Articles tagged with Glaciers
The Thwaites glacier, part of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, is under study due to its potential impact on sea levels. Researchers will use radar and seismic sensing to investigate the glacier's response over decades and centuries.
Glacier ice mass in the Russian Arctic has nearly doubled over the last decade due to rising temperatures. The research, led by Cornell University, reveals that glaciers in Franz Josef Land are shrinking at a faster rate than previously thought.
A new study reveals a previously undocumented process where melting glacial ice sheets further accelerate ice melt and sea level rise by making the ocean's surface layer less salty and more buoyant. Fresh glacial meltwater prevents deep mixing in winter, allowing warm water at depth to retain its heat and cause further glacial melting.
Glacier research suggests north-facing ice cliffs contribute significantly to melting of debris-covered glaciers in the Himalayas. Satellites show rapid mass loss, contrary to initial assumptions that debris protects the ice from direct solar radiation.
A one-degree temperature increase led to drastic changes in Lake Hazen's ecology, including increased glacial meltwater and fine sediment, affecting light penetration and biological productivity. The findings document an unprecedented shift in the lake's ecosystem, challenging scientists' expectations of its response to climate warming.
Researchers from the University of Leeds have created the first complete map of how Antarctica's grounding line is shifting. The study found that eight of the ice sheet's largest glaciers are retreating at an extreme rate, with some losing over 25 meters per year.
New research pushes back the first glaciation and early human appearance in central Germany by 100,000 years. The study used luminescence dating to determine the age of river deposits containing Lower- and Middle Paleolithic stone artefacts.
Researchers at the University of New Hampshire used high-resolution LiDAR scans to identify washboard-like De Geer moraines, which provide an annual record of ice retreat. The study suggests that each ridge marks a spot where the edge of the great continental ice sheet paused or pushed forward for long enough to pile up debris.
Researchers calculate glacier melting under different climate scenarios, finding that up to 36% of ice could melt without further emissions. Compliance with 1.5°C global warming goal makes little difference in the next 100 years.
Researchers propose targeting geoengineering at specific negative consequences of climate change, slowing sea-level rise by preserving continental ice sheets. The engineering costs and scales of these projects are comparable to today's large civil engineering projects, but with extra challenges due to the remote polar environment.
UNIGE researchers analyzed tree rings to link global warming to increasing frequency and intensity of avalanches in the Himalayas. The study found that rising temperatures have led to bigger avalanches traveling greater distances, threatening infrastructure development and socio-economic stability in regions like Himachal Pradesh.
Researchers at UCI created new maps of glacier bed topography in southeast Greenland, gaining insight into rapid retreat and stability. The maps demonstrate the role of ocean temperature and water depth in glacial evolution.
Researchers analyzed bacterial content of Svalbard glacier soil, revealing microbes trigger soil formation under extreme conditions. The study provides clues for combating desertification in hot arid environments.
New research from the University of Washington reveals that glaciers in extreme climates can behave differently than expected. In some cases, glaciers in dry environments grew after the last ice age ended, while others shrunk due to intense cold and dry conditions.
Researchers have discovered that narwhals congregate near glacier fjords with specific physical properties, suggesting a preference for freshwater environments. The study aims to better understand the impact of climate change on these elusive marine mammals.
A new study by Stanford researchers found that a large and unstable Antarctic glacier may be melting farther inland than previously thought, posing a threat to global sea levels. The Pine Island Glacier's Southwest Tributary could trigger or accelerate ice loss in Thwaites Glacier, potentially speeding the rate of sea-level rise.
Researchers have measured a significant increase in heat loss from the Earth's interior, warming deep water in northeast Greenland fjords and melting glaciers. This heat triggers ice sheet sliding towards the sea, with the potential to improve models of ice sheet dynamics and global water rise predictions.
Researchers from A Coruña University reject the glacier refuge theory for Iberian brown bears. They found that the Pleistocene lineage was lost and Holocene bears arrived from an unidentified area, likely France, 5,000 years after colonizing Britain.
New research reveals the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has undergone significant growth and shrinkage over millions of years, with frequent intervals of open water along the Sabrina Coast. This dynamic behavior is a concern as climate change raises global air temperatures and could lead to dramatic ice mass loss.
Researchers found that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has a history of expanding and shrinking, indicating it could contribute to global sea level rise. The study used geophysical and geological data to reconstruct how glaciers on the Sabrina Coast have advanced and retreated over 50 million years.
