Articles tagged with Ice Sheets
Scientists have uncovered a wetland-like environment beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, where Subglacial Lake Whillans is fed by melting ice and small amounts of seawater. The findings provide unique insights into the biogeochemistry and geophysics of subglacial lake systems, which are essential for understanding global sea-level rise.
A team of researchers from the University of Georgia has discovered that most of the freshwater pouring into oceans from melting Greenland ice sheet originates from the east coast. The study found that wind and ocean currents transport meltwater around the southern tip of Greenland, which is then largely deposited into the Labrador Sea.
A study suggests that gas hydrates in sediments slowed down an ice stream in the Barents Sea during the last ice age. The sticky spots under the ice act like hook and loop fasteners, creating friction and lubrication that can stop or slow the flow of the ice stream.
A recent study by University of Montana researcher Jesse Johnson reveals that geothermal heat enhances rapid ice flow and subglacial melting in northern Greenland. The research, published in Nature Geoscience, identifies a west-to-east zone with anomalously high heat that drives widespread melting and rapid ice flow.
Researchers found that meltwater streams on Greenland's ice sheet erode channels at a rate of up to 10 centimeters daily, similar to river erosion patterns. This discovery provides a new tool for studying melt rates and glacial response to climate change.
A study by GFZ researchers reveals that Earth's internal heat is responsible for the rapid flow of Greenland's ice, driven by a geothermal anomaly that originated from the Icelandic mantle plume. The anomaly creates a region with abundant subglacial meltwater, lubricating the base of the ice and making it flow rapidly.
A new study found that exceptionally warm weather episodes, rather than radiant energy, cause significant melting of the Greenland ice sheet. The research revealed that climate models tend to underestimate the impact of these events, which are expected to occur more frequently in the future due to climate change.
A new ice sheet model suggests that Antarctic ice sheet melting could lead to a 50-foot rise in sea level by 2500, potentially doubling previous estimates. The researchers attribute this to ocean warming and the fracturing of floating ice shelves, which would cause them to collapse into the sea.
Drumlin hills, shaped like upturned boats, are formed when sediment is streamlined 'islands' that are often bisected to form megaridges. The research suggests that drumlins and megaridges are part of a single family of landforms formed by erosion, with the data indicating they occur on hard rock.
A study by Rutgers University researchers links Greenland's melting surface ice to shrinking Arctic sea ice and strong 'blocking-high' pressure systems. The findings highlight the increased threat of coastal communities as sea levels rise.
Researchers study ice shelf motion and flow to better understand Antarctic ice sheet dynamics. GPS and tilt sensor measurements help modelers project future changes in ice shelf behavior, contributing to sea level rise predictions.
A new study found that Greenland's ice sheet has been darkening over the past two decades, absorbing more heat from the sun and increasing snow melt. The real culprits are two feedback loops created by the melting itself, which are driving changes in reflectivity.
The International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF) has been updated by NASA, enabling more detailed studies of global changes in Earth's ocean, ice sheets, land, and atmosphere. Four measurement techniques, including Satellite Laser Ranging and GNSS, contribute to the reference frame.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and colleagues report that the Antarctic ice sheets are more susceptible to rising atmospheric CO2 levels than previously believed. The findings suggest large changes in the ice sheets could occur at lower CO2 levels than previously studied, highlighting a need for improved climate modeling.
Researchers found that a 100,000-square-mile section of the Ross Ice Shelf broke apart within 1,500 years during a warming period after the last ice age. The study provides clues about how Antarctica's nation-sized Ross Ice Shelf might respond to a warming climate.
A new paper in Nature presents an alternative narrative to the collapse of Earth's ice sheets. Research on the Laurentide Ice Sheet reveals that ice loss occurred through frozen rivers that turned on and off, shifting from place to place. The findings provide a window into ice streams' complex behavior over long periods of time.
A future warming of the Southern Ocean may cause the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, leading to a significant rise in sea levels. Model simulations suggest that critical temperature limits will be exceeded if ocean temperatures rise by more than two degrees Celsius, resulting in a sea level rise of three to five meters.
Researchers created a paleo-velocity map for Greenland, showing the ice sheet's flow pattern over the past 9,000 years. The study found that the ice sheet's interior is moving more slowly than during most of the Holocene period, while glaciers along the edges are rapidly thinning.
A new study suggests that the Greenland Ice Sheet's stiff upper layer of ice formed during the Holocene era may be causing its deceleration. The analysis reveals that softer ice, resulting from higher atmospheric dust levels, is being compressed by stiffer ice below.
