Articles tagged with Glaciers
Researchers estimate that glacier lake outburst floods (GLOF) could reach peak discharges of up to 15,600 cubic meters per second, posing a major threat to rivers and communities in the region. The study highlights the importance of monitoring lake levels and historic outbursts in determining GLOF hazard.
Researchers at Cornell University have discovered a new ice river forming on the Vavilov ice cap in Siberia, shedding nearly 11% of its mass since 2013. The rapid ice loss is believed to be linked to climate change, which can cause unstable ice shelves and erosion by warm water.
Researchers observe a high-speed ice feature forming on a Russian glacier, which could indicate the transition from a glacial surge to an ice stream. The study suggests this phenomenon may be more common than previously thought and could impact predictions for global sea level rise.
A UCI-led team has unveiled the most accurate portrait yet of Antarctica's ice sheet bed topography, revealing stabilizing ridges and deep land canyons. The new map will help scientists predict the continent's vulnerability to future climate warming.
A Dartmouth study confirms tropical glaciers began melting at the end of the last ice age due to a decrease in temperature differences between polar and tropical regions. This finding clarifies how global temperatures transformed during one of Earth's most extreme climate change events.
Satellite data shows Greenland's glaciers have retreated about 3 miles between 1985 and 2018, with the rate of ice calving beginning to accelerate in 2000. This imbalance is causing the glacier to lose mass faster than snow can replace it.
An analysis of sediment carried by glaciers in both South America and East Africa reveals tropical glaciers began to melt earlier than expected around 20,000 years ago. Rising temperatures at the poles reduced atmospheric circulation, slowing heat out of the tropics and triggering early melting.
A new study reveals that Glacier National Park's iconic mountain goats are under threat from climate change, as they seek out dwindling snow patches to cope with heat stress. The researchers found that breathing rates decrease by up to 15% when goats rest in these patches.
The study ranked Asian Water Towers as the most important and most threatened globally, with the Indus water tower being the most relied-upon and vulnerable. Climate change and geopolitical factors pose significant risks to these systems, threatening the water supply for 1.9 billion people.
A new study warns that the world's remaining tropical glaciers will melt away in the next decade, with others following soon after. The glaciers, located between the Himalayas and Andes, are already showing rapid melting, with some losing up to 75% of their surface area since 2010.
The last known tropical glaciers in the West Pacific Warm Pool are at risk of disappearing within a decade. The study found that the Puncak Jaya glaciers in Indonesia lost around 1.05 meters of ice per year between 2010 and 2015, with thinning rates increasing five-fold during strong El Niño events.
Researchers report rapid draining of a lake on the Greenland Ice Sheet, altering ice dynamics. Partial drainage events deliver large volumes of water to the bed in under 5 hours.
Researchers use drones to observe fracture formation on Greenland Ice Sheet, finding that meltwater causes formation of new fractures and expansion of dormant ones. The study shows how these chain reactions can trigger catastrophic lake drainages, with significant effects on the ice sheet's instability.
A McGill University-led research team found evidence that glacial meltwater provided oxygen to eukaryotes during the most severe ice age, allowing them to survive. The study's findings shed light on extreme climate change and evolution, suggesting a link between Snowball Earth and animal evolution.
Researchers at Harvard University have achieved the coldest chemical reaction in history, slowing down molecules to capture the critical act of bond formation. By utilizing ultracold temperatures, they observed the intermediate stage of the reaction for microseconds, enabling direct measurement and validation of theories.
A study found that biomass burning in Amazonia can enhance tropical glaciers in the Andes, with aerosols like black carbon increasing melting by 3-4% or 6%. The impact depends on dust content in snow, highlighting climate pressure from global food demand
Researchers extracted pristine samples of carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases from 2 million-year-old ice cores in Antarctica. These 'snapshots' of prehistoric atmospheric conditions provide direct access to greenhouse gas measurements and shed light on the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, a period that saw significant changes in globa...
Researchers are studying ice loss on Greenland's Helheim glacier to better predict sea-level rise. The four-year project brings together experts in geology, atmospheric science, and oceanography to investigate the complex processes driving glacier melting.
A new study models fracture chain reactions from meltwater ponds on Antarctica's ice shelves, finding a speed limit to their damage. The research suggests that while pond fracturing is short-ranged, rapid surface melting can trigger catastrophic collapses like Larsen B.
A 6,250-year record of glacial meltwater discharge suggests ice shelves have been thinning at an accelerating rate for approximately 300 years. This could increase the risk of collapse as anthropogenic warming intensifies.
