Articles tagged with Glaciers
Scientists have observed the fastest-known large-scale breakage along an Antarctic ice shelf, demonstrating a 6.5-mile crack that formed in about 5.5 minutes at a speed of 80 mph. This finding reveals the physics behind ice sheet collapse and provides insights into potential calving events.
A new study suggests that the Thwaites Glacier and Pine Island Glacier began experiencing significant glacial retreat in the 1940s, driven by an extreme El Niño climate pattern. This finding corroborates previous research on ice sheet dynamics and highlights the importance of external factors in controlling glacier behavior.
A team from the Alfred Wegener Institute found that warm Atlantic water is melting Greenland's 79° North Glacier, causing it to grow thinner. The study used a high-resolution ocean model to simulate the circulation below the ice tongue, revealing that higher ocean temperatures in the Atlantic are chiefly determining the melting rates.
Researchers at Stanford have found that the Wilkes Subglacial Basin in East Antarctica could be closer to runaway melting than previously thought. The study suggests that this region, which holds enough ice to raise global sea levels by over 10 feet, may be vulnerable to irreversible melting if warming seawater gets under the ice sheet.
Researchers found that global warming made the Corbassière glacier unusable as a climate archive, destroying reliable information about past climate and air pollution. The glacier's ice core showed flattened concentration curves and lower amounts of trace substances, likely due to meltwater washing away the deposits.
By 2050, at least 34% of Alpine ice volume will be lost even if global warming stops. This is based on a new study predicting near-term ice loss due to climate inertia.
Reducing air pollution to pre-pandemic levels can protect Himalayan glaciers and prevent melting by the end of the century. Clean energy and lower-emission modes of transport would bring significant benefits for sustainable water supplies and ecosystems in Asia.
Researchers discovered traces of sunscreen agents in Arctic snow, with highest concentrations found in winter. The study suggests these contaminants are transported from lower latitudes via atmospheric circulation.
Researchers discovered that rising temperatures trigger katabatic winds in Himalayan glaciers, cooling the air and preserving surrounding ecosystems. The team used climate models to demonstrate this phenomenon across the Himalayan range, suggesting that some glaciers may have a chance to 'save' themselves by reacting to global warming.
Scientists tracking Cadman Glacier's rapid retreat highlight the importance of long-term monitoring of Antarctica's polar regions. The glacier's ice shelf thinned due to warmer ocean waters, leading to a 28% increase in ice discharge over 13 months.
A Northwestern University and University of Copenhagen study reveals that Greenland's thousands of peripheral glaciers have rapidly retreated over the past two decades. The research team combined satellite images with historical aerial photographs to document changes in over 1,000 glaciers over a century.
Researchers studied mountain goats' behavior in Glacier National Park, finding that ear flicks showed a strong correlation with the presence of snow. The lack of summer snow patches may increase their risk of local extirpation due to increased tick infestations.
The loss is attributed to warming ocean temperatures causing glaciers' floating extensions to melt. This weakening could lead to accelerated sea-level rise as the ice shelves act as frozen dams regulating ice discharge into the ocean.
New research suggests that meltwater flowing out to sea from beneath Antarctic glaciers is accelerating their retreat and contributing to global sea-level rise. The study's simulations indicate that this process could make a significant contribution to sea-level rise by 2300, potentially up to 15%.
Research reveals human occupation in Charco Verde II site from 21,000 to 15,000 years ago, defying the idea that Upper Palaeolithic humans avoided inland Iberia due to its cold climate.
Research reveals the grounding line of the Ronne Ice Shelf can shift up to 15 km with changing tides, controlling ice stability and potentially accelerating ice melt. This finding highlights the need for improved observations and modeling of tidal processes to predict Antarctica's response to climate change.
Researchers aim to access ocean waters hidden beneath ice shelves, where critical information about climate change is stored. An intelligent mothership and coordinated marine robots will communicate data from under-ice cavities, optimizing sampling and configuration.
A new inventory from Portland State University researchers reveals that some glaciers have disappeared entirely, while others have shrunk to tiny sizes. The loss of these natural regulators has significant impacts on streamflow, drought susceptibility, and sea level rise.
Researchers tracked daily volume changes with automated laser scanning to determine Glacier Loss Day (GLD), a critical indicator of glacier health. The 2022 GLD was reached earlier than usual, signaling severe climate change impacts.
Researchers have identified pathways through which warm ocean water flows into ice shelf cavities for the first time. The study found broad ocean heat intruding toward the shelf, with seawater temperatures up to 1℃ higher than freezing at depths of 50-100 meters.
