A study published in Nature Geosciences attributes this change to a combination of snowmelt and warmer ocean waters, providing insight into how climate change may affect glacier behavior and play a role in sea level rise. according to researchers.
A team led by scientists from the University of Leeds (UK) used more than 10,000 images captured between 2014 and 2021 by the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite of the Antarctic Peninsula, which is the most northern tip of the continent.
The goal was to understand how glacial currents in the waters around Antarctica change during colder and warmer periods, thanks to new capabilities from satellites revealing data about the speed at which glaciers move and channel water into the surrounding ocean.
Ben Wallis, the study’s lead author, said in a statement from the university that one of the important results of the study is “revealing how sensitive the Antarctic glaciers are to the environment.”
“We’ve known for a long time that Greenland glaciers exhibit seasonal behavior, but now we have satellite data in Antarctica showing similar behavior.”
Read more: The world’s glaciers contain 20% less fresh water than estimated
Analysis of the data showed that glacier acceleration occurs during the summer months when snow melts and water temperatures in the Antarctic Ocean rise.
Researchers believe that the water from the melted snow acts as a lubricant between the ice sheet and the underlying rock. This reduces friction and increases the speed at which glaciers slide.
In addition, the warmer waters of the Southern Ocean erode the moving ice front, reducing the strengthening it exerts to resist the ice flow.
Source: Ultimahora
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Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