The longest-ever record of Earth's climate history has been assembled from the oldest ice core ever drilled outside the polar regions, revealing more than half a million years of climate history. The ice core provides dramatic evidence of a recent and rapid temperature rise at some of the highest, coldest mountain peaks in the world.
A UCLA-led team used extreme fieldwork and climate modeling to unravel a meltwater mystery on Greenland's ice sheet. They discovered that sunlight penetrating into the ice causes subsurface melting and storage of meltwater, leading to discrepancies between models' estimates and real-time data.
A team of researchers from the University of Kansas is collecting fossilized plant remains in Antarctica to understand how plants will respond to contemporary climate change. By studying ancient plants, they aim to reconstruct the history of flora and ecosystems on a warming Earth.
A decline in atmospheric CO2 levels triggered the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, a 400,000-year period with long-lasting effects on ice age cycles. The study suggests that changes in dust flux and ice sheet sensitivity contributed to the transition.
Scientists at the University of Leeds warn that climate change could lead to more frequent volcanic eruptions in Iceland as glaciers melt. The study found a time lag of roughly 600 years between climate events and decreased volcanic activity, suggesting a similar delay may occur with warming temperatures.
Researchers have obtained detailed maps of Pine Island Glacier, the fastest melting glacier in Antarctica, using radar surveys and snowmobiles. The findings show a surprisingly diverse landscape under the ice, with mountains and deep scour marks that will influence the flow and behavior of the ice.
Researchers found glacial polish is a thin, deposited layer that helps explain its resistance to weathering. It can influence glacier speed and provide an archive for dating the material.
A new study reports that much of western Canada was ice-free as early as 14,000 years ago, contradicting previous estimates. The research suggests that the Cordilleran Ice Sheet retreated more than a millennium sooner and holds implications for understanding climate patterns and human migration.
Researchers have created high-resolution maps of Greenland's bedrock and coastal seafloor, showing that two to four times more glacier fronts are at risk of accelerated melting than previously thought. The new data suggests that warmer ocean water is melting deeper-seated glaciers, potentially increasing sea level rise.
Research led by the University of Texas at Austin found that strong winds over the Southern Ocean bring warm water to East Antarctica's Totten Glacier, causing it to melt from below. The glacier's contribution to global sea level rise will likely increase as winds intensify.
Thousand-year-old iceberg marks in Pine Island Bay show how West Antarctic Ice Sheet retreated rapidly as it balanced on sloping ground. Researchers warn that similar instability may occur again due to global warming, triggering rapid ice retreat and sea-level rise.
A new satellite imaging tool has been used to track elevation changes for mountain glaciers in the US, confirming significant loss of ice over the past 60 years. The results show that cumulative ice loss at Mount Rainier is equivalent to removing a layer of ice about 25 feet thick.
Researchers found that glaciers may have 'switched off' migratory behavior in bird species, transforming the tropics into long-term residences. The study challenges traditional assumptions about bird migration and has implications for understanding the evolution of this complex trait.
A joint Canada-France study reveals evidence of wildfires in the French Alps during an ice age 20,000 years ago. The presence of tree charcoal and macro-remains confirms that fires occurred in high mountain areas with no vegetation to burn, challenging long-held assumptions about climate and forest ecology.
Glacier mass loss has significant societal implications, affecting ecosystem services, water resources, and biodiversity. The authors outline four key recommendations to mitigate these impacts, including detailed mapping of glacier change and adaptive management plans.
New findings from the University of Copenhagen reveal that massive Antarctic volcanic eruptions coincided with accelerated deglaciation about 17,700 years ago. These eruptions created a stratospheric ozone hole over Antarctica, leading to large-scale changes in atmospheric circulation and hydroclimate throughout the Southern Hemisphere.
A second Autonomous Terrestrial Laser Scanning system will be installed on Greenland's Helheim Glacier to monitor ice loss rates and improve sea level rise predictions. The new data will help understand glacier dynamics and variability, enabling better estimates of future sea level rise.
Researchers discovered four major outburst floods at Lake Catalina, releasing up to 240 Hiroshima-bombs' worth of energy. The next flood is predicted to occur soon, possibly in 2018-19, with scientists attributing the increase to global warming and glacier melt.
New research confirms that Greenland's outlet glaciers slide over wet, slippery sediment rather than hard rock, and this will accelerate ice flow as global temperatures rise. This challenges the view of a slowdown in ice flow, suggesting a more complex future pattern of ice sheet movement.
Researchers create high-resolution maps of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, showing rapid erosion and glacier thinning due to climate change. The study provides insights into the region's vulnerability to future warming and its potential impact on global sea levels.
