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Melting Ice Shelves Accelerate Critical Antarctic Glacier Retreat

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A Giant Iceberg Threatening Pine Island’s Ice Shelf

NASA/Brooke Medley

West Antarctica’s colossal glaciers are experiencing a rapid acceleration in melting, particularly since 2017. This alarming trend signals a decline in the ice shelf’s effectiveness in stabilizing the glacier.

Pine Island Glacier, the fastest-flowing glacier in Antarctica, significantly contributes to global sea level rise. This glacier plays a crucial role in the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which has the potential to raise global sea levels by 5.3 meters if it fully melts.

The Pine Island Ice Shelf, extending into the ocean, is essential for holding back inland ice and shielding it from warm waters, potentially preventing 51 centimeters of sea level rise.

The instability of Pine Island Glacier, along with the nearby Thwaites Glacier, poses a significant risk to the longevity of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Sarah Wells-Moran from the University of Chicago has been tracking the Pine Island Glacier using images from the Copernicus Sentinel 1 satellite, with data extending back to the 1970s.

The glacier’s velocity surged from 2.2 kilometers per year in 1974 to 4 kilometers per year by 2008 and reached nearly 5 kilometers per year from 2017 to 2023. This represents a 20 percent increase in just six years and a 113 percent increase since 1973.

Between 1973 and 2013, the ice flow from Pine Island Glacier accelerated by over 75%.

These changes have resulted in the glacier’s grounding line—the point at which the ice shelf begins to float—receding dramatically by more than 30 kilometers.

The researchers connected their findings to computer models, concluding that the ice shelf’s thinning and fractures allow warmer waters to penetrate further. This has led to the edge of the shelf “opening up,” as noted by Wells-Moran and her team.

They concluded that ice loss from West Antarctica is worsening due to the Pine Island ice shelf’s diminishing support for the upstream ice.

Sue Cook from the University of Tasmania stated that calving events alone cannot solely explain the acceleration of the glacier. She emphasized, “The damage to the glacier’s shear margin is likely the primary cause. This study corroborates that mechanism.”

Ted Scambos from the University of Colorado noted that warm ocean water is likely reaching the edge of the ice shelf in Pine Island Bay. “The loss of ice shelves may accelerate ocean circulation within the fjord, heightening circulation intensity where the glacier meets bedrock,” Scambos explained.

Nellie Abram from the Australian Antarctic Division remarked that this research will help determine the extent and rate at which the Pine Island ice shelf is collapsing. “It’s evident that the ice loss from this area will continue to affect coastlines worldwide for decades to come,” Abram stated.

Explore Norway’s Svalbard and Tromsø: Fjords, Glaciers, and Northern Lights

Embark on an exhilarating Arctic adventure in Norway. Discover the science behind the Northern Lights, the unique Arctic ecosystem, and how humans adapt to the Northern environment.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Alpine Communities Confront Uncertain Future Following 2025 Glacier Collapse

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Landslide in Bratten, Switzerland

Bratten, Switzerland: Landslide Devastation in May 2025

Alexandre Agrusti/AFP via Getty Images

In May 2025, the picturesque village of Bratten in the Swiss Alps was tragically destroyed by a massive glacier collapse. Thanks to meticulous monitoring, nearly all residents were safely evacuated.

The initial warning signs emerged on May 14, when the Swiss avalanche warning service reported a minor rockfall in the area. Trained observers, who typically have other full-time roles, were on alert for signs of potential danger.

Detailed investigations followed, utilizing images from cameras installed on the glacier after a previous avalanche in the 1990s. “The angles provided crucial insights into shifts in the mountain,” explained Mylène Jacquemart from ETH Zurich, Switzerland.

On May 18 and 19, 300 residents were evacuated, but one individual, a 64-year-old man, resisted leaving his home.

On May 28, the situation escalated as the glacier suffered a catastrophic collapse. “This was an enormous rock avalanche,” Jacquemart stated.

The glacier had accumulated debris from previous years, and when a rockfall occurred, it triggered the collapse of 3 million cubic meters of ice, along with 6 million cubic meters of rock, ravaging a significant portion of the village. Regrettably, the man who opted to remain was killed.

Contrary to some media reports suggesting advanced surveillance technology monitored the glacier, Jacquemart clarified, “The observer’s office didn’t have an elaborate alarm system; a simple red light indicated a problem.”

However, Jacquemart emphasized that Switzerland’s monitoring system ensures effective communication and distinct accountability regarding evacuation decisions.