A new study published in the Journal of Glaciology suggests that prior attempts to evaluate the mass of Antarctic ice shelves may have overestimated their thickness. The researchers found that on average, the Antarctic ice shelves are nearly 6% thinner than previously assumed, a difference of about 17 meters.
A multinational team of researchers studied the flow of warm water to the Totten Ice Shelf, revealing crucial details on how Circumpolar Deep Water interacts with the glacier and accelerates melting processes. The findings highlight the importance of bathymetry and regional circulation in regulating ocean heat transport towards the ice...
Recent extreme events in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean are likely to become more common and severe due to global warming. The study calls for urgent policy action to protect the continent's fragile environments, which have global implications if not preserved.
A new study by Flinders University researchers suggests that only 1% of dormant pathogens could cause major ecological harm, leading to the loss of host organisms worldwide. The simulations showed that these ancient microbes can survive, evolve, and become dominant in modern ecosystems, posing a substantial danger.
Scientists have developed a new radar technique that can image hidden features within the upper few feet of ice sheets, including melting glaciers on Earth and potentially habitable environments on Jupiter's moon Europa. The technique boosts resolution by combining two different radar bandwidths and looking for discrepancies.
New research reveals that shrinking Arctic glaciers are exposing groundwater springs releasing large amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Methane emissions from glacial groundwater springs across Svalbard could exceed 2,000 tonnes per year, posing significant threat to global warming.
A new study led by Brown University researchers reveals that Martian gullies could have been formed by on-and-off periods of meltwater from ice on and beneath the planet's surface. The study found that when Mars tilts on its axis to 35 degrees, conditions become dense enough for brief episodes of melting to occur.
Analysis of the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica shows there is less sedimentary rock than expected, a finding that could affect how the ice slides into the ocean. The new map of the geology of the region provides an exciting basis for better predictions of future ice flow and sea level rise.
Researchers have created a detailed map of the geology beneath Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica, showing that only about a fifth of the ground is sedimentary rock. This finding could affect how the glacier behaves as it retreats due to climate change, with potential implications for ice flow and loss from other glaciers.
Scientists from Hokkaido University propose a cheap and effective alternative for monitoring glacial runoff by analyzing audible sounds generated at the proglacial run-off site. The method has shown promising results in detecting changes in glacier discharge with high accuracy.
NERC has invested £25 million in a host of high-risk, high-reward research projects tackling key unanswered questions about our planet. The projects cover geology, atmospheric science, biodiversity and ecology, with research spanning 3-4 years and funding up to £1.3 million.
A research team used an improved climate computer model to reproduce the glacial cycle of 40,000-year in the early Pleistocene Epoch. The study found that astronomical forces based on modern state-of-the-art theory drove changes in climate, with small differences in Earth's spin axis orientation and orbit amplitude determining the glac...
Researchers at UCI and NASA JPL find that Petermann Glacier's grounding line shifts during tidal cycles, allowing warm seawater to melt ice at accelerated rates. This interaction makes glaciers more sensitive to ocean warming, increasing projections of sea level rise by up to 200%.
Researchers warn that climate change will lead to the loss of habitats for invertebrates in the European Alps, with many species forced to seek refuge in colder areas. The study predicts that by the end of the century, most species will have experienced consistent losses of habitat.
Researchers from Aarhus University have discovered thousands of microscopic organisms thriving on glaciers, including a black algae that darkens the ice and accelerates melting. The study highlights the importance of understanding microbial life in extreme environments to better comprehend climate change.
A historic study reveals the West Antarctic Ice Sheet was smaller and more dynamic in recent geologic past than previously thought, with implications for global sea level rise. The researchers analyzed sediment and water samples from subglacial lake Mercer Lake to infer the region's geologic history.
The seven worst years for polar ice sheet melting and losing ice have occurred during the past decade, with 2019 being the worst year on record. Global heating is driving up sea levels and coastal flooding around the world, with melting ice sheets accounting for a quarter of all sea level rise.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found Steenstrup Glacier in Greenland is retreating at an unprecedented rate, with a 5-mile retreat and quadrupled velocity between 2018 and 2021. The glacier's rapid change reveals that even long-term stable glaciers are susceptible to sudden and rapid retreat due to warming waters.
An international team of researchers analyzed medieval texts and ice core data to date some of the largest volcanic eruptions in history. They found that five lunar eclipses occurred within a year or so of major volcanic eruptions, providing new information about the most volcanically active period in Earth's history.
