A new study by Stanford University suggests that the 80-mile (130 km) wide ice flow at the center of Antarctica’s ‘Terminal Glacier’ could expand over the next 20 years. rise.
Thwaites Glacier, located in West Antarctica, has been documented moving at speeds exceeding 2 km (1.2 miles) per year in some areas. That may not seem fast by everyday standards, but it is for a glacier that is actually changing. The Thwaites Glacier is considered part of the weaker underlayer of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, prone to collapse or undergoing high outflow rates, and could significantly contribute to global sea level rise.
While previous computer models of glacier movement have focused on their speed and thickness and how these change over the centuries, geophysics at the Stanford Dore School of Sustainability A new study led by Jenny Suckale, an assistant professor of science, suggests that the main ice flows, or trunks, may stabilize glaciers to a greater or lesser extent, with wider flows being less stable and narrower flows being more stable. becomes higher.
Danny May/Stanford
Essentially, it’s like watching the erosion effect that a widening river has on its banks. In this case, an expansion of just 2% could result in significant ice loss, releasing billions of tons of water into the Amundsen Sea while opening the way for much more ice to follow.
The team stresses that while careful monitoring of Thwaites Glacier is important in a worst-case scenario, it is not the only possible outcome. , may remain the same width, which may improve stability. The key is to build more reliable models and gather more data to determine appropriate responses to future events, from flood management to population displacement.
Suckale said: Monitor storms as they come and update forecasts to inform you about them. I think he needs to keep an eye on Thwaites and put that information into the hands of planners. You don’t have to press the panic button, but you can’t ignore it either. “
This research Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth.
Source: Stanford University