Satellite Image of the Landslide Area on May 30

European Union, Copernicus Sentinel 2 imagery

What contributed to this disaster? The likelihood of rockfalls exacerbated by climate change is a pressing concern. As global warming causes Alpine glaciers to retreat, the incidence of rockfalls is on the rise. Switzerland’s average temperature has increased by nearly 3 degrees since the pre-industrial era, resulting in melting permafrost that allows water to infiltrate cracks in the rocks.

“There’s a clear connection between climate change and the increase in rockfalls,” Jacquemart remarks. “Dramatic transformations are occurring in high-altitude regions, and the consequences are alarming.”

Yet, Jacquemart advises against attributing the Bratten tragedy solely to recent warming phenomena. The slow geological adjustment to post-Ice Age conditions could also be a factor, she notes.

The immediate future remains unclear for Bratten’s residents. Local authorities declared that the village cannot be reconstructed on unstable ground. Plans are underway for rebuilding, but the area remains susceptible to further landslides, and establishing protective measures demands significant financial resources.

“Communities in mountainous regions worldwide, from the Alps to the Andes and the Himalayas, face increasing threats from the intensity and frequency of mountain-related disasters,” stated Kamal Kishore, United Nations Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction, in a recent statement. “Their livelihoods, cultural heritage, and way of life are under severe threat.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Undersea ‘Storm’ Melts Ice Shelf of Terminal Glacier

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Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica

NASA/ZUMA wire/shutterstock

A submerged “storm” is eroding the ice shelf that shields Antarctica’s Thwaites “Terminal” glacier, prompting concerns that scientists may be underestimating future sea level increases.

These storm-like currents, referred to as “submesoscale” features, can extend up to 10 kilometers wide and begin to form when water with varying temperatures and densities collides in the open ocean. This process is akin to hurricanes that arise from gas mixtures in the atmosphere. Similar to hurricanes, these currents can surge toward the coast, with Antarctica predominantly consisting of ice shelves—floating extensions of glaciers that project tens of kilometers into the ocean.

“Their movements are so unpredictable that halting them is quite challenging,” states Mattia Poinelli from the University of California, Irvine. “The only course of action is for them to become trapped beneath the ice.”

Poinelli and colleagues’ modeling indicates that these submesoscale formations were responsible for one-fifth of the total ice melt in the Thwaites Mountains and nearby Pine Island over a nine-month timeframe. This research marks the first attempt to quantify the influence of these storms across the entire ice shelf.

Ice shelves play a crucial role in hindering the movement of glaciers into the sea and shielding them from wave erosion. The vulnerable Thwaites Glacier annually loses 50 billion tons of ice and could raise sea levels by 65 centimeters if it collapses.

In the Antarctic waters, hundreds of meters of cold, fresh water float above warmer, saltier, deeper water. When a storm becomes enveloped within a cavity beneath an ice shelf, its swirling motions push cold surface water away from the center of the vortex, pulling warmer, deeper water into the cavity and melting the ice shelf from below.

This triggers a feedback mechanism where the melting cold freshwater interacts with the warmer, saltier water, amplifying the rotation of the underwater storm and increasing melting.

In 2022, a deep-sea float that measured temperature, salinity, and pressure was “captured” by a large rotating eddy trapped beneath the ice tongue of Stancombe Wills at another location along the Antarctic coast. The data retrieved from the captured floats showed that Katherine Hancock from Florida State University and her team estimated that the swirl causes 0.11 meters of annual melting beneath its ice tongue.

“This highlights the importance of understanding rotating eddies beneath ice shelves,” says Hancock.

The smaller submesoscale storms from Poinelli’s research are likely causing similar effects, she adds, indicating that swirling water bodies of varying sizes are contributing to significant ice melting. “There’s a need for more precise quantification,” Hancock emphasizes.

As temperatures rise and additional fresh snowmelt escapes from Antarctica, these underwater storms may increase in intensity, possibly leading to greater sea level rise than currently anticipated.

Tiago Dot of Britain’s National Oceanography Centre stated that the “unexpected” findings necessitate further observations beneath the ice shelf.

“Considering the shifts in wind patterns and sea ice around Antarctica, how much are we genuinely overlooking by not monitoring these smaller scales?” he questions.

topic:

  • climate change/
  • Antarctica

Source: www.newscientist.com

Unprecedented Acceleration in Antarctic Glacier Retreat

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Hectoria Glacier’s terminus in February 2024 after an unprecedented fast retreat

Naomi Ochiwat

Researchers have observed what is thought to be the quickest retreat of Antarctic glaciers recorded in contemporary times.

The Hectoria Glacier, located in the Antarctic Peninsula, has receded by 25 km in just 15 months, resulting in a collapse rate that could be up to ten times faster than current documentation suggests.

