Articles tagged with Glaciers
Research finds that black carbon aerosols from South Asia contribute to the melting of glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau, reducing precipitation and mass gain. The study reveals a 11% impact on average glacier mass loss in Tibet and 22% in the Himalayas since 2007.
Scientists found the Bering Land Bridge was flooded until 35,700 years ago, with its full emergence occurring shortly before human migration to the Americas. The study's findings suggest a less direct relationship between climate and global ice volume, casting doubt on some explanations for ice age cycles.
Researchers have found that a weak ocean gyre near the Thwaites Ice Shelf allows more warm water to access its base, causing it to melt. This process is driven by waters from nearby melting ice shelves and can impact the stability of adjacent ice shelves, contributing to global sea-level rise.
A UMaine-led study shows that mountain glaciers are linked to shifting westerlies and likely to accelerate due to global warming. The researchers found that fluctuations in glacial snowlines reflected temperature changes over large regions of the atmosphere.
Research reveals that Florida's incredible plant diversity was shaped by the peninsula's repeated growth and shrinkage during ice ages. Scrub mints, a unique group of plants endemic to the southeastern US, radiated into multiple new species as they became isolated on islands due to sea level changes.
Researchers used high-resolution radar systems to reconstruct past ice streams in Greenland, revealing they can 'shut down' rapidly. This insight offers new information on the future behavior of ice streams and how it affects sea-level rise predictions.
Research from Aarhus University found that melting glaciers release around 10,000 microorganisms per millilitre of meltwater, leading to estimated annual releases of over 100,000 tonnes of carbon-dense microorganisms to surrounding ecosystems.
The Eurasian Ice Sheet sculpted Europe's landscape through extreme erosion over the last 100,000 years, with climate and geology playing key roles. The study reveals vast networks of subglacial rivers, promoting faster ice flow and sediment transport, with significant implications for marine carbon sinks and coastal communities.
A new study documents past changes in Earth's climate system by analyzing dust composition in samples collected from different areas and depths of the same glacier. The findings suggest that a complete dust record could offer more secrets than scientists realize, hinting at potential long-term perspectives on the Central Asian dust cycle.
The study found that the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream could add a half-inch or more of water to sea levels by the end of this century. The researchers used satellite data and numerical modeling with GPS data collected from the harsh interior of Greenland over the past decade.
A new study combining GPS, satellite data, and numerical modelling indicates that existing models have underestimated ice loss from northeast Greenland, which could contribute up to 15.5mm to global sea levels by 2100. The Northeast Greenland Ice Stream's contribution will be six times greater than previously thought.
Two billion people globally rely on mountain water for drinking and irrigation, which is under threat due to global heating. Researchers propose integrated water strategies that include scientists working directly with communities to drive climate adaptation and boost water security.
A new study reveals huge gaps in data on how communities use mountain water sources, complicating efforts to model future scenarios. The researchers emphasize the need for improved data and process understanding to guide effective climate change adaptation.
A new study warns that climate change will negatively impact mountain landscapes and human activity, increasing risks of natural hazards like avalanches and river floods. Mountain communities are also affected, with traditional practices like transhumance and agriculture dying out due to changing weather patterns and water scarcity.
A study reveals a consistent pairing of volcanic ash and low ocean oxygen events during times of rapid climate warming at the end of the last ice age. The research suggests that volcanic eruptions may increase as the planet warms, posing risks to populated regions.
Researchers extracted oxygen isotopes to study recent climate changes in the Third Pole region. The analysis revealed dramatic shifts in climate over the past 12,000 years, likely driven by population growth and agricultural development.
A study led by the University of Zurich found that diverse Arctic vegetation affects the land surface energy budget. The researchers linked vegetation types to energy exchange data from 64 measuring stations, revealing a significant difference in heat flux between various vegetation types and glaciers/grasslands.
A 460km-long river under the Antarctic ice sheet affects the flow and melting of ice, potentially accelerating ice loss. The discovery reveals more active water flow than previously thought, which could make it more susceptible to changes in climate.
Researchers from UC Berkeley used rock analysis to determine that the valley's impressive depth was formed since 10 million years ago, with most of it carved in the past 5 million years. The study employed a novel technique called helium-4/helium-3 thermochronometry to reconstruct the temperature history of the rocks.
A novel genetic analysis by University of Ottawa researchers reveals that climate change could lead to an increased risk of viral spillover in the High Arctic. This increased risk may result in new viruses infecting previously uninfected hosts, potentially leading to emerging pandemics.