Researchers studying glacier algae in the Greenland Ice Sheet found that purple-pigmented ice algal blooms cause increased melting by darkening the surface and absorbing more sunlight. The project aims to understand the complex interactions between light-absorbing particulates and predict where and when biological darkening will occur.
A €11 million ERC grant will study the role of glacier algae in darkening the Greenland Ice Sheet surface, affecting sea level rise predictions. The research aims to understand how biological darkening occurs and where it will occur in the future.
A team of researchers found that Peruvian glaciers have retreated by 30% since 2000, with the rate of retreat accelerating since 2013. The increased melting is linked to El Niño events and has significant implications for water supply, agriculture, and natural hazards.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a new method to map glacier advancement in cold periods and melting in warmer periods using ice core data. This technique helps improve climate models by linking dust particle composition to ice layer distribution, revealing information on how quickly glaciers recede.
New research by University of Sheffield scientists reveals a direct link between surface melting and short bursts of glacier acceleration in Antarctica, with some glaciers moving up to 400m per year. As temperatures continue to rise, this phenomenon is expected to become more common, affecting sea level rise predictions.
Researchers revive 103-year-old succession plots in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park, finding stable communities rather than predictable trajectories. The findings challenge traditional chronosequence studies and highlight the importance of early events in shaping long-term ecosystem dynamics.
Glacier-fed rivers in Canada's north are actively consuming atmospheric CO2, according to a University of Alberta study. Chemical weathering is the process behind this phenomenon, involving interactions between glacial sediments and melt waters with the atmosphere.
The University of Kansas researcher will use a five-year grant to design, build, and fly a radar suite on a helicopter-based unmanned aerial system (UAS) to gather data on glaciers. The UAS will provide greater resolution in its radar measurements, allowing for the measurement of crevasse size and bed topography over the grounding line.
Researchers at Rutgers University and the University of Oregon develop a new approach to measure submarine melt, revealing tidewater glaciers are retreating faster than expected. This finding could significantly enhance forecasting of climate-driven sea level changes.
A recent study using sonar surveys found that tidewater glaciers in Alaska are melting underwater at unprecedented rates, contradicting previous estimates. The research suggests that these glaciers may be experiencing 'hotter water' conditions than previously thought.
Researchers have developed a new method to measure submarine melt rates, revealing that current theoretical models may be underestimating glacial melt by a significant margin. The study's findings could lead to improved forecasting of climate-driven sea level rise.
Researchers at USF have discovered a process that can control glacier calving in Greenland, which is crucial for modeling sea level rise. The team found that a 'mélange' wedge of sea ice and icebergs can 'hold the door' and prevent glaciers from calving.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Earth Science suggests that intense storms may contribute to the breakup of Antarctic ice sheets. Researchers deployed underwater sensors to record 'icequakes' indicating fracturing of the Nansen Ice Shelf, which calved into two giant icebergs during a massive storm system.
Researchers have documented a 22-year average sea level rise of 2.2 millimeters per year in the Arctic Ocean using radar measurements from space-based altimetry satellites. The findings reveal significant regional differences, with sea levels rising twice as fast in the Beaufort Gyre and falling along the west coast of Greenland.
A study by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers suggests that instability within Antarctic ice will accelerate its flow into the ocean and push sea levels up at a more rapid pace than previously expected. This 'instability' makes forecasting more uncertain, particularly relevant to engineering against flood dangers.
Researchers collected continuous time series of water temperatures near glaciers in Svalbard, revealing subsurface temperatures exert the greatest influence on mass loss. The study provides valuable data to improve numerical models estimating future sea level rise.
The 'Third Pole' region in Asia contains one-seventh of the world's freshwater, but rapid climate changes are affecting glacier melt and snowmelt. NASA's High Mountain Asia Team is conducting a comprehensive survey to understand these changes and their implications for food and water security.
Researchers found genetic divergence between ice worm populations north and west of the Coast Mountains of British Columbia and those south and east. Birds are believed to have transported eggs between glaciers, introducing new diversity to isolated ice worms.
A study by the University of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences has investigated the impact of melting ice on nutrient supplies in the ocean. The research found that glacial sediments, which are rich in nutrients, play a crucial role in cycling these essential elements through shallow marine sediments.
A new study reveals Himalayan glaciers have doubled their annual melt rate since 2000, with temperatures averaging 1 degree Centigrade higher than in previous decades. The accelerated melting threatens water supplies for 800 million people and may lead to deadly outburst floods.
Researchers have identified different forces behind variations in near-surface temperature with elevation, time, and space on the Third Pole. This new understanding will provide a more accurate basis for modeling and predicting glacier movement, forestry, and agriculture in the region.
