Articles tagged with Glaciers
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.
Researchers used genomic data to estimate the precise location of ice-age refugia for two hickory species, finding evidence of northern microrefugia. The study suggests that some trees likely survived farther north and closer to the ice sheet than previously believed.
Researchers at Hokkaido University used sonar to map the underwater shape of Grey Glacier, revealing a submerged terrace extending 100 meters beyond its visible portion. This unique structure is different from ocean-bound glaciers and can lead to huge chunks of ice falling off, posing a safety risk to humans in the vicinity.
A new mapping technique using satellite imagery helps track huckleberry distribution across Glacier National Park, enabling biologists to predict where grizzly bears will be found. This tool also aids in conserving the plant, which is crucial for the bears' survival and informs strategies to minimize human-bear conflicts.
Researchers have discovered that tall ice-cliffs on glaciers can trigger massive calving events, which could lead to rapid sea-level rise. The study found that cliffs over 100 meters high are most susceptible to slumping, a process that accelerates calving without waiting for the melting of the front.
Researchers are studying the effects of climate change on glacier-fed rivers in Peru, which provide water for food, power and industry to remote communities. The study aims to understand the potential impacts on future water resources and develop strategies to mitigate them.
A new study published in Geosphere reveals that two major faults in Emerald Bay have been moving vertically over the past 20,000 years, with no strike slip motion. The research used a combination of deep dives, bathymetry surveys, and LiDAR data to create high-resolution maps of the bay's geology.
A new study found that a slowing of ocean circulation in Antarctica's waters drastically altered global ice age cycles, making them colder and longer. The mid-Pleistocene transition, with no obvious orbital cause, remains largely unexplained.
Researchers discovered thousands of tiny 'ice quakes' on the McMurdo Ice Shelf that appear to be caused by pools of partially melted ice expanding and freezing at night. This phenomenon may help track glacier melting and explain the breakup of large ice shelves.
A recent study calculates the ice thickness distribution and volume of over 215,000 glaciers worldwide, revealing that the combined ice volume currently stands at around 158,000 cubic kilometres. The largest glacier ice masses, primarily in the Arctic, account for nearly half of the global glacier ice volume.
Researchers Graham Andrews and Sarah Brown from West Virginia University discovered drumlins, a type of hill formed by glaciers, in the Namibian desert. The study provides evidence of an ice stream in southern Africa during the late Paleozoic Age, about 300 million years ago.
Radiocarbon dating reveals ancient plants preserved on Baffin Island have been covered by ice for at least 40,000 years. The findings suggest the region may be experiencing its warmest century in 115,000 years.
A study analyzing GRACE and GPS data found that ice mass loss in southwest Greenland was driven by changes in surface mass balance, rather than glacial discharge. The Greenland Ice Sheet is highly sensitive to atmospheric forcing, and this region may contribute significantly to sea level rise under continued climate warming.
Researchers identified two new fungal species, M. hoshinonis and V. ellesmerensis, in a rapidly melting Arctic glacier. The discoveries highlight the critical role fungi play in decomposing organic material and could have catastrophic effects if glaciers melt due to climate change.
Researchers found the highest rate of mass loss in Patagonian ice sheets, while glaciers in tropics are losing mass at a slower rate. This has important implications for water sources in dry periods.
The study suggests that late Proterozoic 'snowball Earth' events triggered rapid glacial erosion, transferring sediment from continents to ocean basins. This process may be linked to the formation of the Great Unconformity.
A new model of ice friction offers crucial insight into glacier flows, revealing how cavities form during sliding and influencing ice movement. This discovery has significant implications for understanding sea level rise and climate change.
Researchers at Ohio State University warn that climate change is causing widespread and consistent warming in glaciers across the Andes and Himalayas, leading to a decline in water supply for millions of people. The melting glaciers can trigger hazards like avalanches and floods, and have long-lasting effects on regional water supplies.
Children in Alaska may have elevated cancer risk due to insecticides like DDT in the meltwater, especially those who rely on fish as a staple diet. Researchers found that even low levels of organochlorine pollutants can increase cancer risk for youth and adults.
Researchers used detailed dataset to identify factors causing speedup and slowdown of tidewater glacier, finding geometry of fjord bed plays critical role. The study may help predict how tidewater glaciers contribute to sea level rise.
Researchers at Lancaster University found that Sólheimajökull glacier releases up to 41 tonnes of methane daily during summer months, exceeding average methane loss from non-glacial rivers. This discovery highlights the potential for glaciers to be significant sources of methane in the atmosphere.
Researchers found that Antarctica's mountains and valleys were formed by rivers, rather than glaciers, in a warmer era. The study suggests that this knowledge could aid in understanding how the ice sheet might respond to continued climate warming.
Researchers have identified a large impact crater beneath Hiawatha Glacier in northwest Greenland, measuring 31 kilometers wide and featuring three distinct ice layers. The discovery suggests that the impactor could have been more than a kilometer wide, leading to significant environmental consequences.
Researchers have discovered a 31-km wide meteorite impact crater buried beneath the ice-sheet in northern Greenland, with evidence suggesting it formed after ice began to cover the region. The crater's well-preserved condition indicates it may be relatively young, with possible dating as recent as 12,000 years ago.
Researchers analyzed mountain glaciers using satellite imagery and found that 4.4% of the glacier surface is covered in debris, with uneven distribution towards poles and steep mountain regions. The study provides a basis for future modeling of debris impact on ice and can inform monitoring efforts to mitigate effects on water resources.
