Articles tagged with Ice Sheets
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The Greenland Ice Sheet's melting rate is accelerating, with projected fresh water flow into the North Atlantic Ocean increasing from 438 cubic kilometers to 650 cubic kilometers by 2100. This will cause sea levels to rise at a faster rate of 1.6 millimeters per year.
A UCR-led research team found that an abrupt release of methane triggered global warming and ended the last 'snowball' ice age. The study suggests that methane clathrate destabilization acted as a runaway feedback to increased warming.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have created specially designed robots called SnoMotes to traverse dangerous ice environments and gather scientific measurements. The SnoMotes work autonomously in teams to cover all necessary ground, providing accurate data for scientists to validate climate models.
Researchers confirm structure of Greenland Ice Sheet plumbing and find that summertime melt indeed contributes to the speed up of ice loss. However, they also conclude that summertime melt is not as critical a factor as other causes of ice loss.
Researchers found that surface meltwater is responsible for only a few percent of the movement of Greenland's outlet glaciers, despite being a major factor in their acceleration. Meltwater is instead thought to play a more significant role in calving events, which contribute to ice loss.
Researchers found that surface meltwater can penetrate thick ice and accelerate ice flow, with a significant impact on fast-moving outlet glaciers. The study suggests a new plumbing system for the ice sheet, where meltwater can lubricate the base and reduce friction.
Researchers collected boulders from three glaciers in the Amundsen Sea Embayment, a region experiencing rapid ice sheet changes. The study's findings provide a long-term picture of glacier behavior and help improve computer models to predict future sea-level rise.
A NASA study reveals that warming air temperatures are causing the surface of Greenland's massive ice sheet to melt, leading to loss of ice throughout the mass beneath. The team found a strong connection between melting on the surface and ice loss below 6,500 feet in elevation.
Researchers used digital imaging techniques to document Greenland's ice sheet dynamics and found significant changes in the glacier's geometry without visible calving events. The new data can impact climate projections and sea-level rise estimates, possibly doubling current projections.
Researchers identify critical thresholds in climate system components that could trigger drastic changes, such as the melting of Arctic sea-ice and Greenland Ice Sheet. These 'tipping elements' require immediate consideration in international climate politics to prevent potentially catastrophic consequences.
A recent study by the University of Sheffield reveals that Greenland's ice sheet has experienced its most extreme melting in 50 years, primarily triggered by regional climate changes. The research highlights a striking correlation between Greenland's ice melt and global temperature variations.
A University of Colorado at Boulder study finds that meltwater clogging and speeding of Kennicott Glacier may help explain the acceleration of glaciers in Greenland. The excess water causes water pressure to increase, causing the glacier to slide more rapidly down its bedrock valley.
Research from the University of Bristol finds Antarctic ice loss is concentrated at narrow glacier outlets, driven by accelerating ice flow, and may dominate the ice sheet mass budget. The study estimates a total loss of 192 billion tonnes of ice over the past decade.
Scientists found a potential reason for Greenland's ice melting: a thin spot in the Earth's crust enabling underground magma to heat the ice. The researchers believe this hotspot could be lubricating the base of the ice sheet, causing it to slide more rapidly out to sea.
The Greenland ice sheet is experiencing rapid acceleration of melting, with record years in 2005, 2007, and a 30% increase in western part from 1979 to 2006. The melting is driven by warming temperatures, primarily due to greenhouse gas buildup.
Researchers found that Greenland's glaciers responded similarly to the 1920s warming event, with the Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier losing nearly a mile of ice in 1932. This parallels recent changes, increasing alarm about the island's ice fields and sea level rise.
Ancient plant and insect life found in Greenland ice cores, suggesting a more stable southern Greenland ice sheet. The discovery sheds new light on the region's climate history and challenges previous views of sea level rise.
Researchers found genetic material from plants and insects in ancient ice cores, contradicting previous theories about southern Greenland's climate. The discovery provides evidence of forest cover and mild winters, dating back around 450,000 years.
Researchers use echo-sounding equipment to create images of the ocean floor, providing evidence that West Antarctica was involved in the growth of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. The findings suggest that more of the continent hosted an ice sheet at the start of the 'icehouse' Earth period.
Researchers found that a unique, highly carnivorous Alaskan wolf species vanished after the end of the last Ice Age. The study revealed a distinct genetic profile and diet, which suggests these wolves were specialized for large prey and possibly scavenging.
A NASA-led research team has measured critical areas of Greenland's ice sheet and glaciers, finding a significant loss of ice over the past several years. The data suggests that the island's major glaciers have sped up in thinning since the turn of the century, with documented changes of up to 100 feet per year.
