Articles tagged with Glaciers
Researchers found elevated sulfur acidification in glacial samples due to oxidized pyrite, leading to CO2 release into the atmosphere. This process may play a role in regulating Earth's climate over long cycles.
A University of Alaska Fairbanks study reveals that shifting sediments drive the cyclic nature of tidewater glaciers in temperate climates. The model also shows that these glaciers don't need warming periods to trigger their retreats.
Small mountain glaciers play a significant role in recharging vital aquifers and keeping rivers flowing during the winter. A new study found that these glaciers contribute up to 66% of annual flow in mountain streams, highlighting their importance in maintaining ecosystem processes.
A nearly 2,240 square-mile iceberg broke off from Antarctica's Larsen C ice shelf between July 10 and 12. The event has reduced the ice shelf area by approximately 10 percent, sparking concerns about potential destabilization of the remaining ice shelf.
An international team of scientists discovered a possible cause for irregularities in climate evolution: enhanced volcanic activity induced by falling sea levels. This study found that reduced pressure on the seafloor led to increased lava and carbon dioxide emissions, stabilizing atmospheric CO2 concentrations during glacial periods.
A new study published in Nature reveals that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has experienced significant and sustained ice loss over the past 11,000 years, driven by wind-driven incursions of warm water. The research provides crucial insights into the mechanisms behind this ice sheet's behavior and its contribution to sea-level rise.
NASA's Operation IceBridge expanded its Arctic ice survey range this year, covering a wider area than ever before with denser and more accurate measurements. The mission also explored the Eurasian half of the Arctic Basin and measured a newly formed crack on Petermann Glacier.
The melting of glacial ice contributes to sea-level rise, displacing millions of people, while glaciers also serve as a source of fresh water. However, researchers like Twila Moon warn that glaciers are shrinking at an alarming rate, with devastating consequences for the planet's weather and climate systems.
A new study found the Antarctic Peninsula's glaciers are losing ice at a rate of 15 cubic kilometers per year, not three times as much as previously reported. The glacier speed increase is attributed to ocean melting and warming, causing dynamical imbalance in Western Palmer Land.
A new atlas presents the most comprehensive high-resolution imagery of the Polar Regions seafloor, showcasing thousands of square kilometers of geological phenomena. The atlas enables researchers to study past glaciers and ice sheets, gaining insights into climate change and Earth's history.
A research team solved the century-old mystery of Blood Falls by using radar technology to detect brine feeding the famous red waterfall. They discovered that liquid water can persist inside extremely cold glaciers, challenging previous thought on this phenomenon.
Researchers provide photographic proof of climate change using images of retreating glaciers worldwide. The study aims to boost public awareness of the loss of glaciers' importance in maintaining Earth's atmosphere and scientific archives.
A new survey found nearly 700 seasonal systems of interconnected ponds, channels and braided streams fringing Antarctica on all sides. The study reveals that warming projected for this century could quickly magnify the influence of these meltwater systems on sea level.
A NASA-funded study has identified four glaciers in West Greenland that are most susceptible to thinning due to their shape. These glaciers, including Rink Isbrae and Jakobshavn Isbrae, have already been losing mass and are expected to contribute significantly to future sea level rise.
A glacier in northern Canada has retreated, triggering a geologic event that captured one river's flow and redirected it towards another. The study documents the first known case of 'river piracy' in modern times, highlighting the impact of climate change on glaciers.
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin identified four glaciers in West Greenland most susceptible to thinning due to their unique shapes. These glaciers, including Jakobshavn Isbræ and Rink Isbræ, are at risk of significant ice mass loss and contribute to future sea-level rise.
Researchers discovered that microbes in polar streams are producing organic material, potentially contributing to an underestimated 'dynamic local carbon cycle' as temperatures rise
A recent study by hydrologist David Boutt found that upland aquifer systems in New England store about 70% of the region's active and dynamic groundwater. Thin glacial sediments, traditionally neglected as a significant storage reservoir, play an important role in storing water for recharge to alluvial aquifers and base flow to streams.
Scientists reconstruct past climate records from Tibetan Plateau sediment samples, revealing a greater than 6 million year earlier onset of 100,000 year climate cycles. The findings suggest that Antarctic ice sheet fluctuations in the late Miocene exerted dominant control on these cycles.
A University of Bristol team found that microbes on glacier surfaces produce significant amounts of bioreactive carbon, which is then released in streams and can stimulate other microbes in downstream ecosystems. The study suggests that active microbial processes during the melt season are crucial for this process.
