Articles tagged with Glaciers
Scientists using NASA data have produced a comprehensive study of the Greenland Ice Sheet's hidden plumbing and melt water flow. The research suggests that current ice sheet modeling is too simplistic to accurately predict future ice loss, and may underestimate contributions to sea level rise.
The NASA Operation IceBridge mission has completed its 2014 Antarctic campaign, building on previous studies to understand changes in ice conditions over time. Researchers collected data on sea ice, glaciers, and sub-ice water depth to inform projections of future Antarctic Ice Sheet changes.
Scientists observe rising water temperatures on the West Antarctic shelf, accelerating glacial melting and potentially increasing global sea levels. The warming trend is linked to changes in wind systems over the southern hemisphere and may have significant environmental implications for the region.
The study reveals that the Amundsen Sea Embayment in West Antarctica is losing ice at an incredible rate, with the total amount of loss averaging 83 gigatons per year. This is equivalent to Mt. Everest's worth of water weight lost every two years over the past 21 years.
Tuolumne Meadows was formed due to preferential glacial erosion of fractured bedrock, resulting in a unique landscape. The study found that tabular fracture clusters played a crucial role in shaping the meadow's topography.
A recent study published in Geology reveals that harmonic tremor occurs within mountain glaciers and that individual icequakes can exhibit harmonic properties. This discovery suggests a complex network of fluid-induced fracture processes at the glacier base, which can lead to damaging floods in valleys below the glacier.
The Karakoram glacier anomaly is a cold case of climate science solved by researchers from Princeton University. The unique seasonal pattern keeps the mountain range relatively cold and dry during summer, sustaining glacier mass. This high-resolution model predicts stable snowfall and water availability until 2100.
New research finds that rainfall patterns, not just amount, influence landslide risk. Scientists developed a model to predict landslides based on rainfall variability. Changing winds in Antarctica are also causing coastal glaciers to melt at an accelerated rate.
Researchers embark on Operation IceBridge to study changes in Antarctica's ice sheet, glaciers, and sea ice. The mission aims to collect data on the rapid decline of glaciers and variations in sea ice coverage.
Researchers have produced detailed maps of bedrock beneath glaciers in Greenland and Antarctica with NASA's support, helping to project future changes to ice sheets and sea level. The data will aid computer models used for glacier projection.
Researchers identify jarosite minerals in Ius Chasma canyon wall, suggesting atmospheric sulfur trapped in ice formed glaciers. The discovery provides evidence of past glaciation in the Valles Marineris on Mars.
Researchers use tree rings to date arroyo sedimentary beds and combine data with aerial imagery and LiDAR to reconstruct the history of these arroyos. The study reveals that arroyos are unstable features that shift between broad floodplains and incised channels, and that upstream progression is limited to specific locations.
The original northern boundary of Illinois was south of Chicago and Lake Michigan due to a proposed straight line from the southernmost tip of Lake Michigan to the Rock and Mississippi River confluence. This would have resulted in a smaller population and footprint for Illinois if it had been approved.
A new study reveals that the sea-level around Antarctica's coast has risen by 2cm more than the global average of 6cm due to fresh water from melting glaciers. This excess freshwater reduces ocean salinity and is corroborated by ship-based studies.
Arctic sea ice covered about 2.31 million square miles on Aug. 19, falling short of the record low in 2012 but continuing a trend of decline over the past 30 years. NASA scientists are flying three airborne research campaigns to study climate-driven changes in the Arctic.
Scientists have mapped the elevation changes of Greenlandic and Antarctic glaciers, revealing a record decline in ice sheet volumes. The study shows that Greenland is losing around 375 cubic kilometers of ice per year, while the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is thinning at a rate of 500 cubic kilometers per year.
Researchers have mapped elevation changes in both Greenland and Antarctica using satellite data, revealing the ice sheets are losing volume at an unprecedented rate. The study shows that the two ice sheets combined are thinning at a rate of 500 cubic kilometres per year, contributing significantly to sea level rise.
A new study suggests that exceptional icebergs and weather conditions outside human control contributed to the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. The paper notes an increase in iceberg discharge from glaciers since the 1980s, which is linked to global warming.
A recent study reveals that human activity is a significant contributor to glacier mass loss, with a notable increase in recent decades. The research suggests that only about one quarter of global glacier mass loss between 1851 and 2010 was due to anthropogenic causes, but this fraction rose to two-thirds during the last two decades.
Researchers confirm global picture of cold and wet Martian environment, with evidence of concave basins, lobated structures, and moraines. Ancient glaciers covered vast regions of the planet's surface, including Gale crater.