A NASA-funded project using satellite observations has shown an increase in days of snow melting on Greenland's ice sheet over the past 18 years. The resulting data helps scientists understand the speed of glacier flow and how much water will pour into the surrounding ocean.
A NASA-University of Colorado study revealed widespread Antarctic melting in January 2005, with affected regions spanning an area as big as California. The observed melting occurred in multiple distinct regions, including far inland and at high latitudes, and was linked to unusually high air temperatures.
Two studies suggest that the melting of the Greenland ice cap could significantly affect ocean circulation, leading to substantial changes in global climate. The authors analyze sediment records from past glacial periods, finding that sudden episodes of ice sheet melting may cause abrupt climate instability.
Experts warn of uncertainty over sea-level rise due to rapidly changing Antarctic Ice Sheet, particularly in the Amundsen Sea Embayment. Thinning ice shelves and increased melting are contributing to faster flow, potentially leading to 'runaway' thinning and several feet of sea-level rise over centuries.
Scientists identified four Antarctic glaciers posing a threat to future sea levels, with East and West Antarctica's glaciers retreating in unison. A 0.35mm/year sea level rise due to the two ice sheets is about 12% of the current global trend.
Researchers have produced a high-resolution map of Antarctica, offering 10 times greater detail than previously possible. The map allows for zooming in on specific regions, including dry valleys, and provides clear views of the ice sheet's surface.
Researchers have discovered four large subglacial lakes beneath Antarctica's surface that contribute to the formation of ice streams and play a crucial role in transporting ice towards the ocean. The lakes' water helps lubricate the bed of the stream, speeding up its flow and potentially disrupting climate patterns.
Researchers at Yale University discovered that ice sheets sometimes mesh together when colliding, forming a series of interlocking blocks dubbed finger rafting. This curiosity has puzzled scientists for over 50 years.
Researchers discovered a sediment wedge beneath the Whillans Ice Stream in Antarctica, which provides stability against moderate sea level rise. The wedge, eroded by moving ice sheets, helps maintain the grounding line's location despite changes in relative sea levels.
Researchers discovered four large subglacial lakes beneath miles of ice that contribute to the formation of fast-flowing ice streams in Antarctica. These lakes appear to lubricate the bed of the stream, facilitating ice flow and preventing the base from freezing.
A team of scientists has discovered a strong connection between carbon dioxide increase and warming during the Paleozoic Era. The research found that as Gondwana deglaciated and atmospheric CO2 rose, tropical regions became arid and vegetation changed dramatically.
Scientists detected subtle rise and fall of Antarctic ice streams' surface as lakes and channels filled and emptied. The discovery provides new insight into how much and how frequently these 'leaks' occur and impact the ice sheet.
A new study using NASA's ICESat mission reveals a complex plumbing system of subglacial lakes and rivers under the West Antarctic ice sheet. The research suggests that this system may play a major role in controlling the rate at which ice moves off the continent, with potentially significant implications for sea levels.
Researchers have discovered a drumlin, a mound of sediment and rock, actively forming and growing under the ice sheet in Antarctica. The study, using time-lapse seismic surveys, reveals the drumlin grew ten times faster than expected, providing new insights into the drag on the underside of the ice.
A study published in Science reveals that the transition from an ice age to a greenhouse climate occurred in a series of sharp swings between cold and hot conditions over millions of years. The research, led by Isabel Montanez, shows that atmospheric carbon dioxide levels swung wildly, with a pattern of increasing CO2 and temperatures ...
Researchers use advanced instruments to measure changes in the ice sheets' mass balance, revealing a consistent story of shrinking ice masses. The West Antarctic ice sheet is currently shrinking substantially, while East Antarctica's larger ice sheet has been growing slowly.
Scientists at Ohio State University have used a new radar instrument to create the first three-dimensional image of the ground beneath Greenland's ice sheet. The image reveals a landscape with mountains and valleys, similar to Canada and the northern United States, hidden for millions of years.
Researchers use novel technique to analyze regional changes in Greenland's massive ice sheet, finding dramatic losses concentrated in coastal regions. The study shows an annual net loss of ice equal to nearly six years of average water flow from the Colorado River, with 20% more mass lost than received from new snowfall each year.
A new University of Colorado study indicates that Greenland is shedding ice at about two and one-half times the rate of the previous period. The ice mass loss has been occurring primarily in southern Greenland, consistent with studies charting a dramatic acceleration of glaciers in southeast Greenland.
