciers has led to a rise in sea level of 18 millimetres, making it the second strongest driver of sea level rise after ocean warming.
Global glacier mass loss has increased by 36% since 2000, with 6,542 billion tons lost between 2000 and 2023. This results in an 18 mm annual contribution to global sea-level rise, making glaciers the second-largest contributor after ocean warming.
A study found that growing glacial lake areas don't necessarily lead to larger floods; instead, smaller lakes are more prone to catastrophic events. Remote sensing technology helps monitor these processes, enabling better risk management in mountainous regions.
A team of scientists found that Earth's current ice-covered state is not typical for the planet's history and was only achieved through a lucky coincidence. The researchers concluded that no single process could drive these cold climates, and that multiple processes working together were necessary.
A new study reveals that Greenland's ice sheet has experienced a significant increase in crevasses over the past five years, equivalent to adding a crack the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza every few days. The findings suggest a potential feedback loop that accelerates ice loss from the glacier, ultimately raising sea levels.
Researchers found significant increases in crevasses at fast-flowing glaciers, with some sectors experiencing a 25% increase. This accelerated crevassing could further speed up the mechanisms behind the loss of ice from Greenland.
Scientists at the University of Lausanne used AI to simulate the last Alpine glaciation, finding ice covers 35-50% thinner than previous models. The new approach enables unprecedented accuracy and resolution, making it possible to describe complex topography numerically.
A new study using satellite images tracks the evolution of a glacier lake in the Karakoram Mountains, revealing its life cycle and potential hazard to nearby communities. The research highlights the importance of monitoring glacier surges and lakes to reduce future damage.
Researchers used seismic data to discover glacial landforms in the North Sea, indicating an ice sheet expansion about 1 million years ago, linked to global cooling. The findings provide new insights into how past ice sheets responded to climate changes.
Glaciers within three miles of a volcano move 46% faster than average, according to a new study that analyzed velocity data from 85% of the world's glaciers. This increased melt reduces friction between the glacier and the underlying rock, resulting in faster glacier flow.
A new study from the University of Colorado at Boulder has uncovered strong evidence for a global 'Snowball Earth' event, where massive glaciers covered the entire planet down to the equator hundreds of millions of years ago. The findings provide critical insights into the planet's geologic history and the emergence of life on Earth.
Fossils from over 600,000 years ago show a shift in animal communities between warm and cold climate fluctuations. The Notarchirico site provides evidence of the emergence and disappearance of species such as cave lions, straight-tusked elephants, and red deer.
A rock formation spanning Ireland and Scotland has been confirmed as a rare record of the 'snowball Earth' period, when the globe was covered in ice. The Port Askaig Formation, composed of layers up to 1.1km thick, dates back to 662-720 million years ago during the Sturtian glaciation.
Researchers found remarkably low concentrations of beryllium-10 and carbon-14 in glacier bedrock, suggesting melting ice exposed bedrock for the first time recently. This suggests tropical glaciers are shrinking beyond what's been seen in recent geologic past, foreshadowing climate's effect on global ice.
Scientists analyzed rock samples from four Andes Mountains glaciers, finding they are smaller now than any time in the past 11,000 years. This suggests the tropics have already warmed beyond predicted limits, crossing a critical benchmark for glacier classification.
A new study suggests that specific physical conditions during the Snowball Earth era, including ocean viscosity and resource deprivation, may have driven eukaryotes to form multicellular colonies. This finding provides a potential explanation for the long delay in the evolution of multicellularity.
Researchers from the Mann Research Group found strong path dependence in Plio-Pleistocene glaciations, driven by a gradual decrease in regolith and volcanic outgassing. The study suggests that carbon dioxide levels determine the onset of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, and that it's not too late to act to prevent ice sheet collapse.
A study led by Spanish researchers reveals Bonelli's eagles colonized the Mediterranean 50,000 years ago due to early human settlement, displacing golden eagles as the dominant species. Human activities now threaten the eagle's survival.
A new study reveals that the Ross Ice Shelf, the largest ice shelf in Antarctica, moves 6-8 centimeters once or twice a day due to slip events triggered by the Whillans Ice Stream. This movement has significant implications for understanding the stability of Antarctica's ice shelves and potential icequakes.
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current's flow speed has fluctuated significantly over the past 5.3 million years, with slower speeds during glacial periods and faster speeds during interglacials. This study provides valuable insights into the current's response to climate fluctuations and its impact on Antarctica's ice sheets.
Researchers found that historically low volcanic carbon dioxide emissions, combined with weathering of a large pile of volcanic rocks in Canada, led to the prolonged Sturtian glaciation. The team used plate tectonic modeling and computer simulations to investigate the cause and duration of this ice age.