Naomi Ochiwat, a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, and her team attribute this rapid decline to structural weaknesses within Hectoria, particularly as its slender trunk retreated across a flat section of the ocean floor, referred to as an ice plain. This situation has led to uncontrolled iceberg formation.

Scientists express concerns that this collapse mechanism could endanger other Antarctic glaciers, potentially leading to significant effects on sea level rise.

“The pressing question is: Was the situation with Hectoria an isolated incident resulting from a unique set of circumstances, or could it indicate a broader disaster waiting to occur in other areas?” Ochiwat comments.

The issues facing Hectoria began in early 2022 when a section of sea ice detached from the front of the glacier, leading to the collapse of its floating ice tongue. The loss of this stabilizing ice subjected the glacier to new pressures, accelerating its flow and thinning.

However, the most striking alteration took place on the ice field, where the trunk of Hectoria, which had been secured on stable bedrock, appeared to thin considerably, leaving most of it barely resting on the ocean floor.

Researchers noted that the entire section lifted almost instantly, revealing vulnerabilities within the trunk and initiating destruction. The buoyant force fragmented the iceberg, resulting in what was termed a “glacial earthquake,” which was detected by seismic instruments. The glacier lost 8 km in length during November and December of 2022.

Satellite imagery showing Hectoria Glacier’s terminus on October 26, 2022 (left) and February 23, 2023

Copernicus/ESA

Team members, including Ted Scambos, another professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, described the rapid deterioration as “astonishing,” cautioning that this retreat could alter the dynamics of significant glaciers across the continent.

Nonetheless, this viewpoint has sparked debate. Fraser Christie from Airbus Defense and Space remarked on the “substantial disagreements” among glaciologists regarding whether Hectoria was fully contacting the bedrock, citing a lack of precise satellite data.

Anna Hogg, a researcher from the University of Leeds in the UK, stated that their findings indicated the ice in the claimed ice field was consistently “entirely floating,” thus rejecting the notion of collapse due to buoyancy.

Christine Batchelor, a professor at Newcastle University in the UK, also expressed skepticism about the team’s explanation. “If this ice was genuinely floating, as has been widely discussed, the news would simply be ‘Ice shelf calves iceberg,’ which is relatively common,” she noted.

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  • Climate Change/
  • Antarctica

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Remains of Researcher Discovered on Antarctic Glacier After 66 Years

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Dennis “Tink” Bell (far right) during a Christmas celebration at Admiralty Bay Station in 1958

D. Bell; Archive REF: AD6/19/X/20/18

The remains of a meteorologist who perished on an Antarctic glacier 66 years ago have been unearthed and returned to England.

At just 25, Dennis “Tink” Bell embarked on a two-year mission to Antarctica in July 1959 to study the climate of the Falkland Islands, which was the predecessor of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

Bell encountered a crevasse but managed to call out for assistance. He secured a rope to his belt and was pulled to safety, although the belt broke, causing him to fall again. This time, he did not call out for help.

His colleague made it back to base, but worsening weather conditions jeopardized further rescue efforts.

Ieuan Hopkins noted that working in Antarctica during the 1950s and 1960s was perilous, and fatalities were tragically common. Many bodies of other BAS staff remain lost today.

“There was an average 1% chance that you wouldn’t return,” remarks Hopkins. “It’s an extremely hostile environment. We’re at risk of losing people.”

Earlier this year, a team from the Arkdowsky Poland Antarctic Station on King George Island discovered numerous bone fragments on the glacier’s surface, having been exposed as they shifted over time.

“It’s a large, dynamic glacier, so things are perpetually moving,” explains Hopkins. “The presence of bone fragments suggests significant forces at play.”

The remains were transferred to the Falkland Islands and subsequently returned to Britain by the Royal Air Force aboard an Antarctic research vessel alongside Sir David Attenborough.

Denise Syndercombe Court at King’s College, London, identified the body through DNA comparisons with samples from his older brother David Bell and younger sister Valerie Kelly, as Bell commented in a statement.

The Polish team also uncovered many personal belongings believed to belong to Bell, including radio equipment, flashlights, ski poles, engraved wristwatches, knives, and pipe stems made of ebonite.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Giant Glacier Collapse Triggers Landslides, Engulfs Swiss Villages

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The Birch Glacier triggered an avalanche of ice, snow, water, and rocks as its edge collapsed.

Jean-Christophe Bott/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Many glaciers in the Swiss Alps separated from the mountains, resulting in debris, mud, and ice crashing down onto the village of Blatten.