Researchers found that melting on Greenland passed a tipping point 20 years ago, causing the smallest glaciers and ice caps to no longer regrow lost ice. The study suggests that this will raise global sea level by about 1.5 inches by 2100.
A new study reveals that the sub-antarctic island of South Georgia was covered by a massive ice cap about 20,000 years ago. The researchers used sonar mapping and gravity corers to find hundreds of distinct ridges bulldozed into the seabed, showing that the ice extended across South Georgia's vast continental shelf.
Researchers found that local atmospheric conditions and ocean circulation are the main drivers of ocean temperature changes in the critical depth range, leading to increased melting. The study used a five-year record to track the interactions between ocean and atmosphere, revealing an annual cycle in heat exchange that drives melting.
Research reveals large-scale thaw-induced slope disturbances and mobilization of primary glacial sediments, leading to cascading effects on fluvial, lacustrine, and coastal systems. The study's findings have major implications for predicting northern landscape change and downstream impacts.
Researchers confirm that the floating ice shelf is strongly coupled to the ocean below and Nares Strait, with temperatures changing with seasons and tides. Temperature data shows warming of ocean water at an average rate of 0.03 degrees Celsius per year, consistent with adjacent studies.
A new UCI study shows that Canadian glaciers are losing ice at an alarming rate, with surface melt accounting for 90% of the loss since 2005. The researchers found that the Queen Elizabeth Islands' ice cap has been melting by 900 percent annually, contributing to sea level change.
Two research papers use OMG observations to document how meltwater and ocean currents interact along Greenland's west coast, improving seafloor maps used to predict future melting and sea level rise. The study also reveals the role of meltwater in cooling warmer subsurface water and tracking its impact on glacier melt rates.
Researchers at the University of Washington used CryoSat-2 data to identify four interconnected lakes draining beneath Thwaites Glacier in eight months. The glacier sped up by about 10 percent during this time, indicating that other factors, such as ocean warming, are driving its long-term movement.
A new study has determined that the first Paleoproterozoic global glaciation and significant step change in atmospheric oxygenation occurred between 2,460 and 2,426 million years ago. The rise of atmospheric oxygen was characterized by significant oscillations before irreversible oxygenation of the atmosphere 2,250 million years ago.
Researchers at Iowa State University have received grants to improve glacier-flow models and predict the contribution of glaciers to sea level rise. The team will use lab experiments, field work, and complex computer models to better understand the physics of glacial ice movement and develop more accurate sliding laws.
Researchers have mapped large oceanic valleys beneath massive glaciers flowing into the Amundsen Sea in West Antarctica. The discovery reveals channels that enable warm water to reach the undersides of glaciers, fueling their rapid retreat.
New study reveals large oceanic features that enable warm water to reach glacier undersides, fueling rapid retreat. The findings highlight the importance of ocean heat access in controlling glacier behavior.
Researchers from the University of Cincinnati studied pink snow algae growing on volcanic terrains in the Pacific Northwest, finding it can lower albedo and increase surface melting. The study suggests atmospheric sources of ammonia and nitrate may be driving the growth and survival of these algae.
A new study uses airborne ice-penetrating radar to observe meltwater's year-round life under the Greenland ice. The research reveals extensive winter water storage beneath the ice, which affects glaciers' response to melting.
Researchers studied groundwater hydrology of proglacial valleys in the Andes, finding that 29% of stream discharge comes from groundwater. The study aimed to improve hydrological modeling of proglacial catchments throughout South America.
Researchers observed 'traffic jams' in the Rutford Ice Stream in Antarctica, where ocean tides speed up or slow down glacial movement. The study used COSMO-SkyMed radar-imaging satellites to gather near-continuous data for nearly nine months.
Scientists can now map the speed of glaciers and ice sheets globally, tracking unique patterns and identifying areas with rapid change. This near-real-time data enables researchers to understand the impact on sea level and coastal communities.
A University of Washington study found that 37 mountain glaciers worldwide show a high degree of signal-to-noise ratio in their retreat, indicating a strong response to climate change. The probability of natural variations explaining the observed retreats is extremely low, ranging from less than 0.001 percent to 11 percent.
A deadly avalanche in 2016 killed nine nomadic yak herders in western Tibet, with climate change cited as a likely cause. Researchers found that meltwater lubricated the ice, allowing it to flow quickly down the mountain.
A new study reveals that ice age vertebrate species in the eastern US responded to glacial cycles and global warming in different ways. The research found that about 75% of animals expanded their populations, while 25% contracted, suggesting additional complexity in climate change impacts.
