The thinning of one of the largest glaciers on Earth began 30 years earlier than scientists thought, and there’s a reason for it, a new study shows.
Significant ice loss in the Antarctic region has been observed since the 1970s, but new research shows that for at least some significant areas of Antarctica, including Earth’s largest glacier, it actually began much earlier, perhaps even in the 1940s . formerly writes Science Alert.
In a new study, a team led by the University of Houston collected and examined sediment cores from 7 sites near the massive Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier, and the nearby Pine Island Glacier. Scientists sought to understand exactly when the current ice cover loss began to worsen.
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The team examined rock samples dating back more than 10,000 years and found that the giant ice cap, about 120 kilometers wide, actually began melting decades earlier than previously thought. Note that the Doomsday Glacier got its name due to the fact that its loss would bring significant and irreversible changes to Antarctica, which would subsequently affect the climate of the entire planet.
Measurements based on the properties of cores near the glaciers were consistent, and so the scientists concluded that they were observing the effects of large-scale changes in the icy continent’s environment. What’s particularly important, according to study co-author Rachel Clark, a geologist at the University of Houston, is that these changes do not appear to be random or specific to a particular glacier.
The study’s authors complemented their results with previous models and concluded that they point to an extreme climate regime called El Niño, a shift in global weather patterns that warmed the waters of West Antarctica between 1939 and 1942. Scientists believe this change could cause a significant retreat in the ice shelf.
These factors were sufficient for most of the ice to break away from the seafloor and begin floating freely. The team believes this contributed to further instability and melting of the Doomsday Glacier, as more of the glacier base was now in contact with the warming waters.
As an ice sheet begins to shrink, it can last for years even if the original drivers are no longer present, said University of Houston geologist Julia Wellner, another of the study’s authors. In fact, El Niño lasted only two years during this period, but to this day the two glaciers continue to retreat.
Observations show that the Doomsday Glacier has lost more than 1,000 billion tons of ice since the turn of the century; Therefore, understanding how ice melt has accelerated in the past can help predict the extent of problems that await us in the future.
Wellner also notes that the Doomsday Glacier is dangerous not only because it would cause sea levels to rise, but also because it is a “cork in a bottle” that holds a larger area of ice behind it. Unfortunately, if the stability of the Thwaites Glacier deteriorates further, all ice in West Antarctica could be in danger of disappearing.
Previously Focus He wrote about when, where and how the Doomsday Glacier will collapse: Scientists shed light on the future of the world.
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.