Authorities had been warning for weeks about the potential collapse of the Birch Glacier due to visible cracks in the ice. Earlier this month, both residents and livestock were evacuated from Bratten, a village situated in the valley beneath the glacier, which houses around 300 individuals.

Webcams and drone footage captured on the 28th show massive clouds of debris swirling through the Alpine valley as the glacier gives way, with immense flows of mud and rock blanketing the hillside and much of the village.

A press briefing in a nearby settlement on May 28th reported one person missing, though there were no immediate casualties. Much of Bratten is now covered beneath debris. The glacial collapse also registered as a 3.1 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale, according to seismic data.

Images from the location indicate that, in addition to the village, vast expanses of forest have been devastated, which has dammed the nearby Lonza River, heightening the risk of floods in the area.

“Nature is more powerful than humanity. Those living in the mountains understand this. However, today we witnessed an exceptional event. It’s deeply disturbing to see the aftermath,” reported a Swiss news outlet.

As global temperatures rise, Alpine glaciers are becoming increasingly unstable. Official statistics show that in Switzerland, glaciers lost 10% of their volume between 2022 and 2023.

The melting of glaciers leads to the collapse of rocks and ice, resulting in debris flows into the valleys below. Research indicates that climate change is contributing to an increase in small rockfalls and landslides in the Alps.

However, further investigation is necessary to understand the specific events that transpired in Blatten, as stated by Mylène Jacquemart from ETH Zurich, who will assess the extent of the glacier failures and the underlying reasons. “Clearly, incidents similar to Bratten are rare. This is a complicated sequence of processes,” she elaborated.

Jack Mart emphasized the challenge of detecting changes in the frequency and severity of significant landslides.

“The alterations induced by climate change in the alpine regions (such as increased melting, reduced snow cover, warmer temperatures, and more rain than snow) negatively affect rock stability,” she noted. “Yet, could this series of events have occurred without climate change? It’s possible. A crucial question in hazard management is whether there is a noticeable rise in the frequency of certain events. Are occurrences that previously happened every decade now becoming more frequent?

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Floods in Alaska caused by glacier dam bursting

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The flooding is caused by the retreat of smaller glaciers near Mendenhall Glacier, a result of global warming that creates a basin filled with rain and melting snow each spring and summer. When the water pressure is strong enough, it can seep under or around the ice dams formed by Mendenhall Glacier and flow into Mendenhall Lake and eventually the Mendenhall River.

Since 2011, this phenomenon has also led to flooding of roads and homes near lakes and rivers. Last year’s floods engulfed large areas, causing riverbanks to collapse, homes to be flooded, and at least one house to be submerged in the swiftly moving waters.

Authorities indicated that the extent of this week’s flooding was unprecedented, leaving residents distressed as they attempted to salvage furniture, books, and other possessions in the midst of warm, sunny weather. Debris such as garbage bags, wood, boxes, wet insulation, carpets, and other items were stacked along road curbs on Wednesday. Street sweepers were busy clearing the muddy aftermath left by the receded water.

Eran Hood, an environmental science professor at the University of Alaska Southeast who has spent years studying Mendenhall Glacier, mentioned that while the basin was created by glacier retreat, climate change has minimal impact on the annual fluctuations in flood levels in Juneau.

A family is rescued from flooding on the Mendenhall River in Juneau, Alaska, on August 6.Sean Maguire/Anchorage Daily News via The Associated Press

He expressed, “It’s evident that these floods will persist over several decades, but predicting the size of future floods is challenging without more precise glacier dynamics modeling, due to numerous factors that influence their magnitude.”

Hood mentioned that at some point, Mendenhall Glacier will shrink and become too thin to act as a barrier.

The flooding serves as a stark reminder of the global hazards posed by failures of snow and ice dams, a concept known as jokulhlaup, which is relatively unfamiliar in the United States. Threatening approximately 15 million people around the world.

Residents remove wet drywall and insulation from the first floor of a home after the Mendenhall River flooded in Juneau, Alaska, on August 6.Mark Lester/nchorage Daily News via The Associated Press

Juneau, a city with about 30,000 inhabitants in southeast Alaska, can only be accessed by plane or boat. Despite peak tourist season, the city is currently facing a housing shortage that could limit temporary accommodations for flood victims. Rental car options in Juneau are also limited for those whose vehicles were affected by the flooding.

Authorities reported that the Mendenhall River hit a new record high of 15.99 feet (4.9 meters), approximately a foot higher than last year’s floods, and the water extended further into Mendenhall Canyon. Some homes beyond flood-prone areas were reached by the water, and the canyon is situated about a 15-20 minute drive from downtown Juneau.

