Articles tagged with Glaciers
Climate scientist Lonnie Thompson warns of impending environmental, societal, and economic consequences of climate change. He cites evidence of glacier retreat, rising sea levels, and diminished ice cover as indicators of the urgent need for action to forestall global warming's effects.
New research reveals that the Alps' U-shaped valleys can endure glacial attack and retain their V-shaped notches. Scientists found that glaciers fill the gorges with ice and rock, protecting them from being scoured away. The rivers then return to clear out debris deposited by previous glaciers.
Researchers found distinct genetic patterns in eastern and western jack pine populations, suggesting an isolated coastal refugium along the Atlantic coast during the Last Glacial Maximum. This discovery sheds light on how glaciers impacted present-day pine genetics and potentially influenced the distribution of other boreal species.
Researchers from the University of Gothenburg have discovered a new drumlin field, revealing that modern-day glaciers can create these geological formations. The study provides evidence of rapid ice movements and challenges current climate modeling techniques.
The Himalayan region's glaciers are retreating, but the impacts of climate change will still be felt, with programs integrating health, education, and social organizations needed to address these effects. The report highlights the need for international collaboration to gather more information on glacier ice balance.
A recent study by Innsbruck glaciologists and climatologists reveals regional differences in the contribution of glaciers to water supply, with high-mountain communities dependent on glacier melt but relatively low population density. The research highlights the need for a differentiated discussion on climate change's impact on water a...
A new study links the rise of early animals to a spike in ancient marine phosphorus concentrations during the mid-Neoproterozoic period. High phosphorus levels facilitated an oxygen-rich ocean-atmosphere system, paving the way for animal diversification and ecological evolution.
Researchers are pioneering the use of wireless sensors to study a little-known phenomenon that affects glacier movement. They aim to measure the 'stick' and 'slip' phases of stick-slip motion, which cause ice sheet movement in glaciers.
The study of fish teeth reveals ocean circulation patterns that differ from present day, shedding light on heat transfer and oxygenation. An iridium anomaly is linked to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, reaffirming the link between impact and mass extinction.
Researchers found that glaciers in southern Patagonian Andes have helped mountains grow, not erode, by providing an icy shield. The study's findings contradict the glacial buzzsaw theory, which predicted glaciers would slow mountain growth.
Research reveals that glaciers in cold climates protect mountain tops and sides from erosion, allowing them to grow higher. By analyzing rocks exposed on remote glaciers in Patagonia, scientists found that the protective effect of glaciers reverses the conventional view of them as powerful agents of erosion.
A new study in Nature sheds light on the end of the last ice age by linking Antarctic warming to New Zealand's glacier retreat. Scientists tracked glacier retreat using moraines and estimated local climate warming, providing clues for understanding Earth's final emergence from the ice age.
Mammoths, reindeer and woolly rhinos found in Iberia during cold climate periods, coinciding with global cooling in Greenland. The species' presence indicates a biological crisis as temperatures warmed up, leading to habitat loss.
Researchers have revised estimates of Greenland and West Antarctica ice cap melting rates using GRACE satellites, GPS measurements, and glacial isostatic adjustment data. The corrected estimate shows the ice caps are melting at approximately half the predicted speed, resulting in a lower average sea level rise.
Research at Collier Glacier has found a significant decline of over 20% in size since the late 1980s, consistent with global glacial retreat. The glacier's mass has shrunk to about half its peak size in the 1850s, and studies suggest it will continue to lose mass, particularly during El Nino events.
Bagla won the David Perlman Award for his articles on Himalayan glaciers, exploring dissent among glaciologists regarding the IPCC's claim of imminent disappearance. Kwok received the Walter Sullivan Award for her article on an asteroid detected in space, tracing its journey and retrieving bits from Sudan.
Researchers identified two apparent faults cutting young deposits near Olympia, Washington, suggesting recent fault activity and potential earthquake hazards. The study utilizes marine seismic reflection data to explore shallow structures associated with inferred faults in the Tacoma and Olympia areas.
A Greenland glacier has lost a quarter of its floating ice-shelf, giving birth to an ice island four times the size of Manhattan. The freshwater stored in this ice island could keep the Delaware or Hudson rivers flowing for more than two years.
A new study found geochemical clues near Mauna Kea's summit that tell a story of ancient glacier formation, frequent storms in Hawaii, and the impact of distant climatic events. The research suggests that the growth of the Mauna Kea glacier was caused by both colder conditions and increased precipitation.
A new study by Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveals that floating glaciers produce larger icebergs than grounded cousins and behave erratically. This is the first detailed observation of a glacier transitioning from grounded to floating.