Researchers found that subsurface warming in the North Atlantic precedes the release of massive icebergs from Canada and the US, leading to a reduction in surface salinity and AMOC collapse. This finding sheds light on the sequence of events responsible for the collapse of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation system.
A new study reveals high-altitude contests between mountain goats and bighorn sheep for access to limited resources, such as minerals and water. Mountain goats emerged victorious in over 98% of contests, highlighting the importance of scarce resources in extreme environments.
Researchers investigated how supraglacial lake drainage affects tidewater glacier flow speed. They found that Helheim Glacier showed a small 'pulse' of movement after lake drainage, likely due to an efficient drainage system. However, for glaciers without such systems, lake drainages may produce a net increase in glacier movement.
Scientists have observed distinct seasonal movements in the flow of land-based ice draining into George VI Ice Shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula, with glaciers speeding up by approximately 15% during the Antarctic summer. This finding suggests that similar seasonal variability may exist at other vulnerable sites in Antarctica, potential...
Researchers from Hokkaido University used satellite images to observe the sudden drainage of proglacial lake Lago Greve in Chilean Patagonia, resulting in a 18-meter drop in water level and a loss of 3.7 cubic kilometers of water. The study suggests that the cause was the collapse of a sediment bump at the lake's outlet, highlighting t...
A team of scientists led by Sophie Coulson and Jerry X. Mitrovica have detected the first definitive proof of elusive sea level fingerprints. The findings validate almost a century of sea level science and help solidify confidence in models predicting future sea level rise.
Scientists at Hokkaido University have quantified glacier mass loss on Kamchatka Peninsula, revealing a total ice loss of 4.9 billion tons between 2000 and 2016. Rising temperatures are driving this change, which contributes to global sea level rise.
Scientists mapped high-resolution seafloor images revealing Thwaites Glacier retreated at rates up to 2.1 km/year in the past, potentially leading to a total loss of ice and a 3-10 ft sea level rise. This study provides new insights into the glacier's future behavior.
A new study of coastal geography and a medieval map proposes that two islands in Cardigan Bay, Wales, which are no longer exist, could have come into existence and disappeared due to erosion. The research, published in Atlantic Geosciences, suggests the islands may be remnants of a low-lying landscape underlain by soft glacial deposits.
A team of researchers from ETH Zurich and WSL reconstructed the topography of all Swiss glaciers in 1931 using stereophotogrammetry. They found that the glacier volume halved between 1931 and 2016, with some glaciers losing mass at varying rates depending on factors like altitude, snout shape, and debris coverage.
A new study from the University of Washington and the National Park Service measured 38 years of change for glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. The study found that 13 of 19 glaciers have shown significant retreat, while two have advanced. Lake-terminating glaciers are retreating at a faster rate than other types.
A new study reveals that subsurface ocean warming in the subpolar North Atlantic caused Heinrich Events, which led to ice sheet instability and disruption of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation. The warming facilitated melting of polar ice sheets from below, resulting in accelerated shedding of icebergs.
A new Bayesian method and genomic data analysis reveal strong statistical support for the 'Pleistocene aggregate island complex (PAIC) model', a theory suggesting species diversification during ice ages. This study tested the PAIC model in two genera of lizards, each with species found only in the Philippines.
Tree ring growth in Alaska's La Perouse glacier reveals a slowdown of growth as the glacier advanced and an increase in growth rates as it retreated. The findings provide insights into how ecosystems may respond to rapid climate change.
Researchers have extracted a detailed record of 700,000 years of tropical climate change from an Andean lakebed, shedding light on the past 160,000 years. The discovery reveals that glaciers in the tropics followed a roughly 100,000-year cycle, with periods of wetness and dryness affecting global temperatures.
Researchers developed a methodology to attribute coastal glacier retreat to human-caused climate change, revealing that even modest global warming causes most glaciers to melt or retreat. The approach simulates the behavior of real ice sheets like Greenland's, helping predict major ice loss and informing decision-making for policymakers.
A new study reveals that climate change is affecting Andean glaciers in sync with polar ice, suggesting the entire planet is connected. Researchers used sediment deposits from Lake Junín to create a record of glacial changes spanning 700,000 years.
The Tibetan Plateau, known as the Third Pole, is vulnerable to climate change with extensive glacier retreat. Researchers analyzed observational and modeling data to understand its role in Asia's climate and global climate.
The Tibetan Plateau's water supply is under strain due to rapid melting of snow and upstream glaciers. This scarcity could lead to increased risks of international and intranational disputes in countries relying on it.