A new study reveals that lake-terminating glaciers in the Himalaya have been significantly underestimated, leading to revised estimates of glacier mass loss. The research found a 6.5% underestimation, with some regions experiencing even greater discrepancies, highlighting critical implications for regional water resources.
Researchers at Pusan National University have created a new algorithm that can accurately predict ice resistance and fracture points for ships navigating through the Arctic shipping routes. The model uses an elastic material approach, allowing it to study continuous ice-breaking processes, which is essential for efficient navigation.
The Tibetan Plateau's land surface darkening due to global warming affects regional and remote climates in Asia. The study predicts a 6.9% loss in glacier volume and increased monsoon precipitation over South Asia by the end of the century.
Scientists have calculated that the Amundsen Sea Embayment in West Antarctica has lost over 3,000 billion tonnes of ice over a 25-year period. The ice loss is attributed to extreme snowfall events and changes in ocean temperature and currents, contributing up to nine millimetres to global sea levels.
Researchers used a 3D radar scan to reveal that Malaspina Glacier is undercut by channels, making it more vulnerable to melting and potentially contributing significantly to global sea level rise. The glacier's bulk sits below sea level, and its coastal barrier erodes, allowing ocean water to access the glacier and accelerate its retreat.
Researchers found that Greenlandic glacial rock flour can capture large amounts of CO2 through enhanced weathering, improving crop yields by up to 24% in Danish fields. The fine powder also acts as a natural fertilizer, providing a wider array of nutrients than commercial organic fertilizers.
Stefano Pierini proposes a new paradigm to simplify the verification of the Milankovitch hypothesis, combining physics concepts to link orbital parameters and glacial cycles. The deterministic excitation paradigm correctly predicts the timing of recent glacial terminations, offering insights into climate predictability.
A new review reveals that environments beyond greenspaces and bluespaces, such as caves, deserts, and glaciers, have potential health benefits. Short-term exposure to solid-state water landscapes showed little evidence of benefits, while longer-term exposure led to improved emotional states, medical treatments for allergies, and physic...
A research team led by Britney Schmidt deployed an underwater robot, Icefin, to explore the Kamb Ice Stream in Antarctica. The robot's findings reveal unprecedented views of ice, ocean, and sea floor interactions, which can improve models of sea-level rise.
A new study using satellite images found that glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula are flowing up to 22% faster during summer months due to warmer ocean waters and melting snow. This speed-up, driven by reduced friction between ice sheets and underlying rock, poses a significant threat to global sea levels.
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.
New data from the MELT project reveal that Thwaites Glacier's melting is not uniform, with cracks and crevasses experiencing faster melting rates. This suggests that even small amounts of melting can push the glacier out of balance, contributing to its rapid retreat.
Glacial lake outbursts are becoming smaller in volume and peak discharge due to accelerated glacial melt, but occurring earlier in the year. Researchers found that lakes with documented outbursts are now on average 250-500 meters higher than 120 years ago.
A new study reveals that glaciers in Greenland move through a complex system involving basal temperate ice and varied landscapes. The research uses computer modeling to better understand the movement of the world's second-largest ice sheet, which could lead to more accurate predictions of sea-level rise.
A global assessment identifies areas most vulnerable to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods, highlighting the need for targeted risk management actions. The study reveals 9.3 million people in High Mountain Asia are at highest risk, with India and Pakistan accounting for nearly half of the global total.
Researchers have found that glaciers advanced three times over the past 1,500 years in the Northern Antarctic Peninsula, coinciding with evidence from other studies. The study uses radiocarbon dates from black mosses to constrain past glacier behavior and provides insights into climate history.
Researchers used radiocarbon ages of re-exposed black mosses to determine glacier advance phases in the northern Antarctic Peninsula. The study found three distinct advances, indicating cooler and potentially wetter conditions than today.
Scientists have developed AI techniques to track crevasses on the Thwaites Glacier, which could impact global sea levels by up to 60cm. The study found a complex interplay between crevasse formation and ice flow speed changes.
A new study found that glaciers are losing mass at a rate higher than previously estimated, with small glaciers being the most impacted. By 2100, 49% of the world's glaciers could disappear due to global warming, leading to a 9-cm sea level rise under 1.5°C conditions.
A study projects that 2 out of 3 glaciers could be lost by 2100, with losses ranging from 25% to 41% of total glacier mass. The research uses a new model and unprecedented data to provide more accurate projections.
A study by Brown researchers reveals how climate change can impact the Indian Ocean dipole, leading to extreme weather events like megadroughts in East Africa and flooding in Indonesia. The analysis compares long-term climate data with simulations from an advanced climate model.