Researchers at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found rapid changes in ocean temperature near glaciers, driven by fast ocean currents. The data suggests large and rapid fluctuations in submarine melt rates, contradicting the prevailing paradigm of freshwater input driving new water into the fjord.
Researchers found opposing climate change patterns in middle latitude areas of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Stalagmites and flowstones showed growth during interglacial eras when it was warm and moist, contrasting with stagnation during glacial eras.
Researchers found a high-volume perennial spring on Ellesmere Island that flows year-round despite extreme cold temperatures. The spring's unique geochemistry suggests a more active hydrogeological system in polar regions than previously thought, potentially driven by glacial meltwater.
Researchers discovered ragged blocks of ice as tall as city skyscrapers in the bottom of Greenland's ice sheet, formed by water refreezing and warping surrounding ice. The findings suggest that refreezing process uplifts and softens the ice, making it easier to flow towards the sea.
Researchers discovered a 'microbial garden' of life forms thriving on the Mittivakkat Glacier, reducing its surface reflectivity. This finding has significant implications for climate change models and the search for life on distant worlds.
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.
NASA's Operation IceBridge concludes its 11-week Arctic field campaign, collecting data on rapidly changing areas of sea and land ice. The mission released two new sea ice data products and provided a professional development opportunity for science teachers.
A Martian volcano, Arsia Mons, may have supported one of the most recent habitable environments on the Red Planet. Researchers found evidence of englacial lakes and volcanic lava flows that could have created a liquid water environment suitable for microbial life. The discovery is significant as it suggests that such environments may h...
A groundbreaking study by UC Irvine and NASA glaciologists shows previously uncharted deep valleys connecting the Greenland Ice Sheet to the ocean, eroding glacier edges and releasing massive amounts of water. The research reveals that Greenland's frozen mass will retreat faster and farther inland than anticipated, contributing signifi...
The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is collapsing, with the Thwaites Glacier expected to disappear in centuries and raise sea levels by nearly 2 feet. The study provides a quantitative estimate of the collapse's rates, suggesting scenarios ranging from 200 to 500 years.
A UCI-NASA study reveals six massive glaciers in the Amundsen Sea sector are in irreversible decline, contributing significantly to sea level rise. The glaciers contain enough ice to boost global sea levels by 4 feet and are melting faster than expected.
Researchers conclude that Antarctica's West Antarctic Ice Sheet will likely disappear within a few decades, with the Thwaites Glacier disappearing in centuries. The ice sheet contains enough ice to cause another 3-4 meters of global sea level rise.
Researchers at University of Washington estimate up to half of recent Greenland warming is caused by tropical Pacific climate variations rather than global warming. This finding highlights the complexity of regional climate changes and the need for more accurate long-range projections.
An international team has completed the first mapping of virtually all global glaciers, including their locations and sizes. The 198,000 mapped glaciers will contribute significantly to rising seas over the coming decades as temperatures rise.
The Randolph Glacier Inventory is a globally complete map of glaciers, covering over 730,000 km2 with a total volume of about 170,000 km3. The new inventory provides unprecedented accuracy for studying the impacts of climate change on glaciers worldwide.
Scientists can use the seismic signals to better understand glacier behavior and track changes in real-time. The Alaska Earthquake Center has recorded over 2,800 glacial events, which could provide new insights into glacier dynamics and potential advances in field studies.
Researchers successfully used a new Krypton-dating technique to confirm the age of a 120,000-year-old sample of Antarctic ice. This technique provides an accurate means of confirming the age of ice samples, and allows scientists to reconstruct climate back as far as 1.5 million years.
A Dartmouth-led study found that air temperature drove the expansion and contraction of glaciers in Africa's Rwenzori Mountains at the height of the last ice age. The research suggests that tropical glaciers are rapidly shrinking due to warming climate, not declining snowfall or other factors.
The St. Elias Erosion/Tectonics Project investigates the role of glacial erosional processes in mountain belts, with a focus on southern Alaska's unique geology. Researchers found that fast-moving ice can remove rock at rates of centimeters per year.
Researchers successfully tested a compact radar system on a small Unmanned Aircraft System to map glacial topography beneath rapidly moving glaciers. The technology promises to make high-resolution ice measurements more accessible to the research community.
A new study has found that six massive glaciers in West Antarctica are losing ice at an unprecedented rate, causing global sea levels to rise. The amount of ice draining from these glaciers increased by 77 percent between 1973 and 2013, with Pine Island Glacier accelerating by 75 percent over the same period.
