All articles tagged with #ice loss
Scientists warn that climate change is causing irreversible ice loss in Antarctica, which could lead to catastrophic environmental impacts, including accelerated warming, ecosystem collapse, and potential ice-free conditions in summer, with some effects possibly unavoidable even if emissions are reduced.
Due to significant ice loss, Greenland's gravity is weakening, which could have negative implications for the Southern Hemisphere. The loss of ice has caused a shift in the distribution of mass, affecting the gravitational pull in the region. This phenomenon has been linked to climate change and could potentially impact sea level rise and ocean currents in the Southern Hemisphere.
Greenland's massive ice loss has led to a weakening of its gravity, which could have negative implications for the Southern Hemisphere, as the redistribution of mass affects the Earth's gravitational field. This phenomenon is a result of climate change and the melting of Greenland's ice sheet.
A study conducted by the Alfred Wegener Institute reveals that the 79° N-Glacier in northeast Greenland has lost more than 160 meters of ice thickness since 1998 due to warm ocean water melting the ice from below and high air temperatures causing lakes to form on the surface. The study shows that extreme melt rates have led to a 32% thinning of the glacier since 1998, with large channels forming on the underside of the ice. The researchers expect the floating glacier tongue to break apart in the next few years to decades, emphasizing the need to study this process in detail to gain insight into the course of the disintegration.
A study shows that Greenland has lost a significant amount of ice in the past three decades, leading to a doubling of vegetation and quadrupling of wetlands. This ice loss is driven by warmer air temperatures, which in turn causes permafrost melt, releasing carbon dioxide and methane. The resulting feedback loop leads to further ice loss and "greening" of Greenland, with serious consequences for climate change, sea level rise, and indigenous communities relying on natural ecosystems for survival.
A study shows that Greenland has lost a significant amount of ice in the past three decades, leading to a doubling of vegetation and quadrupling of wetlands. This ice loss is driven by warmer air temperatures, which in turn causes permafrost melt, releasing carbon dioxide and methane. The resulting feedback loop leads to further ice loss and "greening" of Greenland, contributing to more global warming and sea level rise. These changes are particularly problematic for indigenous populations and pose significant challenges for the future.
A study shows that Greenland has lost an area of ice 36 times the size of New York City in the past three decades, leading to significant vegetation growth and wetland expansion. Warmer temperatures have driven ice loss, causing permafrost melt and releasing carbon dioxide and methane, contributing to further global warming. The loss of ice is creating a feedback loop, with serious consequences for climate change and sea level rise. This trend poses challenges for indigenous populations relying on natural ecosystems for survival and contributes substantially to global sea level rise.
A study by U.K. researchers warns that fossil fuel-driven global heating could lead to catastrophic and rapid ice loss in Antarctica, similar to an event 8,000 years ago, as confirmed by evidence from an ice core. The West Antarctic Ice Sheet is vulnerable, and the study emphasizes the urgent need to address climate change to prevent further destabilization. Mounting warnings from scientists about conditions in Antarctica, including the rapid melting of the Thwaites Glacier, underscore the pressing need for action to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and mitigate the impact of climate change.
Greenland's bedrock is rising due to the loss of ice from glaciers, with modern-day climate change exacerbating the long-term process of glacial isostatic rebound. Research using GPS monitors has found that glacial ice loss contributes significantly to the uplift of Greenland, with some areas experiencing nearly a third of the total vertical land motion due to ice loss. Understanding the rise of Greenland's bedrock provides complementary measurements to quantify the region's ice loss, aiding in more accurate estimates of sea level rise.
A study has revealed that the Greenland ice cap is losing an average of 30m tonnes of ice an hour due to the climate crisis, 20% more than previously thought. This additional source of freshwater pouring into the north Atlantic might trigger a collapse of the ocean currents, with severe consequences for humanity. The study used satellite photos to show widespread shortening of glaciers, resulting in a trillion tonnes of lost ice. Concerns are raised about the impact on global weather patterns, ecosystems, and food security, as well as the potential disruption of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation.
The top 10 Earth observation stories of 2023 include the 25th anniversary of Copernicus, the detection of smelly seaweed from space, the counting of wildfires across the globe, record low ice loss from Antarctica and Greenland, the breaking free of an iceberg larger than London, the prediction of 2023 being the hottest year on record, the mapping of methane super-emitters using three Sentinel satellites, the observation of one of the biggest ozone holes on record, the end of the Aeolus wind mission, and the entry into a new era of satellite meteorology with the Meteosat Third Generation Imager.
A study from UC San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography reveals that meltwater flowing beneath Antarctic glaciers, known as subglacial discharge, is accelerating their ice loss and contributing to sea-level rise. The study's simulations show that subglacial discharge increased the sea-level rise contribution of two glaciers in East Antarctica by 15.7% by 2300 under a high emissions scenario. This effect is not currently accounted for in major sea-level rise projections, potentially underestimating the pace of global sea-level rise. The study highlights the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the impact on coastal communities. Further research is needed to understand the magnitude of subglacial discharge on other Antarctic glaciers.
Satellite observations have revealed that over 40% of Antarctica's ice shelves have significantly reduced in volume since 1997, with 71 out of 162 ice shelves experiencing a decrease in volume. These ice shelves lost around 8.3 trillion tons of ice during the study period, releasing approximately 74 trillion tons of fresh meltwater into the ocean. The loss of ice shelves and the subsequent increase in glacier freshwater flowing into the ocean pose a double threat to Antarctica, impacting ocean circulation and global temperature regulation. The findings highlight the accelerating impact of climate change on Antarctica's ice shelves.
The Swiss Alps have experienced a catastrophic loss of ice, with glaciers melting at a high rate due to exceptionally low snowfall and high temperatures. The volume of ice lost in the past two years is equivalent to what was lost between 1960 and 1990. This rapid ice loss has led to the disappearance of many small glaciers, and it is attributed to a lack of winter precipitation and rising summer temperatures.
Swiss glaciers have lost 10% of their volume in just two years due to climate breakdown caused by the burning of fossil fuels, resulting in unusually hot summers and winters with low snow volume. The volume lost during the hot summers of 2022 and 2023 is equivalent to that lost between 1960 and 1990. The Swiss Academy of Sciences reported a 4% decline in glacier volume this year, the second-largest annual decline on record. Some glaciers have lost so much ice that measurements have been halted, and experts predict that even if warming is limited to 1.5C above preindustrial levels, only a third of glacier volume in Switzerland will remain. The melting ice is leading to the formation of new lakes, bare rock, and the recovery of long-lost bodies.