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.
Research reveals that the grounding line of Pine Island Glacier retreated from a prominent seafloor ridge by 1945, with final ungrounding occurring in 1970. The team's findings suggest that ice-sheet retreat continued even when climate forcing weakened.
Researchers found that a cavity formed beneath the glacier prior to the mid-1940s, allowing warm sea water to flow under it and cause retreat. The study provides direct evidence of the timing of glacier retreat before satellite measurements were available.
A new species of quillwort (Isoetes mississippiensis) discovered in Mississippi, USA, is the largest representative of its genus, with two known populations at risk of extinction. Further study reveals its genetic makeup and potential role in biodiversity and conservation science.
A new study found that 10-50% of iceberg melting occurs in Greenland's fjords, outweighing the amount of freshwater coming from the island's glaciers. This discovery could help scientists better understand how Greenland melts and its impact on ocean circulation and climate.
The Alps are steadily uplifting at a rate of 1-2 millimeters per year, with the majority of this movement attributed to the loss of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice cap. Researchers have found that 90% of today's uplift is due to the thawing of ice, rather than tectonic activity or erosion.
Research on Greenland's glaciers reveals that cryoconite granules, formed by cold-loving microbes and mineral particles, accelerate melting. The study found a correlation between fine mineral particle concentrations and cryoconite granule presence.
Two new studies by UCI and NASA researchers found the fastest rates of glacier retreat ever observed in West Antarctica, shedding light on the interaction between ocean conditions and bedrock beneath glaciers. The studies provide crucial data for predicting future Antarctica ice loss and global sea level rise.
Two studies by UCI and NASA found the fastest rates of glacier retreat in West Antarctica, offering insights into ice melting and its impact on global sea level rise. The researchers used satellite data to measure changes in glacier grounding lines, revealing significant ice loss at the bottom of glaciers.
Glacial lakes in Bolivia are increasing in size, posing a threat to communities and infrastructure downstream. The study found that glacier recession could lead to glacial lake outburst floods, which have already occurred in the region, causing devastating effects on villages and farmland.
Operation IceBridge is studying the effect of summer melt on Greenland's largest and fastest-melting glacier, Helheim Glacier. The team is observing changes in ice elevation between spring and late summer to understand the cumulative response to melting.
A new technique pioneered by scientists at Plymouth University can unravel historic changes to Antarctic sea ice, as well as demonstrate past alterations to glaciers and ice shelves. The method builds on an existing technique that identified changes to Arctic sea ice, allowing for the recovery and analysis of IP25 lipids from sediments.
A recent study by ETH Zurich researchers found that opposing mountain ranges will experience different water balance changes due to climate change. The Juncal region in Chile is expected to become even drier, while the upper Langtang valley in Nepal may see increased water discharge due to glacier melt and increased rainfall.
A new study has found that ocean warming is the primary cause of glacier retreat on the western Antarctic Peninsula, with 90% of glaciers retreating since records began. This finding will improve predictions of ice loss and sea-level rise, as the Peninsula contributes significantly to global sea levels.
Researchers used a new mapping technique called Fodar to settle the debate on the highest peak in the US Arctic. The study found Mt Isto to be the tallest at 2735m, surpassing previously disputed peaks Mt Chamberlin and Mt Hubley.
A recent study reveals that red pigmented snow algae blooms in the Arctic significantly reduce albedo, leading to a runaway effect of accelerated melting. The findings suggest a universal model for algal-albedo interaction and quantify additional melting caused by algal blooms, shedding new light on climate change impacts.
Scientists have calculated the fate of Greenland's melting freshwater, finding that more than half of it is transported southward by the Labrador Current. The study suggests that the melting-induced impact on ocean salinity is smaller than expected and may lead to a weakening of the Gulf Stream system.
A team of scientists has developed an apparatus to measure the behavior of ice under various external forces. The device can be used to study both terrestrial glaciers and icy satellite bodies, providing insights into potential life-supporting oceans beneath the ice.
A new study predicts that Totten Glacier in Antarctica may cross a critical threshold within the next century, triggering an irreversible period of rapid retreat and contributing up to 2.9m to global sea-level rise. The glacier's instability is linked to its geology, which will become unstable if it retreats another 100-150km.
Researchers have found direct evidence of past changes in the Totten Glacier's glacial history, revealing unstable zones prone to rapid collapse. This study sheds light on the region's vulnerabilities and warns of potential catastrophic consequences for sea level rise.