Articles tagged with Antarctica
Research reveals that ice-shelf loss leads to rapid dynamic ice loss, exacerbating sea-level rise. The Antarctic Peninsula has experienced significant retreat and break-up of ice shelves over the past two decades, with upstream glaciers flowing into the ocean at an accelerated rate.
The West Antarctic ice sheet may experience catastrophic collapse due to ocean warming, leading to a 3-meter increase in global sea levels. Researchers have identified that parts of the ice sheet have existed continuously for at least 1.4 million years.
An international team of researchers embarks on a monthlong expedition to Antarctica in search of ancient fossils, hoping to answer questions about the origins of modern bird and mammal groups. The team aims to uncover evidence of mammals from the Cretaceous period, which could shed light on evolutionary diversifications in Antarctica.
A new gravity dataset covering 73% of Antarctica has been released, providing geoscientists with a tool to investigate the deep structure of the continent. The dataset will aid in studying subglacial geology, tectonic structures and their impact on ice sheet dynamics.
A team of researchers from McGill University failed to detect active microbial life in permafrost soil from the University Valley in Antarctica, a location thought to be similar to Martian permafrost. The study's findings suggest that even in the coldest and driest conditions on Earth, it may be difficult to find signs of life.
The GRIPS balloon mission observes extremely high-energy radiation released by solar flares, pinpointing precise times and locations of gamma ray emission. The team's instrument sees this emission three times more sharply than any previous instrument.
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.
Historians Ian Calder and Jan Till believe Shackleton may have had an atrial septal defect, a congenital heart condition commonly known as a 'hole in the heart'. Shackleton exhibited symptoms of breathlessness and weakness during expeditions, which experts now attribute to this condition.
Two deep ice cores from Dome Fuji and EPICA Dome C were synchronized using volcanic events, revealing age differences of up to 4.5 kyr between the cores during Marine Isotope Stage 5 (80-130 kya). The study improves our understanding of climate stages and their temporal propagation in Antarctica.
A 50-year study on southern giant petrels in Antarctica shows a halved population and declining breeding success. Breeding success dropped from 60% to 40% between 1996 and 2015 in selected colonies. The decline is of conservation concern, with the species' global population around 50,000 pairs.
Researchers found ancient lake deposits in Antarctica have remained frozen since at least 14 million years ago, supporting the idea that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet has also remained intact during past climates. This study provides new hope that the EAIS could be stable in today's and future climate conditions.
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.
Operation IceBridge collected critical data on Arctic sea ice and Antarctic glaciers, revealing significant glacier losses in the Antarctic Peninsula. The mission also provided essential measurements for calibrating satellite data and validating numerical models of ice sheet gains and losses.
A global climate shift occurred in the late 1980s, triggered by anthropogenic warming and a volcanic eruption, resulting in significant changes in Earth's biophysical systems. The study found a 60% increase in winter river flow and a 400% increase in wildfires in the Western United States.
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.
Adelie penguins' population has seen a 135-fold increase over the last 14,000 years due to retreating glaciers. However, regional variability means some populations are declining despite current favorable environmental conditions.
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.
The West Antarctic ice sheet could collapse completely if the Amundsen Basin is destabilized, resulting in a 3-meter sea-level rise. This process would be triggered by decades of ocean warming and would lead to centuries or millennia of continued ice loss.
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.
The upgraded McMurdo TDRSS Relay System (MTRS) is transmitting terabytes of data at 200 megabits per second, enabling the production of global maps and enhancing natural hazard monitoring. The system's performance has improved data flow and will eventually support other polar-orbiting spacecraft.
Researchers analyzed over 500 mummified seal remains to understand the impact of changing ice conditions on their diet and ecology. Crabeater seals showed little isotopic change, while Weddell seals underwent a shift in dietary values, indicating adaptations to a changing environment.
The 2015 Antarctic maximum sea ice extent is the 22nd lowest on record, breaking a streak of record highs. The strong El Niño event had an impact on the sea ice distribution in west Antarctica, causing it to be 513,000 square miles below the previous record high.
