Articles tagged with Glaciers
Researchers detected a sudden onset of ice loss in Antarctica's Southern Antarctic Peninsula, with glaciers shedding 55 trillion liters of water annually. The region's ice loss shows no signs of waning and is attributed to warming oceans.
Researchers employ Surface Extraction for TIN-based Searchspace Minimization (SETSM) software to produce high-resolution digital surface maps for Nepal's relief effort. These maps will aid in mapping infrastructure, rescues, and slope stability assessments.
Researchers have discovered a salty aquifer beneath the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica, which could provide insights into ancient climate change and the potential for microbial life. The discovery was made using a novel sensor system that penetrated below the surface of large areas of terrain.
A team of scientists from UT Knoxville has discovered extensive salty groundwater networks in Antarctica using SkyTEM technology. This finding supports the presence of subsurface microbial ecosystems and provides insights into glacial dynamics and ancient climate change.
Researchers using airborne imaging system SkyTEM detect extensive, interconnected aquifers deep beneath glaciers and lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. The findings provide evidence for previously unknown microbial life and challenge assumptions about liquid water's presence beneath ice sheets.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have challenged a popular theory that North America was first settled by Upper Paleolithic people from Europe via an ice bridge. The team found inconsistencies in the recovery and ownership of the ship that discovered the alleged evidence, as well as discrepancies in photographs and records.
Researchers have calculated the size of Mars' glaciers using radar observations and ice flow modeling. The ice is found in belts around the planet, between latitudes 300-500, and is equivalent to covering the entire surface with 1.1 meters of ice.
Seventy percent of glacier ice in British Columbia and Alberta could disappear by the end of the century, impacting energy production, water supply, and freshwater ecosystems. The Rocky Mountains are expected to lose up to 90% of its glaciers, while coastal mountains will retain only half their volume.
A new study suggests that a 40,000-year-old volcanic eruption may not have triggered the final demise of the Neanderthals. Climate modeling indicates that temperatures decreased by 2-4 degrees Celsius in Western Europe after the eruption, which could have impacted day-to-day life for both Neanderthals and early humans.
A new international study finds that glacier movement in the Southern Hemisphere is primarily influenced by sea surface temperature and atmospheric carbon dioxide rather than changes in the Earth's orbit. The results contradict the Milankovitch theory of climate, which suggests orbital fluctuations drive ice sheet expansion in the Nort...
A recent study reveals that glacial melt in a small region of Alaska produces more than four times the total freshwater discharge of the Yukon River and half again as much as the Mississippi River. The findings provide new insights into marine biology, ocean currents, and sea level changes.
Researchers have discovered a valley beneath East Antarctica's most rapidly-changing glacier, accelerating melting and thinning of the Totten Glacier's ice shelf. Climate change is raising global sea levels, with the glacier potentially representing a major component.
Researchers discovered two seafloor gateways that allow warm ocean water to reach the base of Totten Glacier in East Antarctica. This finding explains the glacier's rapid thinning and raises concerns about sea level rise. The study highlights the importance of understanding the role of oceanic gateways in glacier melting.
Researchers found that underwater noise from melting glaciers exceeds ocean noise levels generated by all other sources. The loud sounds are short-lived, but consistent melting of ice creates a persistent noise generator. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between underwater noise levels and the fjord ecosystem.
A University of Arizona-led team reports that Iceland's glaciers are melting at an accelerated rate, causing the island's crust to rise rapidly. The study uses GPS measurements to track geological activity and finds a direct connection between glacier loss and uplift.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have observed a remote Arctic ice cap thinning by over 50 meters and accelerating to speeds of several kilometers per year. The findings suggest that warmer ocean temperatures may be triggering this rapid ice loss, which has significant implications for sea level rise.
Researchers estimate that 50% more organic carbon will be exported in glacier outflow over the next 35 years, equivalent to half of the Mississippi River's annual organic carbon influx. This increase has major implications for high-latitude marine ecosystems, particularly those surrounding ice sheets.
Researchers at Ohio State University have created publicly available elevation maps of the Greenland Ice Sheet using high-resolution satellite images. The software, SETSM, allows for detailed tracking of the ice sheet's changes, including cracks that indicate accelerated melting.
Laboratory experiments by Iowa State University glaciologists found that glacier beds can grow more slippery as the ice slides faster. This effect can improve predictions of future sea-level rise and ice volume loss. The results challenge traditional mathematical models, which had predicted the opposite relationship.
A massive study provides the first detailed look at how Greenland's ice is vanishing, revealing that current ice sheet modeling studies are too simplistic to accurately predict future changes. The research suggests that the Greenland Ice Sheet may lose ice more rapidly in the near future than previously thought.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.