The Italian team aims to extract ice cores from glaciers threatened by global warming, providing centuries of historical climate data. The project involves an international governance to conserve and utilize the samples for future scientific analyses.
Dr. Johannes Fürst's new map provides a reliable estimate of the total ice volume in Svalbard, which is approximately one-third smaller than previously thought. The map also offers an associated error estimate, allowing researchers to calculate the uncertainty of glacier thickness measurements.
Two rectangular icebergs were spotted on a NASA IceBridge flight over the northern Antarctic Peninsula in October 2018. The freshly calved icebergs appeared to be from Larsen C, which released the massive A68 iceberg in July 2017.
Researchers found evidence of liquid water stored within solid ice in Store Glacier, which may explain complex flow behavior and improve predictions of sea-level rise. The discovery uses new data analysis techniques to reveal the presence of meltwater from surface melting that gets trapped in glacier ice.
Researchers at Portland State University found that millions of cubic meters of buried ice have melted in the last decade, leading to unprecedented change over Antarctica's historic period. The culprit is believed to be meltwater, which can conduct heat and cause rapid changes.
A recent study found that glacial lake outbursts can trigger massive erosion and landslides, causing widespread damage to infrastructure. The research, published in Science, suggests that non-climatological drivers such as earthquakes and climate change may play a significant role in shaping fluvial erosion rates.
Climate change is already affecting US national parks, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the rest of the country. Without action, small mammals and plants may be driven to extinction by the end of the century. Reducing emissions could limit temperature increases in national parks.
A new study suggests that glacial geoengineering, making changes to glaciers' geometry near the ocean, could limit sea-level rise. The most promising design consists of constructing artificial mounds or columns on the seafloor, which could slow down the rate of sea-level rise giving more time for coastal societies to adapt.
A new study by CU Boulder-led researchers reveals that the Vavilov Ice Cap has dramatically accelerated, losing massive amounts of ice mass and challenging scientists' assumptions. The rapid collapse raises concerns for glaciers in other polar regions.
A study by University of Washington researchers has discovered a new clue to the behavior of a region in West Antarctica, where a volcano under the ice sheet is leaving an almost 6,000-year record of glacier motion. The data suggests that the current thickening trend may be short-term and not indicative of long-term changes.
Oregon researchers developed a new approach to capture the physical processes controlling glacier flow, shedding light on how sediment influences sliding speed. This improvement will help create more accurate ice flow models and forecast sea levels.
A recent study by the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel found that glacier depth has a significant impact on plankton blooms off Greenland. The team discovered that as glaciers retreat, summer plankton blooms decrease due to reduced nutrient input from meltwater.
Researchers found that ice sheet meltwater contains a distinctive isotopic signature of silica, which supports the growth of diatoms in oceans. This study suggests that glacial meltwater plays a significant role in sustaining marine ecosystems and carbon cycles.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have found significant mass loss in East Antarctica's Totten and Moscow University glaciers. If these glaciers fully collapse, they could add up to 16 feet to global sea levels.
A new study published in The Cryosphere estimates that the collapse of Larsen C and George VI Ice Shelves could contribute 4mm and 22mm to global sea levels, respectively. This research highlights the vulnerability of these ice shelves to rapid warming in the Antarctic Peninsula.
A study led by Tamara Pico from Harvard University estimates how glaciers moved by analyzing the weight of the ice sheet's impact on topography and river course. The researchers used a model that connects the growth of the ice sheet with changes in the Hudson River's direction, potentially offering new insights into glacier growth.
A recent study reveals that a massive influx of freshwater into the North Atlantic led to intensive glacier melting in the North Pacific, thousands of kilometers away. This process highlights the alarming consequences of modern ocean warming on polar ice sheets and sea level rise.
Scientists have discovered an active volcanic heat source beneath the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica, which plays a critical role in the glacier's movement and melting. The finding is significant as it suggests that volcanism is an additional factor contributing to ice sheet instability, alongside climate change.
A rapid rebound of Antarctic crust may help stabilize the West Antarctic Ice Sheet against catastrophic collapse. The Amundsen Sea Embayment is experiencing an uplift rate of 41 millimeters annually, which could delay collapse events under strong climate forcing.
The Geological Society of America's 130th Annual Meeting & Exposition will offer science journalists the opportunity to meet geoscience experts face-to-face and cover scientific findings. Twenty-six pre- and post-meeting field trips will explore geological landscapes in the Midwest.
Researchers at University of Kansas developed a new formula to predict ice flow in Greenland and Antarctica glaciers that reduces uncertainty in future sea-level rise predictions. The study found subglacial water pressure controls the speed of ice flow, rather than basal friction.
Researchers mapped the Pine Island Glacier's seafloor and found submarine mountains holding back the ice. The glacier's tongue lost contact with the ground, leading to its abrupt retreat.
A new study from the University of Waterloo found that warmer ocean water is destabilizing ice shelves, leading to their breakup and acceleration of sea level rise. This process, driven by dual mechanisms from below and above, poses a significant threat to coastal regions worldwide.
A new geological study provides evidence supporting a coastal theory of early settlement in the Americas. The research suggests that part of a coastal migration route became accessible to humans 17,000 years ago, coinciding with the receding of ancient glaciers.
Scientists from CReSIS and the US/UK will deploy radar technology to map Thwaites Glacier's bed topography and measure ocean interaction. This effort aims to predict the glacier's rapid retreat and resulting sea-level rise.