A new modeling study published in Science Advances predicts that melting at the present rate could contribute 19-63 inches of global sea level rise, exceeding previous estimates of up to 35 inches. The study's updated model accurately represents outlet glacier flow and shows that limiting emissions could limit ice loss to 8-25 percent.
A recent study found that communities in the Italian Alps, Peruvian Andes, and North Cascades are taking action to adapt to glacial retreat, but rarely frame their efforts as responses to climate change. Instead, they focus on local benefits such as bolstering tourism and supporting livelihoods.
Glaciologists from UCI and partner institutions have found Patagonia's ice sheets to be significantly more massive than expected, with some glaciers reaching depths of over 1,600 meters. This new understanding will help model the effects of global warming on freshwater resources and ecosystems in the region.
A new study reveals that Asia's high mountain glaciers provide a significant buffer against drought, supplying water to major river basins during dry seasons. The glaciers release 36 cubic kilometres of meltwater annually, equivalent to the annual municipal and industrial needs of several countries.
Newly discovered layers of ice on Mars reveal a record of past climate and could hold the key to understanding if the planet was ever habitable. The ice reserves are estimated to be as much as 90% water, equivalent to a global layer 1.5 meters deep.
A comprehensive review of global-scale glacier models reveals that smaller glaciers worldwide are projected to lose significant mass by 2100. This could lead to almost 10 inches of sea level rise globally, surpassing the impact of ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.
Researchers from the University of Leeds found that Antarctica's ice sheet has thinned by up to 122 meters in places, with rapid changes occurring in West Antarctica. The team tracked changes in snow and ice cover using satellite altimeter measurements and a regional climate model.
A new study found that 24% of West Antarctic ice is now unstable due to rapid ocean melting. The ice sheet has thinned by up to 122 meters in places, with the most rapid changes occurring in West Antarctica.
Research shows that warming climate alters microbial diversity in alpine streams, with colder streams having less diversity than warmer ones. Icy seeps, insulated by rock glaciers, offer hope as they are less susceptible to climate change and may support cold-adapted species.
Scientists have developed a novel mission to collect year-round measurements of the ocean near Antarctica, revealing that deep water driving melting at the Totten Glacier is warmer and thicker in winter than summer. The study suggests the glacier might melt more rapidly in winter, with potential implications for future sea level rise.
Researchers from Hokkaido University used underwater pressure sensors to measure the volume of icebergs breaking off from a glacier, finding a positive correlation with wave amplitude. The study also revealed that submarine melting caused most of the mass loss at the glacier front.
A new climate study aims to preserve the rich culture and history of Ladakh, a mountain region in India experiencing devastating effects from changing weather patterns. The 'Climate Witness: Voices from Ladakh' project collects local testimonies about resilience and adaptation strategies.
Scientists have found that part of the world's largest ice shelf is melting 10 times faster than average due to solar heating of surrounding ocean surface. The Ross Ice Shelf's stability is affected by both deep ocean water and surface solar heat, with implications for sea level rise and glacier flow.
Researchers found that accounting for the grounding line's interaction with the solid earth reveals a delayed ice sheet collapse, slowing glacier retreat at major ice structures like Thwaites Glacier. This reduces sea level rise projections by over 25%. Fine-scale feedbacks improve predictions and guide future research.
Research reveals an unusual three-year spike in late-season surface melting on the Larsen C ice shelf, caused by foehn winds. This could lead to a denser and less stable ice shelf, potentially putting it at risk of similar fractures as nearby Larsen A and B shelves.
An international team uses seismic data from glacial earthquakes to study calving and its impact on ice sheet mass loss. This breakthrough in environmental seismology reveals that calving resulted in the shedding of 370 gigatonnes of ice into the Arctic Ocean between 1993 and 2013.
Scientists at UC Berkeley discovered that mountain formation in the tropics triggers global cooling, resulting in ice caps. The team found that volcanic arc-continent collisions in the tropics expose rocks with high CO2-absorbing capacity, cooling the planet.
A study projects significant glacier loss in the Alps due to climate change. By 2050, about 50% of glacier volume is expected to disappear, with potentially catastrophic consequences for the region's ecosystem and economy. The fate of glaciers will depend on future warming scenarios.
A global study found that melting glaciers worldwide have caused a significant increase in global sea levels over the past 30 years, with 19,000 glaciers losing an average of 27 millimeters of ice since 1961. The largest contributors were glaciers in Alaska and Patagonia, resulting in a 335 billion-ton annual loss of glacier ice.