A previously unknown subpopulation of polar bears living in Southeast Greenland has been genetically distinct and uniquely adapted to its environment. The study provides insight into how the species might persist into the future, but highlights the need for careful extrapolation due to limited access to sea ice.
A University of Maine study found that two major glaciers in West Antarctica are losing ice at unprecedented rates, potentially contributing up to 3.4 meters to global sea level rise. The researchers used radiocarbon dating and relative sea-level data to determine the glaciers' stability over the past 5,000 years.
The study found that even if Earth's climate stopped warming, it would be difficult to rebuild the ice shelf once it has fallen apart. The researchers suggest that the ice shelf may not recover unless the future climate cools considerably. This has significant implications for sea-level rise and the stability of polar ice sheets.
A new volcanic modeling study found that ice-capped volcanoes like Westdahl Peak are delayed in eruption by approximately seven years due to the added pressure from glacial ice. This increase in time may seem insignificant on a geologic scale, but it's significant on the human time scale.
Researchers have mapped a huge, actively circulating groundwater system in deep sediments in West Antarctica, which could speed glaciers and release carbon. The discovery has significant implications for understanding the behavior of the frozen form found in glaciers.
Researchers found that a 2019 landslide on the Amalia Glacier in Chile caused it to grow in size and slow down its melting process. The study suggests that landslides can have a major impact on glacier movement, which could help scientists better predict future changes due to climate change.
Researchers identified glacial refugia for Campanula americana and found that populations nearest the refugia had highest potential for speciation. This discovery highlights the importance of conserving habitats in Southeastern regions.
A University of California, Berkeley scientist has created a model that predicts the most vulnerable glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctic are thick and fast-moving ones. The new model incorporates the effects of meltwater lubricating their downhill flow, suggesting these glaciers are more sensitive to climate change.
New PSU research predicts the disappearance of Olympic Peninsula glaciers by 2070, with some remaining as tiny shells. The study highlights the impact of global warming on glacier mass and ecology in the region.
Fossil analysis reveals mollusk communities were resilient to major climatic shifts but struggled under human-induced changes, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
Scientists detected a seismic signal indicating a massive landslide triggered by the rapid recession of the West Grenville Glacier in British Columbia. The resulting tsunami devastated forest, salmon spawning habitats, and logging camps, killing hundreds of thousands of fish and potentially affecting bears and eagles.
Researchers found that changes in hydrology and pressure beneath the glacier are responsible for the relationship between meltwater discharge and calving. This discovery could help project future sea-level rise and its impact on coastal communities.
Researchers reconstructed the advance of Kangiata Nunaata Sermia glacier, finding it moved at a rate comparable to modern retreat. The glacier's advance coincided with Norse settlements, contradicting the common assumption that climate warming leads to glacial retreat.
Scientists found a unique set of ice-dependent fungi on Walker Glacier, but only five species were also isolated from the glacier foreland environment. The researchers believe that a loss of these fungi would be a great loss to society due to their potential applications in biotechnology.
Researchers predict Greenland ice sheet will lose up to 3.54 meters of sea level equivalent by 3000, under unabated warming conditions. In contrast, reduced emissions pathway may see a loss of only 0.16-0.4 meters sea-level equivalent.
A new study by MIT researchers reveals that glacier ice flow is more sensitive to stress than previously calculated, with revised estimates potentially refining predictions of sea level rise. The improved model could help glaciologists better understand the impact of Antarctic ice flow on future sea levels.
Researchers at UCI and NASA's JPL found that glacier grounding lines retreated at alarming rates, up to 12 km/year, due to high melt rates of floating ice in the Amundsen Sea Embayment. This process reduces basal resistance, speeding up glacier retreat.
Researchers from Denmark and Sweden have dated the massive Hiawatha impact crater in Greenland to 58 million years ago, revealing it occurred a few million years after dinosaurs went extinct. The crater's age opens up a new understanding of Earth's evolution during this period.
A recent seismic study reveals that Patagonia is rising as glaciers melt due to a gap in the tectonic plate under the region. The study found low seismic velocity and a thinning of the lithosphere above the gap, which is driving rapid uplift.
According to a new EPFL study, Swiss rivers are at risk of overheating by the end of the century. If greenhouse gas emissions are reduced, river temperatures may only rise by 1°C and discharge decreases by 5% in mountain catchments. Inaction could lead to extreme consequences, including glacier loss and decreased biodiversity.
Researchers have found that the Greenland Ice Sheet is losing mass at an unprecedented rate due to the conversion of gravitational energy from meltwater into heat. The ice sheet's basal melting rates are comparable to those measured on the surface, but without solar energy input, producing a significant source of hydropower.