A new hypothesis inverts the prevailing view that atmospheric carbon dioxide drives ice sheets. Instead, ice sheets are found to control CO2 levels and drive feedbacks that amplify ice growth and melting at specific cycles.
A team of researchers recreated climatic conditions 130,000 years ago using a climate model, which showed that it can accurately simulate extreme conditions similar to those caused by man-made carbon dioxide emissions. This study provides more confidence in the reliability of future climate change projections.
According to a NASA scientist, warmer water temperatures are increasing melting and accelerating ice flow in polar areas. The warming is primarily limited to the upper 1000 meters of the oceans, but has a deeper effect on the North Atlantic waters, where it has increased the melting of sea ice.
New research suggests that polar melting could accelerate global sea level rise by at least 20 feet, exceeding previous predictions. The study links Arctic and Antarctic melting during the Last Interglaciation, indicating a potential future sea level rise of four-to-six meters.
Researchers studied the retreat of a massive Scandinavian Ice Sheet to gain insights into its dynamics and potential implications for Greenland and Antarctica. The study found that ice sheets in different parts of the world can react differently to global warming, with some growing larger while others rapidly disappear.
New study reveals ice sheets can react differently to global warming, growing in some cases and disappearing rapidly in others. The Scandinavian Ice Sheet, which existed 10,000 years ago, grew during a period of warming but cold climate, before rapidly disintegrating once the climate warmed further.
The study found a net loss of ice from the combined polar ice sheets between 1992 and 2002, resulting in an increase in sea level. The survey also documented extensive thinning of the West Antarctic ice shelves and an increase in snowfall in Greenland.
Geophysicist Mark Zoback explains that the New Madrid seismic zone is prone to earthquakes due to the legacy effect of a massive glacier pressing into the Earth's surface. He predicts that earthquakes could continue to occur in the region for thousands of years, emphasizing the need for continued research and preparedness.
Recent increases in glacier speed on Greenland are responsible for more than two-thirds of the country's contribution to sea level rise. The southern half of Greenland is reacting to climate warming, while the northern half may follow suit, potentially increasing global sea levels.
Scientists have identified two large subglacial lakes beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, 90ºE and Sovetskaya. These lakes are estimated to be around 2,000km2 and 1,600km2 in size, respectively, and are sealed beneath over two miles of ice.
The Mosaic map reveals subtle changes in terrain that indicate the direction ice is flowing now and where it has gone in the past. The digital elevation model complements this view with elevation measurements over more of the continent than ever surveyed before, yielding new information about how topography drives ice flow.
Scientists have created a detailed map of tides under Antarctic ice using the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites. The tides play a major role in measuring how much ice is melting or freezing, affecting global sea levels.
Scientists studying the Helheim glacier in Greenland found it has sped up from 70 feet per day to nearly 110 feet per day, thinning by over 130 feet since 2001. This accelerated melting could have dramatic implications for climate models and increase sea level rise.
Researchers discover that tropical circulation changes in the Pacific Ocean, similar to El Niño, triggered a large expansion of polar ice sheets and altered Earth's climate. Local climatic changes in the tropics can produce global changes, highlighting the tropics' active role in controlling the Earth's climate.
NASA's new satellite measurements provide a reference for changes in ocean height, allowing scientists to better predict sea level rise and its causes. The data suggests that ice melting is the largest likely factor in global sea level change.
The Antarctic Peninsula glaciers have been in widespread retreat over the past 50 years, with most glaciers shrinking rapidly. However, 32 glaciers are showing minor advance. The study suggests that warming is the key cause of this change.
Research suggests Arctic sea ice is shrinking, contradicting current climate models. Mountain glaciers are also losing mass due to temperature changes, raising concerns about sea level rise.
Researchers analyzed eight Greenland ice cores to uncover the history of the North Atlantic Oscillation, a weather system controlling climate patterns in Europe and the eastern US. The study found that one core site matches historic records, providing a potential record of NAO behavior centuries earlier.
Scientists are using NASA's ICESat satellite to measure the height of dynamic features such as ice sheets, glaciers, forests, and clouds. The satellite's laser instruments provide unprecedented accuracy in measuring changes in elevation, including accelerated glacier movement in Antarctica and thinner ice on West Antarctic ice sheet.
Researchers observed a sudden speed-up of the Jakobshavn Isbrae glacier, coinciding with rapid thinning of up to 15 meters per year after 1997. The acceleration in ice flow has significant implications for sea level rise, with this one glacier contributing roughly 4% of the 20th century rate.