Alyssa Fisher shared that she didn’t anticipate flooding in her area when she went to bed on Monday night. However, her father woke her up over FaceTime a few hours later to inform her of rising water levels outside. She moved his car to higher ground, grabbed essential items, and relocated to a local school shelter with her two children, ages 4 and 8, along with their pets. She noticed that the truck’s license plate had been bent by the floodwaters.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

The “doomsday glacier” is melting at an alarming rate, putting Earth’s largest city in danger of flooding

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Considered one of West Antarctica’s most infamous glaciers, the “doomsday glacier” has earned its nickname due to the potentially significant rise in sea levels it could cause, ultimately reshaping coastlines. This glacier, known as Thwaites Glacier, is massive, the size of England and spanning 120km wide. It extends from the peak of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet to the Amundsen Sea, where it reaches out onto an ice shelf.

Unfortunately, Thwaites Glacier is experiencing troubling changes, with a notable increase in ice loss over recent years as a consequence of climate change. The rate of ice loss has doubled in the past 30 years due to rising ocean temperatures, which lead to the melting of the ocean floor beneath the glacier. Warm water is being transported towards Thwaites, particularly deep below the ocean surface, contributing to this rapid ice loss. The land beneath West Antarctic glaciers is below sea level, and the sloping ocean floor means warmer waters can intrude underneath, eroding the glaciers and making them less stable.

A recent study revealed that Thwaites Glacier may be more susceptible than previously believed, with seawater surging beneath it for kilometers. The melting of glaciers, including Thwaites, could result in a significant rise in sea levels, potentially impacting coastal areas worldwide. Additionally, the collapse of Thwaites could trigger nearby glaciers to follow suit, further elevating global sea levels by more than three meters. This irreversible loss on human timescales would mark a critical “tipping point.”

Scientists are concerned about the potential collapse of Thwaites Glacier, as it could have disastrous consequences for sea levels and climate. Researchers are exploring strategies to adapt to these expected changes and protect coastal regions at risk of submersion. The costs of preparing for rising sea levels are substantial, emphasizing the importance of proactive planning and adaptation. While sea level rise is inevitable, proactive measures can help mitigate its impact and protect vulnerable populations and ecosystems.

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Despite the impending challenges, scientists and experts emphasize the importance of courage and adaptation in the face of climate change. Dr. Caitlen Norton from the British Antarctic Survey stresses the need for resilience and preparedness to address the growing threat of rising sea levels. Adapting defenses, protecting coastal areas, and planning for future changes are crucial steps in mitigating the impact of climate change on coastal regions.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Missoula Glacier Lake’s impact on the dramatic scaly area

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Satellite image of parts of Akaland taken on May 14, 2023 by Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager.

Ejecta from Missoula Glacier Lake has carved out channeled skeletal lands in Washington state.

Southeastern Washington is home to miles of rolling hills and a neat grid of farmland. Dozens of crops It is grown on precious farmland on the Columbia Plateau. But in some places, undulating streaks of scoured soil interrupt a series of angular plots or center-pivot irrigated fields.

These rocky scars channeled scrubland, and they were formed in a series of dramatic floods 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. Landsat 8’s OLI (Operational Land Imager) captured the image of part of Acarland, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) west of Spokane, on May 14, 2023.

The sources of water that carved these unusual landforms remained a mystery to geologists for decades. Then they came to understand that as the Cordilleran Ice Sheet moved south during the last ice age, it formed dams along the Clark Fork River. Glacial Lake Missoula grew behind this ice dam in what is now western Montana and eventually held as much water as Lake Erie and Lake Ontario combined. Geologists estimate that: a dam was formed and broke dozens of times Over thousands of years, each breach releases up to 600 cubic miles of water across the region.

Detailed view of the image above.

Floodwaters flowed south and southwest, eventually emptying into the Columbia River. In the process, they carved grooves, potholes, and long channels known as “coulees” into the volcanic basalt bedrock. The detailed map (above) shows one of these channels and reveals the striking contrast between flood scoured areas and arable land.

The canyon shown here is small compared to the others. Grand Coulee, the largest of the Channeled Scrublands north of this scene. Completed in 1942, Grand Coulee Dam was the largest concrete structure in the world until it was surpassed by dams in South America. Itaipu Dam 1984 and China three gorges dam Established in 2006.Currently America’s largest hydroelectric facility Provides irrigation water to the Columbia Plateau.

NASA Earth Observatory imagery by Lauren Dauphin using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Source: scitechdaily.com