A new study reveals that powerful winds in Antarctica are removing massive amounts of snow, potentially boosting estimates of potential sea-level rise. The research found that scour zones, where winds persistently scrape away at the surface, have lost up to 90% of their snow cover, equivalent to 80 billion tons per year.
Scientists discovered that warmer glaciers in Patagonia erode 100-1,000 times faster than those in Antarctica, shedding sediment into oceans and impacting freshwater access. The study highlights the complex effects of climate change on polar regions.
Climate change may increase Antarctic soil fungal diversity by 25% by 2100, potentially aiding invasive species. The study, published in Nature Climate Change, found that rising temperatures are the primary factor determining soil fungal diversity in this region.
Research found that changes in ocean circulation due to Antarctica's temperature had a profound impact on the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere. When temperatures dropped, nutrient-rich waters rose closer to the Antarctic continent, allowing phytoplankton to thrive and absorb more CO2.
The NASA Operation IceBridge campaign is conducting overlapping flights in Antarctica and the Arctic to track changes in polar ice conditions. The team aims to compare measurements taken during spring and summer campaigns, providing insight into ice thickness variations within the year.
A recent study reveals that life on the seafloor in Antarctica is acting as an important carbon sink, absorbing nearly 2.9 ? 106 tons of carbon per year. This discovery suggests a new and unexpected way to combat climate change, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 50,000 hectares of tropical rainforest.
The 2015 Arctic sea ice minimum extent is the fourth lowest on record, with a minimum of 1.70 million square miles. The decline in sea ice cover has accelerated since the late 1970s and is attributed to warming temperatures.
A recent study suggests that burning all accessible fossil fuels would lead to a 50- or 60-meter sea level rise, putting over a billion people at risk. The team's models indicate that the West Antarctic ice sheet becomes unstable within 60-80 years if carbon emissions continue at current levels.
A new study finds that burning all fossil fuels would eliminate the Antarctic ice sheet, causing unprecedented sea-level rise. The risk increases with every additional tenth of a degree of warming, threatening major coastal cities like Tokyo and New York.
Researchers found that phytoplankton organic waste can stimulate cloud droplets to freeze into ice particles, affecting global climate and influencing temperature. This discovery helps improve weather models and climate predictions.
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current began its eastern flow through the Southern Ocean 30 million years ago, driven by the Tasmanian gateway's alignment with mid-latitude westerly wind bands. This massive ocean current transports heat and salt around the world, shaping regional climates.
Researchers used a high-resolution computer model to estimate West Antarctica's ice sheet loss over the next couple of centuries, predicting significant sea-level rise contributions. The study suggests that West Antarctica could lose 80,000 cubic kilometers of ice by 2100 and 200,000 cubic kilometers by 2200.
A study by University College London found that warm, stagnant water from the deep Arctic Ocean and Nordic Seas contributed to the end of the last Ice Age. The researchers used proxy data to reconstruct past ocean circulation changes, which showed a warmer deep Arctic Mediterranean during glacial times.
Researchers used DNA barcoding to study Antarctic sponge diversity and revealed a highly diverse group of species, comparable to tropical communities. The genetic analysis suggests that these sponges developed as an isolated population, likely descended from ancestral forms in Gondwana waters.
A new study confirms the Montreal Protocol has effectively protected the ozone layer from severe depletion, with atmospheric concentrations of harmful substances declining since their peak in 1993. The researchers used a state-of-the-art model to investigate the impact of the treaty and found that without it, the Arctic ozone hole woul...
Glaciers on the Southern Antarctic Peninsula have been destabilized and are melting at accelerated rates since 2009, contributing significantly to rising sea levels. Warming ocean currents and changes in wind circulation are thought to be the primary causes of this phenomenon.
Researchers detected a sudden onset of ice loss in Antarctica's Southern Antarctic Peninsula, with glaciers shedding 55 trillion liters of water annually. The region's ice loss shows no signs of waning and is attributed to warming oceans.
UTSA College of Sciences faculty members Stephen Ackley and Blake Weissling will embark on a 42-day trip to the Arctic Ocean to study the diminishing ice cover. They will join a team of scientists from around the world, including UTSA students who have conducted ice research in the region before.