A new study by scientists at Portland State University and the National Snow and Ice Data Center found that the effects of climate change on glaciers in the western Ross Sea coast of Antarctica have not yet been observed. The research team examined glacier activity along over 700 kilometers of coastline using historic maps and satellit...
A new study presents the post-glacial history of Lake of the Woods, a 4000km lake complex in North America. The research team analyzed sediment cores from the lake and found dramatic hydrological changes over the past 12,000 years.
A 2002 extreme melt season triggered long-term ecological changes in Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys, altering the trajectory of an ecosystem over several years. The study highlights the importance of decadal data records in understanding how organisms respond to abrupt climate events.
A summer 'vortex' of cold air over the Karakoram mountain range is inducing an anomalous cooling that causes glaciers to grow in spite of global warming. This unique temperature control system has significant implications for ice melt rates and river flows in the region.
A new study suggests that glaciers may have played a role in releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, potentially warming the planet. The research found that glacial weathering increased the rate of carbon dioxide release, with oscillating glaciers changing atmospheric levels by up to 25 parts per million over 10,000 years.
Researchers found elevated sulfur acidification in glacial samples due to oxidized pyrite, leading to CO2 release into the atmosphere. This process may play a role in regulating Earth's climate over long cycles.
A University of Alaska Fairbanks study reveals that shifting sediments drive the cyclic nature of tidewater glaciers in temperate climates. The model also shows that these glaciers don't need warming periods to trigger their retreats.
Small mountain glaciers play a significant role in recharging vital aquifers and keeping rivers flowing during the winter. A new study found that these glaciers contribute up to 66% of annual flow in mountain streams, highlighting their importance in maintaining ecosystem processes.
A nearly 2,240 square-mile iceberg broke off from Antarctica's Larsen C ice shelf between July 10 and 12. The event has reduced the ice shelf area by approximately 10 percent, sparking concerns about potential destabilization of the remaining ice shelf.
An international team of scientists discovered a possible cause for irregularities in climate evolution: enhanced volcanic activity induced by falling sea levels. This study found that reduced pressure on the seafloor led to increased lava and carbon dioxide emissions, stabilizing atmospheric CO2 concentrations during glacial periods.
A new study published in Nature reveals that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has experienced significant and sustained ice loss over the past 11,000 years, driven by wind-driven incursions of warm water. The research provides crucial insights into the mechanisms behind this ice sheet's behavior and its contribution to sea-level rise.
NASA's Operation IceBridge expanded its Arctic ice survey range this year, covering a wider area than ever before with denser and more accurate measurements. The mission also explored the Eurasian half of the Arctic Basin and measured a newly formed crack on Petermann Glacier.
The melting of glacial ice contributes to sea-level rise, displacing millions of people, while glaciers also serve as a source of fresh water. However, researchers like Twila Moon warn that glaciers are shrinking at an alarming rate, with devastating consequences for the planet's weather and climate systems.
A new study found the Antarctic Peninsula's glaciers are losing ice at a rate of 15 cubic kilometers per year, not three times as much as previously reported. The glacier speed increase is attributed to ocean melting and warming, causing dynamical imbalance in Western Palmer Land.
A new atlas presents the most comprehensive high-resolution imagery of the Polar Regions seafloor, showcasing thousands of square kilometers of geological phenomena. The atlas enables researchers to study past glaciers and ice sheets, gaining insights into climate change and Earth's history.
A research team solved the century-old mystery of Blood Falls by using radar technology to detect brine feeding the famous red waterfall. They discovered that liquid water can persist inside extremely cold glaciers, challenging previous thought on this phenomenon.
Researchers provide photographic proof of climate change using images of retreating glaciers worldwide. The study aims to boost public awareness of the loss of glaciers' importance in maintaining Earth's atmosphere and scientific archives.
A new survey found nearly 700 seasonal systems of interconnected ponds, channels and braided streams fringing Antarctica on all sides. The study reveals that warming projected for this century could quickly magnify the influence of these meltwater systems on sea level.
Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin identified four glaciers in West Greenland most susceptible to thinning due to their unique shapes. These glaciers, including Jakobshavn Isbræ and Rink Isbræ, are at risk of significant ice mass loss and contribute to future sea-level rise.
A NASA-funded study has identified four glaciers in West Greenland that are most susceptible to thinning due to their shape. These glaciers, including Rink Isbrae and Jakobshavn Isbrae, have already been losing mass and are expected to contribute significantly to future sea level rise.