Researchers used computer models and field data to accurately depict current flow conditions in Greenland's topographically complex ice sheet. The study aims to improve knowledge of subglacial topography and predict potential effects on sea levels from a melting ice sheet.
Hydrothermal activity plays a significant role in the earth's climate. The release of hot molten rock from beneath the earth's crust drives this process. By analyzing sedimentary records, researchers have established a direct causal relationship between hydrothermal activity and deglaciation.
A Syracuse University professor examines the impact of the deep Earth on ice-sheet stability, particularly the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. His research suggests that regions with sub-glacial topography may be more stable today than during past global warming periods.
A new study finds that the influx of freshwater from Greenland is 'freshening' the North Atlantic Ocean and could disrupt the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), an important component of global ocean circulation. This could lead to changes in climate, including cooler winters and regional sea level increases.
Researchers found dramatic changes in melt rate within less than a mile on the Ross Ice Shelf, which is normally stable. The study suggests freshwater from subglacial drainage systems contributes to melting, impacting the ice shelf's stability.
A comprehensive study published in Nature Communications suggests that under the Arctic ice sheet, significant amounts of methane may have been stored as hydrates, releasing climate gas into the ocean and atmosphere for millennia. The findings indicate that modern ice sheets could also contain vast reservoirs of potent greenhouse gas.
Researchers at Durham University have discovered a massive canyon system beneath the Antarctic ice sheet, stretching over 1,000km and potentially containing a subglacial lake. The discovery was made using satellite imagery and radio-echo sounding data, and is being confirmed through an airborne survey underway.
A new study reveals clouds trap heat on the Greenland Ice Sheet, raising its temperature by 2-3 degrees and accounting for up to 30% of ice melt. This findings could improve future climate models, helping scientists and policymakers adapt to sea level rise.
Clouds play a significant role in the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, with clouds enhancing meltwater runoff by a third. The study highlights the need for accurate cloud representations in climate models to estimate the amount of meltwater and mitigate global sea level rise.
Researchers found that the Greenland ice sheet's firn layer, which stores meltwater, is acting like a sponge but can be overwhelmed. This leads to increased release of meltwater into oceans, threatening sea levels.
Researchers found the Greenland ice sheet's firn layer is changing rapidly with climate change, altering its ability to store meltwater. The study suggests this could lead to higher-than-predicted sea level rise contributions from the ice sheet.
Researchers have made direct observations of the Greenland Ice Sheet's reduction and melting over the past 110 years. The study reveals that some areas have lost considerable amounts of ice during the twentieth century, with mass loss along the southeastern and northwestern coast contributing significantly to global sea level rise.
A recent study in Nature estimates the Greenland Ice Sheet's mass loss since the start of the 20th century, providing insights into how global warming affects sea levels. UB geologist Beata Csatho emphasizes the need for more research to understand the ice sheet's past behavior and its future evolution.
Scientists have used subterranean rock samples to help fill a gap in the history of Earth's magnetic field, shedding light on North America's position 400 million years ago. The study provides new insights into Paleomagnetism and its relevance to understanding the continent's geological past.
Researchers deployed seismometers to create maps of seismic velocities beneath the West Antarctic Rift System, revealing a hot zone beneath the Bentley Subglacial Trench. This discovery suggests that the rift system was active recently and may have implications for the future of the giant ice sheet in Antarctica.
A new study from Durham University found links between massive volcanic eruptions and polar temperatures during the last Ice Age. The research indicates that Southern Hemisphere eruptions may have triggered abrupt warming in Greenland, while Northern Hemisphere eruptions caused Antarctic warming.
Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst are exploring the potential impact of Antarctica's ice sheet melting on global climate. They will use a high-resolution ocean model to simulate iceberg calving and freshwater discharge, which could disrupt ocean currents and circulation in the North Atlantic.
Researchers have found evidence that the melting of Scandinavian ice sheet drove a catastrophic freshwater flood, plunging the planet into a sudden cold snap, reconciling climate models with reconstructions. The study provides the missing link to understanding current inconsistencies between climate models and reconstructions.
A study by University of Kansas researchers reveals a major Greenland glacier is losing ice rapidly, contributing to increased global sea levels. The Zachariæ Isstrøm glacier holds enough water to trigger a half-meter rise in ocean levels.
Zachariæ Isstrøm's acceleration increased by a factor of three in 2012 due to rising air and ocean temperatures. The glacier's floating shelf shrank by 95% between 2002 and 2014, posing significant sea level rise concerns.
A new study suggests that geophysical elements, such as the West Antarctic Ice Sheet's gravitational pull and the mantle's fluid nature, can slow its retreat. This could lead to a less drastic rise in global sea levels than previously predicted.