The Larsen C Ice Shelf is losing an average of 4 metres of ice and lowering by one metre at the surface due to air loss from the top layer and warmer ocean currents. A collapse could occur within a century, contributing significantly to sea-level rise.
Researchers argue that the Chicxulub impact likely triggered most of the immense Deccan Traps flood basalt eruptions in India, changing the narrative on the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. The study suggests a cause-and-effect relationship between the two events, citing geological evidence and historical data.
Researchers analyzed gravity satellite data to conclude that Antarctica's ice cap is melting faster than ever. The southern continent lost 92 billion tons of ice per year from 2003 to 2014, with West Antarctica's ice sheet losing twice as much as East Antarctica.
Researchers found a consistent link between abrupt temperature changes in Greenland and Antarctica, with the Antarctic response delayed by 200 years. The study uses a highly detailed ice core from West Antarctica, providing unprecedented detail about past climate change.
A new ice core from West Antarctica shows a consistent pattern of climate changes starting in the Arctic and spreading to the Antarctic during the last glacial period. Ocean currents played a key role in redistributing heat between hemispheres, influencing past climates and providing insights into predicting future warming.
Researchers have discovered a salty aquifer beneath the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica, which could provide insights into ancient climate change and the potential for microbial life. The discovery was made using a novel sensor system that penetrated below the surface of large areas of terrain.
A team of scientists from UT Knoxville has discovered extensive salty groundwater networks in Antarctica using SkyTEM technology. This finding supports the presence of subsurface microbial ecosystems and provides insights into glacial dynamics and ancient climate change.
Researchers using airborne imaging system SkyTEM detect extensive, interconnected aquifers deep beneath glaciers and lakes in the McMurdo Dry Valleys. The findings provide evidence for previously unknown microbial life and challenge assumptions about liquid water's presence beneath ice sheets.
A survey of 10,000 respondents across eight Arctic states reveals major differences on cooperation with Russia and military conflict. Majorities support diplomatic approaches over strengthening military presence in the region.
Researchers discovered two seafloor gateways that allow warm ocean water to reach the base of Totten Glacier in East Antarctica. This finding explains the glacier's rapid thinning and raises concerns about sea level rise. The study highlights the importance of understanding the role of oceanic gateways in glacier melting.
Research suggests that a 5% increase in Antarctic snowfall will lead to a 3cm drop in sea level over 100 years. The increased snowfall also elevates the grounded ice sheet on the continent, causing it to flow more rapidly into the ocean and contributing to sea-level rise.
A new study found that Antarctic snowfall will increase by 5% for every degree of warming, offsetting future sea level rise. The effect is expected to be around 20% less than previously anticipated due to other physical processes.
Male and female Hoff crabs lead separate lives at volcanic vents due to conflicting demands of feeding and raising young. Females migrate from warm mineral-rich fluids to cold waters with fewer predators for their offspring's early development.
A study found that only three populations of emperor penguins may have survived the last ice age, with the Ross Sea being a likely refuge for one population. Genetic diversity analysis suggests that conditions were too extreme for large populations to survive during the last ice age.
Global sea ice has been decreasing at an average annual rate of 13,500 square miles since 1979, with the Arctic losing more than it gains in Antarctica. The Arctic ice decrease has accelerated over time, leading to increased absorption of solar radiation and further heating.
Researchers have reconstructed the development of winter temperatures in Russia's Lena River Delta, revealing a clear trend: warming winters over the past 7,000 years. The study used oxygen isotope analysis on ice wedges to access temperature information stored in the ice and compile it into a climate curve.
Scientists have made new discoveries about Antarctica's geology and biology using a hot-water drill and an underwater robotic vehicle. The expedition uncovered a unique ecosystem of fish and invertebrates living in an estuary deep beneath the Antarctic ice.
Researchers aim to retrieve a 40,000-year record of climate change from the ice core, with potential insights into Antarctic interactions and global climate patterns. The team will also analyze ultra-trace gases for clues about tropical wetlands and land-based plant productivity.
A team of researchers from KU Leuven has made a significant discovery about the impact of atmospheric rivers on Antarctica's ice sheet. They found that these long, narrow water vapor plumes can rapidly transport large amounts of moisture and cause devastating precipitation when they hit coastal areas.