The study shows that these “atmospheric rivers” are very stormy, which significantly slows the recovery of Arctic ice.
IFL Science writes that global warming and future climate change are increasingly becoming the subject of scientific research – scientists are constantly trying to figure out how to stop these processes, how to prevent abrupt climate change, and how to prevent the Arctic from losing its glaciers.
In a new study, Pennsylvania State University meteorologists focused on studying the Arctic and the rate at which sea ice was lost. The results of the study were very troubling – Arctic sea ice loss could be even greater. This is because of the strongest storms that can move large amounts of water in the form of steam through the air.
in 24News Breaker. Technology emerged telegraph channel. Subscribe so you don’t miss the latest and exciting news from the world of science!
These large volumes of steam are called atmospheric rivers, and researchers have found that they increasingly reach the Arctic during even the coldest winter months, when sea ice is typically given a chance to recover and “lubricate” after a debilitating summer meltdown. But researchers now believe that atmospheric rivers may interfere with this process.
Pengfei Zhang, lead author of the study, said the shrinking of Arctic sea ice has been one of the clearest indicators of global warming in the past few decades. The problem is that even though temperatures in the Arctic are well below freezing, the reduction in sea ice is still huge, even in winter. And now researchers believe they have discovered one of the most important factors influencing this, atmospheric rivers.
Note that an atmospheric river is a thin, unstable column of condensed water vapor that comes from the tropics high in the atmosphere and is actually a “river in the sky,” according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “
When this river hits the ground, it usually comes in the form of heavy rain or snowfall. Scientists note, for example, that similar storms have recently brought about 28 centimeters of precipitation to California.
In a previous study, scientists found that these “sky rivers” can also flow into “sky lakes,” which are large accumulations of water vapor that move slowly in the atmosphere and can linger in the atmosphere for long periods of time. The researchers note that these lakes formed when atmospheric rivers split and slowed, and then merged into “celestial lakes” to splash large volumes of water onto the earth’s surface.
During the study, the scientists analyzed satellite images and combined them with climate modeling – allowing scientists to understand how “sky rivers” were affecting the Arctic at a time when sea ice there was generally recovering. The researchers found that “sky rivers” directly affect the amount of Arctic ice – for example, the data show that after an atmospheric river bends in this region, it immediately leaves a trail on the sea ice – retreating and continuing to move. direction within 10 days of the storm.
According to study co-author Mingfangi Ting, the results were much more depressing than scientists initially thought. The situation is also complicated by the fact that recently atmospheric rivers are occurring more and more often.
Previously Focus He wrote that there is a “pipeline” under Antarctica’s ice sheet: It stretches for 460 km, accelerating melting
Source: Focus
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.