Researchers from NASA and the Byrd Polar Research Center report that a 7 square kilometer section of the Jakobshavn Isbrae glacier broke up on July 6 and 7, with the calving front retreating nearly 1.5 kilometers in one day. This event is unusual due to its rapid detection and fine detail.
Researchers found significant changes in oceanic circulation that followed glacial retreat, moderating climate change. The study provides insights into major climate swings and helps understand what drives glacial and interglacial cycles.
The September-October issue of GSA Bulletin explores various geological topics, including fast erosion during floods and improving the Earth's geological time scale fidelity. A study on the West Mariana Ridge reveals new insights into its geomorphology and processes.
A team from Brown University has discovered extensive glaciofluvial valleys on Mars, which were formed by running water originating from glaciers. The findings, published in Icarus, indicate that water existed on the planet as recently as several hundred million years ago.
Two studies confirm widespread pollution in national parks across the Western United States, with pesticides being a major concern. The research found high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) near industrial sites, posing health risks to humans and wildlife.
Scientists have discovered a 300m high ridge on the sea floor beneath Pine Island Glacier, causing it to accelerate its flow into the sea. The glacier's thinning ice allows warm ocean water to melt the underside, contributing nearly 10% of global sea level rise.
Researchers from UAF and New Mexico Tech have set up a lightning-mapping array near Eyjafjallajokull to study the volcano's electrical conditions. The team has already observed unusual phenomena, such as upward-propagated lightning into the ash plume.
This interdisciplinary study explores the role of the Bering Glacier system in the northeast Pacific Ocean and global sea level. The book includes contributions from researchers on various disciplines, including glaciology, geology, and ecology.
The July-August GSA Bulletin highlights recent research on slow-slip phenomena in Cascadia, revealing a new understanding of how plate motion stresses are relieved. In southern Tibet, Permian extension- and arc-type magmatism is documented, challenging traditional views on the region's paleogeography.
This study examines the correlation between end-Triassic mass extinction and flood basalt volcanism, as well as the effects of water depth on pumice formation in submarine domes. It also investigates the relationship between climatic conditions and soil erosion during the last glacial cycle.
Researchers recovered core samples from Antarctica, revealing a 53-million-year history of ice formation and interaction with climate. The findings provide crucial insights into the transition from a warm, greenhouse world to an icy 'icehouse' environment.
The MODIS instrument on NASA's Aqua and Terra satellites captured daily visible and infrared imagery of the ash plume from Eyjafjallajokull volcano. The ash cloud consisted of fine particles of pulverized rock, posing a rare but potentially catastrophic hazard to aviation.
Research on the Devon Island ice cap shows a steady decline in ice volume and area since 1985, primarily due to warmer summers. The ice cap's thinning also exposes dark soil, increasing melt rates and posing concerns for shipping and sea level rise.
Research on Martian impact craters reveals a complex geologic history involving liquid water, ice, volcanism, tectonism, and aeolian processes. Additionally, studies of floods from Pleistocene Glacial Lake Missoula and volcanic activity in Guatemala provide insights into Earth's crust formation and plate tectonic processes.
A new study suggests that the first Americans were better equipped to handle the challenges of the Younger Dryas period, which saw a rapid return to glacial conditions. The researchers found that cooling temperatures and environmental changes did not pose significant adaptive challenges to Paleoindian groups.
A new study finds that the Greenland ice sheet is losing mass on its northwest coast, with uplift rates increasing by 1.5 inches from 2005 to 2009. This acceleration in ice loss suggests that glaciers are sliding downhill faster and dumping more ice in the ocean, contributing to global sea-level rise.
A research team has revised estimates of glacier melt in Alaska, finding that glaciers contribute about one-third less to sea-level rise than previously estimated. The new calculations put the rate of melting at around .0047 inches per year, down from the original estimate of .0067 inches.
Researchers are analyzing sediment and water samples from four distinct environments, including cold-dry Antarctica, to test a hypothesis about the planet's past climate. The team hopes to find 'markers' or indicators unique to erosion in this type of climate.
Recent research suggests that dust storms in the Arctic, possibly caused by receding glaciers, may be depositing soil in northern Europe and North America. This phenomenon could impact local climates and potentially affect human health due to the presence of small particles in the air.
Researchers found subtropical waters as warm as 39 degrees Fahrenheit in Sermilik Fjord, contributing to glacier melting. The study highlights the rapid communication between ocean circulation and glaciers, shedding light on a previously unknown connection not currently included in climate models.
