Articles tagged with Glaciers
A region of cooling water in the North Atlantic Ocean near Iceland, nicknamed the 'Blue Blob,' has likely slowed the melting of the island's glaciers since 2011. The cold patch is predicted to persist until about 2050, before ocean and air temperatures increase leading to accelerated melting.
A new study published in The Cryosphere finds that warm seawater intrusion under glaciers may cause much higher rates of melting at the glacier bottom. This could lead to projected ice sheet volume loss being 10-50% higher, or more than doubling over the next century.
Researchers have created the first global map of flow velocities for 98% of the world's glaciers using satellite images. The study found that Himalayan glaciers hold a third more water than previously estimated, while tropical Andean glaciers may be up to 23% smaller.
A new atlas measures the movement and thickness of over 250,000 mountain glaciers worldwide, revealing a mixed picture of the globe's ice-bound freshwater resources. The research suggests there is 20% less ice available for sea level rise than previously thought, with significant implications for water availability and climate change.
A new study using advanced radar technology has recorded Antarctic glaciers losing ice at unprecedented rates, threatening global climate risks. The research team plans to expand its findings to giant and fragile West Antarctica neighbors, including the Thwaites and Pine Island glaciers.
Researchers have developed an interest in studying glacial lakes and their impact on glacier behavior and downstream ecosystems. Over a 35-year period, a team of scientists has produced a detailed inventory of glacial lakes and dams in Alaska and northwest Canada.
The probe measures salinity, temperature and pressure, making three measurements per metre before returning to the surface. The successful deployment provides valuable insights into freshwater input to the marine Arctic ecosystems and its effects on global ocean currents.
Researchers reconstructed bedrock geometry using gravity measurements, finding that glaciers of 'Würm' glaciation mainly widened valleys rather than deepening them. The study also revealed U-shaped cross-sections and asymmetric geometries in overdeepenings beneath Aare and Gürbe valleys.
A submersible robot will explore three of Greenland's glaciers with a remotely operated vehicle Nereid Under Ice (NUI), mapping seafloor topography and retrieving sediment cores to study moraines and their impact on glacier stability. The mission aims to improve model projections for future sea level rise.
Researchers found that glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere lost a total area of 390 km² per year, with 60% attributed to the Greenland Ice Sheet. Only 3% of glaciers advanced during this period. The study highlights the impact of climate change on marine-terminating glaciers.
A new study verifies that ancient glaciers caused the erosion of rocks up to 3 miles thick during the Snowball Earth period, resolving a long-standing debate. The research uses thermochronology to estimate temperature and thermal structure, finding a widespread signal of rapid cooling consistent with massive glacier erosion.
Researchers have compiled a comprehensive directory of subglacial lakes worldwide, revealing that 20% are active and pose a hazard to human populations. The inventory provides a knowledge base for scientists to assess future changes as the climate warms.
The study reveals Himalayan glaciers are shrinking far more rapidly than glaciers in other parts of the world, losing around 40% of their area and massive amounts of ice. The accelerating melting threatens the water supply of millions of people in Asia.
A new study suggests that melting glaciers in the Pacific mountains could produce over 6,000 kilometers of new salmon habitat by 2100. Researchers modeled glacial retreat under different climate change scenarios and found that 315 glaciers could create habitats with conditions suitable for salmon.
A study finds that glacier retreat in the Pacific mountains could produce over 6,150 km of potential new salmon habitat by 2100, benefiting salmon populations. Climate change poses challenges for salmon survival, but newly created habitats can provide opportunities for local populations to thrive.
A study predicts that 6,150 km of new Pacific salmon habitat will emerge in the Pacific mountains by 2100, with most occurring in Alaska and the transboundary region. This newly formed habitat can support rapid colonization by salmon populations, offering local opportunities for some species but posing challenges under climate change.
Researchers investigate glacial ice melting that releases acoustically distinct pressurized underwater bubbles, providing a potential tool for monitoring climate change's impact on glaciers. The team's experiments will permit the long-term monitoring of ice loss and its link to water temperature.
A new study analyzing microfossils in European glaciers reveals earlier-than-expected evidence of air pollution and the roots of modern invasive species problems. The analysis provides non-stop context for major historical events like droughts or famines, helping scientists better understand current climate change.
Researchers have identified large semi-stationary eddies off the Wilkes Land coast as causing warm water to flow towards the Antarctic continental shelf, contributing to melting of the Totten Ice Shelf. This finding has significant implications for predicting global sea-level rise.