Scientists have found that deposits deep under the ocean floor reveal a way to measure ocean oxygen levels and their connections with carbon dioxide during the last ice age. This study could improve predictions of how oceans will respond to global warming.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals the Third Pole is vulnerable to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) due to climate change, with 1,499 lakes at high risk. The research estimates that 190,000 lives are directly exposed to GLOF paths and $55 billion worth of infrastructure is threatened.
Research confirms Greenland's glaciers are melting rapidly due to climate change, with a 5-fold increase in melting over the past 20 years. The study reveals that 25 meters of ice are lost annually, contributing significantly to sea level rise and posing significant challenges for renewable energy and ecosystems.
A new computer model reconstructs the evolution of Alpine ice cover with unprecedented precision, allowing scientists to understand past climate interaction with glaciers. The simulation provides a direct visualization of phenomena, making them accessible to a wide audience.
A new laser-based sampling system allows for higher depth resolution, enabling scientists to reconstruct continuous annual temperature changes thousands of years ago. The LMS system overcomes previous limitations in sampling ice cores, preserving critical oxygen and hydrogen isotopes needed to infer past temperatures.
Researchers develop a new model predicting up to twice the original amount of subglacial water may be draining into the ocean, accelerating glacial melt and sea level rise. The theory uses satellite measurements and is a simple equation that can predict exfiltration in a fraction of a second on a laptop.
A new study found that a massive North Atlantic cooling event led to the disruption of early human occupation in Europe, with climate stress changing the course of early human history. The study used observational and modeling evidence to document the unprecedented climate anomaly.
Scientists have discovered ancient ocean water trapped in mineral deposits in the Himalayas, providing insights into Earth's past climate and oxygen levels. The deposits suggest that slow-growing cyanobacteria may have triggered a major oxygenation event around 700-500 million years ago.
Researchers found evidence of 2.9 billion-year-old glaciers in South Africa using relative oxygen isotope concentrations and physical proof. The discovery suggests the presence of continental ice caps at that time or a previously unknown 'snowball Earth' period.
Researchers from Heidelberg University identified a pivotal step in the Earth's later climate development, finding that a warm ice age around 700,000 years ago led to changes in global climate rhythms. This 'warm ice age' caused accumulation of excess continental ice, resulting in prolonged and far-reaching glaciation.
The study reveals that Antarctic bottom water (AABW) has collapsed several times in the past, with these collapses linked to an enhancement of North Atlantic Deepwater and intensified Northern Hemisphere glaciation. AABW collapse may have pulled Earth into harsher glacial climates in the past.
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.
Researchers identify two southward migration events of Arctic ostracods in the Last Glacial Period, revealing the impact of East Asian winter monsoon on marine ecosystems. The study's findings help understand Asian monsoon dynamics and their effects on polar species distribution, highlighting the risk of extinction under climate change.
A study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science reveals that a domestic dog lived in the Palaeolithic period 17,000 years ago in the Erralla cave in the Basque Country. The bone remains identified as Canis lupus familiaris, making it one of Europe's most ancient domestic dogs.
A new study by researchers from the University of Oldenburg found that particles from central South America were the primary source of iron in the South Pacific during the last two glacial periods. The team's theory suggests that jet stream circulation picked up fine mineral particles on the east side of the Andes and transported them ...
Researchers have created the first charts of Antarctic ocean temperatures over the past 45 million years using molecular fossils and machine learning. The study suggests that the planet is nearing a 'tipping point' where ocean warming caused by CO2 will lead to catastrophic sea level rises.
A new study from the University of Washington and the National Park Service measured 38 years of change for glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. The study found that 13 of 19 glaciers have shown significant retreat, while two have advanced. Lake-terminating glaciers are retreating at a faster rate than other types.
A new study reveals that climate change is affecting Andean glaciers in sync with polar ice, suggesting the entire planet is connected. Researchers used sediment deposits from Lake Junín to create a record of glacial changes spanning 700,000 years.
Researchers analyzed fossil corals to reveal changed ocean current circulation patterns. The data supports a scenario where the upper Pacific Ocean was more mixed during the last ice age, contributing to carbon storage and cooler climates.
Researchers identified glacial refugia for Campanula americana and found that populations nearest the refugia had highest potential for speciation. This discovery highlights the importance of conserving habitats in Southeastern regions.
Researchers studied ancient Antarctic ice cores to understand past atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations. They found a strong correlation between carbon fertilization and increased biological production, which dampens global warming acceleration during glacial periods.
A recent seismic study reveals that Patagonia is rising as glaciers melt due to a gap in the tectonic plate under the region. The study found low seismic velocity and a thinning of the lithosphere above the gap, which is driving rapid uplift.
Scientists have found that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet formed 35 million years ago, with warm deep water delaying its expansion to the sea. This discovery helps improve forecasts of its future stability and ice retreat.
A recent study published in PLOS Genetics found that genetic legacy from the last glaciation influences reindeer's migratory behavior. Caribou with more northern ancestry were more likely to migrate longer distances, highlighting an evolutionary adaptation to harsh tundra environments.