Glacial chronologies during MIS 3 differ throughout the Tibetan Plateau, with advances on both slopes of the Nyainqentanglha being synchronous but not synchronized with Northern Hemisphere ice sheet. The study suggests a possible linkage between these events and North Atlantic cooling.
Researchers use years of data to understand how glaciers changed over time as climate has changed, providing insights into future glacier melting. The study's findings have significant implications for understanding global environmental change and planning protection efforts.
Scientists found that Northeast Greenland Ice Stream started losing mass in 2003 due to localized temperature increase, contradicting previous predictions. The study suggests this region is sensitive to climate changes and could contribute significantly to global sea-level rise.
Researchers found that the northeast Greenland ice sheet is no longer stable and contributing to global sea level rise. The ice stream's retreat accelerated by 20 kilometers over the last decade, suggesting a positive feedback mechanism that could increase future sea level rise.
Recent AGU publications explore the surface dynamics of Titan's second-largest lake, Ligeia Mare. Researchers found that the lake's surface is flat, suggesting no waves or wind in the region. Additionally, new research on U-shaped glacial valleys suggests a tectonic stress feedback loop played a crucial role in their formation.
New research using NASA data shows that only a small number of Greenland's largest glaciers are responsible for the majority of ice discharge into the ocean. The study used satellite observations and ice thickness measurements to calculate ice flow rates, providing a clearer picture of how glacier dynamics affect the Greenland Ice Sheet.
A Dartmouth-led study finds that temperature, not snowfall, is driving the fluctuating size of Peru's Quelccaya Ice Cap, a symbol for global climate change. The research uses field mapping and ice core analysis to determine that temperature was the primary driver of glacial expansion and retreat.
This article covers various geology topics including Mars exploration, environmental lead poisoning, earthquake hazards, the Indus Civilization collapse due to aridification event, end-Cretaceous mass extinction analysis using clumped isotope paleothermometry, and geological events such as the Tibetan Plateau's reorganization.
A study of Pine Island Glacier reveals it experienced rapid thinning 8,000 years ago at an average rate comparable to modern-day melting rates. This indicates that modern-day melting could last several more decades or even centuries.
Scientists found that Pine Island Glacier thinned rapidly 8000 years ago, similar to its current rate of thinning. This suggests the glacier may continue to lose mass for decades to come due to ocean-driven melting.
Articles explore geological processes such as erosion, deposition, and sedimentation, shedding light on catastrophic outburst floods and sediment routing systems. New findings from the Eocene Escanilla Formation and the Ohanapecosh Formation provide insights into facies architecture and sediment grain size variation.
The Greenland Ice Sheet is experiencing rapid ice loss, driven by ocean warming and increased surface melting. This phenomenon can lead to fresh water input into the North Atlantic Ocean, potentially disrupting global climate circulation patterns.
Jakobshavn Isbrå reaches unprecedented summer speeds of over 46m per day, exceeding 4 times the speed of the 1990s. The glacier's increasing speed contributes to sea-level rise as it adds more ice to the ocean.
Scientists reveal that Tibetan glaciers are losing mass, with a clear loss of around 16 gigatons per year. However, some glaciers in the central and north-western part of the plateau have grown in mass, contradicting previous data.
A new study suggests that El Nino events are tied to the rapid melting of Antarctica's Pine Island Glacier. The glacier's ice shelf has been thinned nearly continuously since observations began in the 1970s. Under certain conditions, a thick layer of warm water surrounding the continent can flood the glacier margin and accelerate melt.
A new study reveals that Pine Island Glacier is highly sensitive to climatic and oceanic changes, with fluctuations in ocean heat causing significant melting. The glacier's response to climate variability has been underestimated, suggesting a more complex interplay between geological, oceanographic, and climatic processes.
Scientists have discovered new evidence that the Italian Alps are warming at an unprecedented rate. A team of glaciologists drilling ice cores found a 2,600-year-old larch tree leaf that suggests the glacier was once below-freezing but now has layers at the melting point throughout the year.
Researchers study fossil estuaries, a 'natural wind tunnel' experiment on the Chinese Loess Plateau, frictional melting of rocks in water, glacial moraines in Colorado, and topographic data from Venus. These studies explore ecosystem stability, aeolian sediments, fault frictional properties, and volcanic lightning.
Scientists recorded and identified the sizzling sound of glacier ice as it melts, a phenomenon caused by trapped air bubbles escaping from the disappearing ice. This discovery could help researchers better monitor polar environments and track changes in glacier melt rates using underwater hydrophone recordings.