Staffordshire University researchers investigate the impact of melting snow and ice on ski tourism. Despite environmental changes, tourists prioritize mountains, scenery, and hiking opportunities, highlighting the need for adaptation and diversification in the industry.
Researchers led by NUS found that climate change is increasing fluvial sediment loads in the high mountains of Asia, with implications for hydropower, food, and environmental security. The study reveals that sediment fluxes could more than double by 2050 under an extreme climate change scenario.
A research team from VUB has been monitoring glaciers in the Alps for 20 years, using drones to track glacier melting and find that the Morteratsch and Pers glaciers have lost mass again. The study found that climate change is causing glaciers to lose mass faster, with one cooler summer not changing the overall trend.
Researchers found that changes to the ice sheet immediately impact the groundwater underlying the island, affecting Arctic hydrology and ocean circulation patterns. The discovery sheds new light on the importance of groundwater in responding to climate change.
Researchers used radiokrypton dating to study the origin and flow of freshwater and saltwater in the Floridan Aquifer. The study found that some samples contained 40,000-year-old saltwater from just before the last glacial maximum, highlighting the impact of rising sea levels on coastal aquifers.
Research suggests that climate-caused disruptions to the jet stream's position and intensity could lead to severe weather-related consequences. The study's findings imply that continued warming could cause significant deviations from the norm, rendering the jet stream drastically different within a matter of decades.
Scientists have imaged fine-scale landforms within ancient glacial channels in the North Sea, revealing how water moved through the channels and even how ice stagnated and melted away. The findings provide clues to how ice sheets react to a warming climate and offer insights into future changes in ice sheet behavior.
Researchers have mapped significant geothermal heat beneath Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica, revealing a new potential weak spot in the ice sheet's stability. This heat flow, estimated to be up to 150 milliwatts per square meter, could lead to easier sliding of the glacier and potentially accelerate its collapse.
Scientists at Ohio State University have found viruses nearly 15,000 years old in Tibetan glacier ice, including four previously known and 28 novel viruses. The discovery sheds light on virus evolution and helps understand how microbes and viruses respond to climate change.
Glaciers in High Mountain Asia are strong sources of carbon, with cryoconite holes emitting CH4 and CO2. Proglacial river runoff can mitigate these effects, but more research is needed to understand the impact on the carbon cycle.
Researchers used seismic sensors to study subglacial water flow on the Argentière glacier. The study revealed a complex drainage system with multiple cavities producing high water pressure, accelerating glacier movement.
A team of scientists from Hokkaido University used an ocean-bottom seismometer to detect continuous seismic radiation from a glacier sliding in Greenland. The study revealed that glacial basal motion can be monitored using underwater sensors, offering new opportunities for studying ice flow and calving processes.
Researchers have discovered a new style of invisible gold hosted in pyrite crystals with deformation-related dislocations. Additionally, a study reveals the impact of diagenesis on iron speciation in ancient sedimentary rocks, suggesting true euxinia may be less than previously thought. Submarine fans also exhibit dynamic environments ...
A recent study found that mountaintop glaciers in the tropics have lost significant area over the past 50 years, with some losing up to 93% of their ice. The study combined NASA satellite imagery and data from ice cores, revealing a rapid decline in glacier mass due to climate change.
A new model has been developed to simulate the correlation between iceberg size and tsunami amplitude, providing insight into glacial rupture mechanisms. The study's results can refine sea-level rise predictions and provide detailed information about icebergs' mass loss.
A new study suggests that ice sheet thickness and the rate of calved icebergs limit the collapse of marine-terminating glaciers. Understanding this process is crucial for forecasting potential future sea level rise.
Researchers from Heidelberg University combined historical images and maps with current data to track glacier changes in the Nanga Parbat Massif. The study shows that the glaciers have been shrinking since the 1930s, but at a slower rate than other Himalayan regions due to avalanche activity and debris cover.
Researchers found evidence of massive icebergs drifting from Northeast Canada to southern Florida using high-resolution seafloor mapping and radiocarbon dating. The discovery provides insight into the interactions between icebergs/glaciers and climate, shedding light on how past changes in freshwater forcing influenced shifts in climate.
Scientists extracted two deep ice cores over 80m long from Colle Gnifetti, containing information on the climate and environment of ten thousand years ago. The ice cores will be stored in Antarctica for decades and centuries to come, providing valuable data for scientific advances and political decisions.
The Pine Island Glacier's ice shelf has been losing a significant portion of its area in recent years, causing the glacier to speed up. The study found that internal forces on the glacier are responsible for this process, which could lead to a more rapid and abrupt collapse.
