Articles tagged with Antarctica
A new study found that 24% of West Antarctic ice is now unstable due to rapid ocean melting. The ice sheet has thinned by up to 122 meters in places, with the most rapid changes occurring in West Antarctica.
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.
A new study reveals that ship traffic in Antarctic waters has increased up to 10-fold since the 1960s, posing a risk of invasive species altering the balance between species. The research informs future conservation management and policy for protecting Antarctica's unique biodiversity.
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.
Researchers found evidence of historic marine life in Alaskan permafrost, revealing that the Beaufort Sea was not completely frozen over during the late Ice Age. This discovery improves scientists' ability to reconstruct past Arctic sea-ice conditions and inform future climate strategies.
A large section of the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarctica is expected to break away from the British Antarctic Survey's Halley Research Station in as little as a few months. The iceberg, measuring over 1,500 square kilometres, is part of the ice shelf's natural lifecycle, driven by changes in ice-shelf geometry.
A new study published in Lithosphere found that Permian volcanism contributed to increased atmospheric greenhouse gas content in Antarctica. The researchers analyzed age and isotopic data from zircon minerals, expanding the known distribution of Choiyoi-related deposits and highlighting the importance of subduction-related volcanism.
Dust particles from glacial outwash plains can serve as efficient nuclei for ice nucleation, contributing significantly to ice nucleation in Arctic low-level clouds. This study highlights the impact of high-latitude dusts on glaciation and adds to our understanding of climate regulation by clouds.
A new study reveals that a small number of intense storms around Antarctica control up to 60% of annual snowfall in some places. These extreme events are responsible for the marked differences in snowfall from year to year, with one event accounting for 44% of annual snowfall.
A landmark study reveals the Arctic Tern's remarkable migration route, including an 8,000km non-stop flight over the Indian Ocean. The birds' stop-off points are also revealed, highlighting key locations in the UK and beyond.
A long-term experiment in the Arctic deep sea reveals that sedentary animals colonize new habitats at a slow pace. The study found that it took up to 18 years for the first settlers to establish themselves, with only 13 species of multicellular invertebrates identified after four decades.
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.
A team of scientists analyzed biodiversity patterns in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, revealing that biotic interactions are essential for understanding ecosystem dynamics. The study found that biogeography and species interactions are stronger drivers of biodiversity than previously expected.
Researchers measured the area impacted by humans in Antarctica for the first time, finding that 81% of buildings are located within 0.44% of ice-free land, which supports diverse flora and fauna.
Belgica antarctica flies secrete a clear jelly around their eggs, acting as temperature and humidity buffer. The gel helps the eggs survive Antarctica's temperature fluctuations and dryness, allowing them to thrive in the continent's extreme environment.
A new study links sea ice loss in the Arctic to major climate events, including rapid warming of 16 degrees Celsius in Greenland. The research, published in PNAS, used ice cores and numerical model simulations to determine that sea ice changes played a critical role in past abrupt climate change events.
Scientists found that Arctic cod developed their antifreeze gene by assembling tiny fragments of noncoding DNA, which were later duplicated and edited to create a functional protein. The study reveals an unexpected mechanism for the evolution of new genes.
Scientists discovered that Antarctic meltwater streams retain their chemical composition regardless of flow rate, with high levels of chemical weathering being the primary mechanism. This finding has implications for understanding stream behavior and predicting water quality changes in temperate watersheds.
Researchers on an international ocean drilling expedition are studying the West Antarctic Ice Sheet's history to understand its role in future sea level rise. The study will help determine how changes in seawater and air temperature have affected ice gain or loss over millions of years.
Researchers uncover fossilized remains of Antarctanax shackletoni, an iguana-sized reptile with unique adaptations for hunting and survival. The discovery provides insights into prehistoric Antarctica's rapid evolution and diversification following a mass extinction event.
Researchers from Leipzig's TROPOS Institute are part of a Spanish Antarctic expedition investigating the influence of sugar compounds on cloud formation above the ocean. The team aims to understand feedback mechanisms that influence climate change, with implications for ecosystems in polar regions.
Scientists have discovered an iguana-sized reptile, named Antarctanax shackletoni, with unique adaptations to the extreme Antarctic environment. The ancient creature, a carnivore that hunted early mammals and amphibians, provides insights into prehistoric Antarctica's rapid evolution and diversification after mass extinction events.
A team of researchers, led by Julia Wellner and Karsten Gohl, will drill into the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to study its history and potential impact on sea level rise. The expedition aims to understand the past interplay between seawater and air temperature, which could provide insights into possible future behavior.
A recent study reveals that permafrost temperatures have risen globally, with continuous permafrost warming by 0.39°C and discontinuous permafrost by 0.20°C between 2007 and 2016. This increase in permafrost temperature has severe consequences, including the release of carbon dioxide and methane, which speed up global warming.
The world's permafrost soils have warmed by an average of 0.3 degrees Celsius between 2007 and 2016, according to a new global study. This warming poses significant threats to infrastructure and the environment, including increased carbon dioxide and methane emissions.
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.
A UCI/JPL study found Antarctica losing six times more ice mass annually now than 40 years ago, resulting in a half-inch rise in global sea levels. The accelerated melting is attributed to climate change and warm ocean water, with East Antarctica contributing significantly to the total ice mass loss.
The Antarctic Ice Sheet has experienced a significant increase in mass loss over the past four decades, with West Antarctica being the primary contributor. The estimated rate of mass loss increased from 40 Gt/yr in the 1980s to over 250 Gt/yr in the 2010s.
