Glaciers are melting much faster than expected

Melting of glaciers in polar regions such as the Arctic is one of the effects of global warming. The researchers estimate that temperatures, water temperatures, and ocean currents will accelerate the melting of glaciers. However, researchers at the University of Oregon and the University of Alaska in the United States actually measured the melting rate of glaciers below sea level and found that the glacial melting model so far is very inaccurate and that glaciers are melting at a much faster rate than expected.

Water temperature, temperature, and ocean currents have been thought to be the main factors that melt ice below sea level. Based on these data, a model of glacial melting has been created. In addition to validating the model, the team looked directly at the melting of the LeCont glacier in southeast Alaska to measure how fast the glacier actually melts.

A team of glaciologists, oceanographers, and engineers used a sonar to measure the contours of the glacier below the surface, as well as the flow of water melted from the glacier, temperature, and salinity. In addition to these data, the melting of the glacier was observed through time lapse, and the temperature at which the surface of the glacier melts was measured from weather station data.

As a result of observation over two years, it has been discovered that glaciers in seawater are melting at a much faster rate than conventional glacial melting models. The researchers said that the melting of glaciers below the surface was much faster than expected.

The team noted that the previous model oversimplified the melting of the ice. For example, the shape of glaciers below the surface and salt concentrations in sea water can affect the rate of melting. The rate at which glaciers melt beneath seawater is complicated by a number of factors.

In addition, since the bottom of the glacier protruding toward the sea is submerged in seawater, the glacier below the surface of the water melts, causing the entire balance to collapse, and the part above the seawater to collapse and fall into the sea. Therefore, changes to existing models of subwater glacial melting rates could have great significance for the idea of glacial melting.

Sea level rise is often mentioned as the effect of glacial melting, but it also points out the effect on the ecosystem, such as the melt at once and the water flows down, altering the nutrient balance in the seawater, increasing plankton, and changing the salt concentration as more fresh water enters seawater . The melting of glaciers caused by global warming is more than just a symbolic event brought about by warming, it has a great influence on life. For this reason, the team stresses the importance of creating an accurate ice melting model. Related information can be found here .