A new study on Petermann Glacier found that the way under-ice landscape is represented in models can significantly impact future sea-level rise predictions. The researchers discovered that a warmer ocean could trigger the break-up of the glacier, leading to increased mass loss from Earth's polar ice sheets.
A team of 53 scientists determined the deadly winter debris flow in Uttarakhand, India was caused by falling rock and glacier ice that melted on its descent. The study used satellite imagery, seismic records and eyewitness videos to produce computer models of the flow, shedding light on emerging hazards in the region.
A coalition of scientists analyzed satellite imagery and seismic records to understand the cause of the Uttarakhand disaster, finding that climate change is contributing to its frequency. The study suggests that a giant landslide triggered a devastating debris flow, destroying hydropower facilities and killing hundreds.
Researchers at CU Boulder discovered that a sudden change in slushy iceberg aggregates can trigger calving events up to an hour before they occur. The findings may help scientists predict future sea-level rise scenarios and understand the forces determining how much ice discharges into the ocean.
Researchers found significant amounts of mercury in meltwater rivers from Greenland's glaciers, with concentrations comparable to industrial China. The discovery highlights the need for rethinking conservation measures and management strategies to address mercury pollution.
Researchers discovered high concentrations of mercury in Greenland glacial meltwaters, exceeding typical river levels by up to 1500 times. This finding raises questions about the impact of glacial melting on aquatic ecosystems and food chains.
Researchers discovered high concentrations of mercury in Greenland glacial meltwaters, comparable to those found in industrial China. This finding raises concerns about the impact on coastal ecosystems and the seafood industry, which is a significant export for Greenland.
Researchers have successfully detected groundwater beneath Hiawatha Glacier in Greenland using airborne ice-penetrating radar. The discovery could greatly impact sea-level rise projections by enabling the study of water flow through ice sheets at a continental scale.
A large-scale research project assessed Earth's 92,033 debris-covered glaciers and found that debris substantially reduces glacier mass loss. This discovery will improve risk assessment for communities near these glaciers, which can lead to glacial lake formation and potential flood hazards.
Glaciologists have created a new slip law to measure the relationship between forces and glacier speed. The study uses high-resolution measurements of glacier beds and digital models to estimate glacier speeds, which can be used to predict sea level rise.
Researchers used fibre-optic sensing to obtain highly detailed temperature measurements from the surface of the ice sheet to its base, revealing a heterogeneous temperature distribution. This finding contradicts previous theories and highlights limitations in current models, including those predicting global sea-level rise.
A recent study published in Nature Climate Change warns that flash flood risk may triple across the Third Pole due to global warming. The study found that one in six glacial lakes pose a high to very high risk to downstream communities, with potential transboundary natural disasters expected to increase.
The study reveals that glacial lake outburst floods in the Himalayan region and Tibetan plateau could triple in the coming decades, posing a significant threat to communities and infrastructure. The risk of transboundary disasters will also increase, with new hotspots emerging in regions like the Western Himalaya and Pamir.
Scientists discover microplastic particles in remote Vatnajokull glacier, potentially affecting glaciers' melting and behavior. The finding highlights the need to map and understand microplastics in glaciers globally.
A new study reveals that global glacier retreat has accelerated by 267 gigatonnes of ice per year on average between 2000 and 2019, contributing to rising sea levels. The loss of glacial mass is having a profound impact on mountain glaciers in the Himalayas and other regions.
Research suggests that global warming caused a shift in the Earth's axis due to glacial melting and changes in land water storage. The study analyzed data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission, finding that water loss on land contributed significantly to the eastward change in polar drift.
The cryosphere plays a vital role in regulating global climate, and NASA studies its changes extensively. Scientists have reported dramatic ice sheet losses in Greenland and Antarctica, causing sea levels to rise by 0.55 inches over 16 years.
New research suggests Himalayan rock glaciers, which account for 1/25 of glacial ice, will resist global warming more than traditional 'true' ice glaciers. These slow-moving glaciers are well-insulated and contain about 51 cubic kilometers of ice.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen gathered data from the Renland Ice Cap, combining airborne radar, on-site measurements, and satellite data to create a more accurate model. This study now allows for greater precision in projecting local climate conditions for smaller ice caps and glaciers around the world.
Researchers found glacial deposits in the Bodui Zangbo River valley that date back to before MIS-6. The age of these deposits suggests a glacial advance occurred during MIS-12, likely due to surface uplift and decreased temperatures.
The Himalayan region is prone to devastating glacial lake outburst floods due to rising temperatures and extreme precipitation. A network of satellite-based monitoring stations could provide in situ and real-time data on GLOF risk, helping to mitigate future events.