Arctic glaciers melting: Ocean's hidden role unveiled
Scientists have been examining the melting of Arctic glaciers for years. Alongside the ongoing warming of the climate, the ocean's influence is a significant factor in this worrying process, which may lead to a rise in sea and ocean levels.
The Antarctic ice sheet holds 60% of the world's fresh water, with an average thickness of 1.6 kilometres, and the continent itself is approximately twice the size of Australia. The loss of ice from this sheet could be a major contributor to rising sea levels.
The ice sheet is melting at an alarming rate
The climate crisis is advancing, and its effects will be felt in the coming years. One consequence of this process is the rising level of seas and oceans. However, scientists have made progress in understanding the so-called boundary layer of ice and ocean. At the edges of the ice sheet, glaciers flow into the Southern Ocean, creating ice shelves that stabilise the sheet. The ocean melts the lower layers, causing them to melt and retreat, which raises sea levels.
Oceanic processes controlling ice melting occur on a very small scale, making them difficult to measure and model. However, with the help of new computer simulations and underwater robots, scientists have gained new insights into the environment beneath the ice shelves.
Underwater formations discovered
Robots have unveiled remarkable ice formations, such as crevices and indentations. New simulations demonstrate how the ice sculpts itself, akin to dunes in the desert. To better understand the process, further development of computer models is needed to simulate the entire ice landscape.
The melting of glaciers is proceeding at a concerning rate, with significant consequences. The past decade has witnessed record levels of melting, and scientists warn of further repercussions.
Scientists stress the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of climate change in the upcoming decades. International climate reports predict a considerable temperature increase in polar regions, which will accelerate the observed trends.