A non-biting midge, Eretmoptera murphyi, is found to release large volumes of nutrients into the soil on Signy Island, affecting peat decomposition and biodiversity. The single introduced species can lead to a three- to four-fold increase in nitrogen relative to areas without its presence.
A new study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers found that ozone depletion above Antarctica increases snowfall, partially offsetting the continent's ice sheet mass loss. However, the gains in snowfall are outpaced by an even greater ice loss rate due to warming oceans.
A new study has detected bacteria from humans in Antarctic and Subantarctic marine birds, revealing the fragility of polar ecosystems. The research highlights the risk of massive deaths and extinctions of local fauna populations due to pathogens introduced by human activity.
Researchers discovered that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) sends messages to Antarctica, causing sudden changes in global climate conditions. The study found that a weakening AMOC could trigger abrupt climate shifts, affecting Asia's monsoons and carbon dioxide absorption.
Researchers documented two-part climatic connections between the North Atlantic Ocean and Antarctica, with rapid changes in climate caused by strengthening and weakening of an oceanic current that warms Greenland and Europe. The study reveals a fast atmospheric connection sending 'text messages' to Antarctica and a slower oceanic conne...
Researchers warn that Antarctica's ice sheet, which holds 190 feet of potential sea level rise, is under stress due to increasing meltwater on its surface. This could lead to the collapse of ice shelves and increased flow of ice into the ocean, contributing to global sea level rise.
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.
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.
Scientists have used satellite gravity data from the GOCE mission to image the structure of the Earth's lithosphere, revealing large-scale tectonic features and complex patterns in ancient cratons. These findings improve our understanding of Antarctica's deep structure and its connection to the rest of the planet.
Scientists have discovered that winds blowing across Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf cause it to vibrate, producing a near-constant set of seismic tones. The vibrations can be used to monitor changes in the ice shelf from afar and may provide insights into climate change.
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 small ice-free oasis between sea ice-covered oceans and land ice sheets supported marine life for at least 5,000 years. This discovery sheds light on the vulnerability of Arctic ecosystems to rapid climate change.
Adding Arctic weather observations can help predict tropical cyclones' tracks and intensity more accurately, reducing extreme weather event risks. The study used radiosonde data from the Arctic to forecast three tropical cyclones, showing improved predictability with additional observations.
A new study reveals that East Antarctic Ice Sheet may melt under 2°C of sustained warming, posing a threat to global sea levels and human civilization. The research found that ice loss from the EAIS likely contributed to higher sea levels in the past.
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.
Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev present marine magnetic data that shows motion between East and West Antarctica continued for another 15 million years than previously thought. This discovery has significant implications for understanding tectono-volcanic activity in the Pacific Ocean.
A new study using data from diving robots reveals that Antarctic winter seas exhale significantly more carbon dioxide than previously believed. The Southern Ocean is currently near neutral with respect to removal of carbon from the atmosphere, contrary to previous studies.
Researchers studying ocean temperatures in West Antarctica found a complex cycle of warming and cooling that affects ice shelf melting rates. The findings suggest that changes in deep ocean temperatures can lead to significant variations in ice sheet melting, with potential implications for global sea-level rise.
Researchers have found that a 'flushing' of the deep Pacific Ocean caused by accelerated water circulation patterns led to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during deglaciation. This phenomenon could happen again, potentially amplifying human-caused climate change.
A new study identifies a disease affecting the starfish Odontaster validus, one of the most common species on the Antarctic sea floor. The disease has afflicted up to 10% of the population, causing tissue damage and altering the natural balance in marine ecosystems.
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.
New research reveals kelp from Kerguelen Islands drifted 20,000km to Antarctica, highlighting potential for drifting plastics to reach the continent. The study also suggests new species can colonize Antarctica as climate warms, challenging previous notion of its biologically isolated ecosystem.
A team of scientists found kelp drifting 20,000km to reach an Antarctic beach, exposing ecosystems to global warming. The discovery challenges the idea that Antarctica is isolated and has significant implications for how ecosystems will change.
A new study reveals that foreign kelp has drifted 20,000km to reach Antarctica, challenging the long-held notion of the continent's isolation. The discovery sheds light on the science of ocean drift and its implications for climate change.
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 new study reveals that the bedrock beneath West Antarctica's Ice Sheet is rising rapidly in response to ice melt, potentially stabilizing the ice sheet. This finding has significant implications for understanding and predicting sea level rise.
A new study reveals that bedrock in West Antarctica is rising at an unexpectedly fast rate, potentially increasing the stability of the ice sheet against catastrophic collapse. This rapid uplift may be due to a hotter and more fluid mantle beneath the area.
A new study has revealed that the bedrock below West Antarctica's ice sheet is rising at an unprecedented rate, suggesting a much more fluid Earth mantle than previously believed. This discovery could impact our understanding of climate changes in Antarctica and have significant implications for global sea levels.
Mass losses in Antarctic Ice Sheet have increased globally sea levels by 7.6 mm since 1992, with West Antarctica experiencing largest change. The study, published in Nature, combined satellite surveys and gravitational data to produce the most complete picture of ice sheet change.
A new study warns that Antarctica's ecosystem is under threat due to climate change, with a metre of global sea level rise predicted if drastic action is not taken. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing effective regulations could mitigate this impact.
Decades of satellite monitoring reveal Antarctic ice loss, with glaciers and ice shelves thinning due to warm ocean water, leading to increased sea level rise. The continent's ice cover has been impacted by climate variability, atmospheric, and ocean circulation changes.
Scientists tracking Antarctica's ice mass loss conclude that the continent is losing an unprecedented amount of ice, resulting in a significant contribution to global sea level rise. The study reveals a threefold increase in ice loss since 2012, with West Antarctica experiencing the largest change.