A study found that black carbon aerosols from India are a major contributor to the decline in snow and ice cover on the Himalayan glaciers. The research suggests that greenhouse gases alone are insufficient to explain the melting, with black carbon contributing at least 30% of the impact.
A study in Alaska's Gulf of Alaska has found that glacial watersheds export biologically active organic matter to marine ecosystems, supporting higher organisms. As glaciers recede, this valuable food source will decrease, potentially impacting marine productivity.
Researchers from four universities and the U.S. Forest Service found that glaciers along the Gulf of Alaska are a significant source of organic carbon, with up to 4,000-year-old material being flushed out with glacier melt. This ancient carbon is enriching stream and near-shore marine ecosystems.
Researchers studying Greenland's glaciers have discovered that meltwater plays a more complex role in ice loss than previously thought. Water flowing beneath the ice contributes to ice loss through fast-moving outlet glaciers, but its effect is negligible overall.
A new NASA study finds that soot and dust contribute as much to atmospheric warming in the Himalayas as greenhouse gases. The region's rapid glacier melting threatens fresh water resources for over a billion people.
Scientists from NASA and Chinese Academy of Sciences found that black carbon deposits contribute significantly to glacial retreat in the Tibetan region, rivaling greenhouse gas effects. The study suggests that reduced soot emissions are needed to avoid glacier demise and preserve seasonal fresh water supplies.
The Himalayas' distinct geography, combined with industrial soot and dust, exacerbates glacial melting. Aerosols enhance the monsoon's intensity, transferring heat from low-lying lands to high-altitude surfaces, hastening glacial retreat.
Karl E. Karlstrom received the GSA Distinguished Service Award for his exceptional leadership in publishing and editorial board service, while Bruce F. Molnia was awarded the GSA Public Service Award for enhancing public understanding of earth sciences through his photography and public outreach.
Researchers have discovered hidden glacial valleys in Alberta that contain valuable resources, including loose rock and natural gas, posing risks of accidents and environmental damage. The valleys were found using a combination of seismic and electrical mapping data, highlighting the importance of advanced underground mapping practices.
A new lab machine developed by Iowa State University professor Neal Iverson can simulate key elements of glacier sliding, helping researchers understand how glaciers react to climate change. The machine uses a ring of ice and hydraulic press to apply pressures equal to those beneath a 1,300-foot-thick glacier.
Scientists from British Antarctic Survey have discovered a new natural carbon-absorption mechanism in Antarctica, where large blooms of phytoplankton are thriving in areas left exposed by rapid glacier melting. This process stores approximately 3.5 million tonnes of carbon each year, which could help mitigate climate change.
Researchers aim to correlate seismic activity with glacier slip using pump tests and measurements of natural seismicity. The projects focus on stability of ice stream grounding zones and role of active subglacial lakes in ice sheet loss.
The study reveals a significant ice loss on Mount Kilimanjaro, primarily attributed to rising global temperatures. The ice volume has decreased by roughly equal proportions through thinning and shrinking, with 85% of the ice lost since 1912.
Drilled at 17,598ft above sea level in the Cordillera Blanca mountain range, the ice cores contain a number of insects and plant materials that may have originated from the Amazon Basin. The cores provide an annually resolvable record of climate conditions, allowing researchers to determine past temperatures and precipitation rates.
A new study finds that glacial melting is releasing persistent organic pollutants into lakes, despite decreased use of these compounds in products. The pollutants were deposited earlier and preserved over decades, with the flow increasing sharply since the late 1990s.
Researchers are using NASA's DC-8 plane, equipped with laser mapping instruments and other equipment, to study changes in Antarctica's sea ice, glaciers, and ice sheets. The data collected will help scientists better understand how these changes contribute to future sea level rise.
A NASA DC-8 aircraft will conduct six-week flights over West Antarctica to image the ice sheets and estimate future sea-level rises. The mission aims to understand the rapid Antarctic melting and its impact on global climate change.
New study locates source of L'Aquila earthquake, finding it increases seismic hazard in region. Researchers also find waning sea ice bodes stormier, rainier Arctic with increased precipitation. Additionally, scientists develop new method to measure snow depth using GPS technology.
A new study reveals a link between climate fluctuations in the northern hemisphere and tropical regions. Glaciers in Europe, North America, and southern Peru moved together during the Little Ice Age, suggesting a global-scale pattern of glacier activity and climate change.
A new study links climate swings in Peru's Andes to those in Europe and North America during the Little Ice Age. The research provides precise ages for glacial moraines, shedding light on global-scale glacier activity and climate patterns.