ANTARCTIC GLACIER MOVEMENT: A STARK REMINDER OF CLIMATE CRISIS

TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Antarctic glacier has moved eight kms after being stable for 50 years.

EXPLANATION:

• The recent observation of significant movement and collapse of the Cadman Glacier’s ice shelf in Antarctica has raised concerns about the vulnerability of polar ice dynamics to climate change.
• This event, characterized by an accelerated retreat of the glacier after decades of stability, highlights the potential repercussions of warming oceans on Antarctic glaciers.

SCIENTIFIC INSIGHTS:

• Utilizing information from nine satellite missions, including ESA’s CryoSat and Copernicus Sentinel-1, researchers were able to analyze the changes in the ice shelf and glacier.
• The study revealed that between November 2018 and May 2021, the Cadman Glacier retreated an astonishing eight kilometers after being stable for almost 50 years.
• The rapid retreat is attributed to ocean water temperatures that were up to 2°C warmer than average during 2018–2019 around the west Antarctic Peninsula.

RESEARCH FINDINGS AND CAUSES:

• Researchers pointed out that warmer waters began undermining the Cadman Ice Shelf as early as the 1970s, with noticeable effects becoming pronounced by the early 2000s.
• The warm water not only affected the surface but also penetrated deeper layers of the ocean, potentially reaching the point where the ice shelf grounded on the seafloor.
• This bottom-up melting was detected through satellite observations.

IMPACT OF ICE SHELF LOSS:

• The collapse of ice shelves like the Cadman Ice Shelf plays a pivotal role in glacier stability.
• These shelves act as a barrier, floating on the ocean surface and anchoring to the ocean floor, which slows down the flow of glacial ice towards the sea.
• With the loss of the Cadman Ice Shelf, this crucial support has been removed, leading to increased discharge of ice into the ocean at an alarming rate.

IMPLICATIONS AND CONCLUSION:

• This research underscores the vulnerability of Antarctic glaciers to changes in oceanic temperatures, emphasizing the potential for rapid ice loss due to climate change.
• As global leaders prepare for discussions on climate action, the situation in Antarctica serves as a compelling call to address warming oceans.
• It poses threats not only to polar regions but also to global sea levels and ecosystems.

SOURCE: https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/antarctic-glacier-dramatically-moves-eight-kms-after-being-stable-for-50-years-2469116-2023-11-29