Annual snow accumulation on West Antarctica's coastal ice sheet rose dramatically during the 20th century, increasing by 30% between 1900 and 2010. The research found that this increase is attributed to an intensification of regional low pressure systems and more storms in the region.
A Dartmouth-led study contradicts previous findings that soot and dust cause Arctic snow to darken. The research suggests degradation of satellite sensors is responsible for the decline in reflectivity, which will likely disappear with new measurements.
A new NASA study finds that Antarctic ice sheet mass gains from increased snow accumulation exceed losses from glaciers, thickening East Antarctica and West Antarctica by an average of 0.7 inches per year. This small thickening corresponds to a large gain of ice, enough to outweigh global sea level rise.
Researchers found that despite increased ice melt, some areas of the ice sheet have slowed down, reducing sea level forecasts. The discovery was made using satellite data and shows that meltwater can slow glacier movement by producing channels at the base of the ice sheet.
Research found that southwest Greenland Ice Sheet movement decreased by 12% between 2007 and 2014, despite increasing surface melt. The study suggests that further increases in melting may not speed up the ice sheet's flow due to drainage channels established at its base.
A new study projects a doubling of Antarctic ice shelf surface melting by 2050 and a significant increase in melting by 2100 if greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. The research highlights the importance of climate policy in mitigating the effects of warming on ice shelves.
A team of experts has studied the water flow paths from a subglacial lake in Greenland, showing that it drained via a subglacial tunnel and was filled by surface meltwater. The study predicts increased drainage frequency as the Arctic warms, affecting ice sheet flow speeds and sea level change.
Scientists used UAF's Parallel Ice Sheet Model to estimate the impact of fossil fuels on Antarctica's ice sheet. The study found that releasing 10,000 gigatons of carbon could raise global temps by 20 degrees Fahrenheit, melting the Antarctic ice sheet and causing sea levels to rise by over 160 feet.
Researchers found that global sea level during the Pliocene warm period was 30-44 feet higher than previously thought, but significantly lower than estimated. The study suggests that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet might be more resilient to climate change than previously assumed.
A study by UC Santa Barbara scientist Alex Simms has found that the Pacific coast of North America is not uplifting as rapidly as previously thought. The researchers recalculated uplift rates for California and other areas, applying a correction for glacio-isostatic adjustment, which affects ocean levels due to past ice sheets.
A Dartmouth study reveals that strong winds blowing off the Greenland Ice Sheet are eroding soil and vegetation in the surrounding tundra, making it less productive for grazing animals. The study found that wind-driven soil erosion is more widespread near the ice sheet but restricted to steep south-facing slopes farther away.
Researchers have narrowed the date of an anomalous cooling episode known as the Younger Dryas, which occurred around 12,800 years ago, to a 100-year range. The study suggests that a cosmic impact triggered this event.
A new study reveals surprisingly high geothermal heating beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, contributing to melting of basal ice and potentially supporting microbial life. The measurement could help explain the ice sheet's rapid melting and destabilization, essential for predicting future behavior.
Researchers are refining their understanding of ice sheet response to warming, which will inform projections of sea-level change. A new era of climate modeling has begun, with improved estimates of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheet loss for given temperature increases during past warm periods.
Researchers found that a 1-2°C temperature increase can cause significant ice sheet melting, leading to at least 6 meters of sea level rise. This rise could be devastating for millions living in low-lying coastal areas, with cities like Miami and Dhaka facing enormous threats.
Scientists found that past temperatures similar to current global average led to at least 20-foot sea-level rise. The study suggests polar ice sheets are out of equilibrium with the present climate and may respond similarly to current warming trends.
Researchers monitored Helheim Glacier for 55 days and detected 10 large-scale calving events, revealing unique quakes registering magnitude five on the Richter Scale. These glacial earthquakes can serve as proxies for glacier edge breaking, offering insights into ice loss from glaciers.
A new study found that the Laurentide ice sheet initially began shrinking through calving of icebergs before shifting into a regime where melting on the continent took precedence, leading to its demise. The shift in 'radiative forcing' prior to 9,000 years ago kicked deglaciation into overdrive.
New calculations by researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute show a significant risk of major sea level rise in Northern Europe, with potential increases of up to 1.5 meters in Scandinavia, England, and northern Germany. The study highlights regional differences in gravity and land uplift affecting sea levels.
A dramatic ice sheet collapse at the end of the last ice age led to widespread climate changes and a sea level peak well above its present height. The research, published in Nature, reveals that this event was caused by the suppression of ocean circulation in the North Atlantic Ocean.