Feed aggregator

World's largest canyon could be hidden under Antarctic ice sheet

Science Daily - Wed, 01/13/2016 - 12:23
The world's largest canyon may lie under the Antarctic ice sheet, according to analysis of satellite data by a team of scientists.

Mountains west of Boulder continue to lose ice as climate warms

Science Daily - Tue, 01/12/2016 - 11:55
New research indicates an ongoing loss of ice on Niwot Ridge and the adjacent Green Lakes Valley in the high mountains west of Boulder is likely to progress as the climate continues to warm.

Mountains west of Boulder continue to lose ice as climate warms

Science Daily - Tue, 01/12/2016 - 11:55
New research indicates an ongoing loss of ice on Niwot Ridge and the adjacent Green Lakes Valley in the high mountains west of Boulder is likely to progress as the climate continues to warm.

Greenland ice sheet melts more when it's cloudy

Science Daily - Tue, 01/12/2016 - 11:48
Clouds play a bigger role in the melting of the Greenland ice sheet than was previously assumed. Compared to clear skies, clouds enhance the meltwater runoff by a third, an international team of researchers has discovered.

Greenland ice sheet melts more when it's cloudy

Science Daily - Tue, 01/12/2016 - 11:48
Clouds play a bigger role in the melting of the Greenland ice sheet than was previously assumed. Compared to clear skies, clouds enhance the meltwater runoff by a third, an international team of researchers has discovered.

Growth rings on rocks give up North American climate secrets

Science Daily - Mon, 01/11/2016 - 15:26
Scientists have used soil deposits that form growth rings on rocks to provide a detailed picture of North American climate over a 120,000-year time span.

Growth rings on rocks give up North American climate secrets

Science Daily - Mon, 01/11/2016 - 15:26
Scientists have used soil deposits that form growth rings on rocks to provide a detailed picture of North American climate over a 120,000-year time span.

Optimized arctic observations for improving weather forecast in the northern sea route

Science Daily - Fri, 01/08/2016 - 07:34
The Northern Sea Route could be an attractive shipping route during Arctic ice-free periods; however, the decline in sea-ice extent could also cause severe weather phenomena, which could disturb ship navigation in turn. The sparse observational network over the Arctic Ocean makes weather and sea-ice forecasts less accurate and increases uncertainties. However, a new article suggests that the quality of weather and sea-ice forecasts can be improved by optimizing the Arctic-observing network.

Optimized arctic observations for improving weather forecast in the northern sea route

Science Daily - Fri, 01/08/2016 - 07:34
The Northern Sea Route could be an attractive shipping route during Arctic ice-free periods; however, the decline in sea-ice extent could also cause severe weather phenomena, which could disturb ship navigation in turn. The sparse observational network over the Arctic Ocean makes weather and sea-ice forecasts less accurate and increases uncertainties. However, a new article suggests that the quality of weather and sea-ice forecasts can be improved by optimizing the Arctic-observing network.

In Arctic winter, marine creatures migrate by the light of the moon

Science Daily - Thu, 01/07/2016 - 13:04
A few months ago, researchers reported the surprising discovery that marine creatures living in one Arctic fjord keep busy through the permanently dark and frigid winter months. Now, a report extends this activity to the whole of the Arctic. They also find that, in the absence of any sunlight, it's the moon that drives the vertical migrations of tiny marine animals.

In Arctic winter, marine creatures migrate by the light of the moon

Science Daily - Thu, 01/07/2016 - 13:04
A few months ago, researchers reported the surprising discovery that marine creatures living in one Arctic fjord keep busy through the permanently dark and frigid winter months. Now, a report extends this activity to the whole of the Arctic. They also find that, in the absence of any sunlight, it's the moon that drives the vertical migrations of tiny marine animals.

Deep-water ocean circulation, marine biodiversity and climate change

Science Daily - Wed, 01/06/2016 - 09:10
A direct link has been shown between the greatest increase in Phanerozoic marine biodiversity and the onset of a sudden icehouse. The onset of sudden icehouse conditions during the Mid Ordovician was an abrupt change in climate. Prior to this, Earth was exposed to a prolonged super-greenhouse with sea surface temperatures estimated above 40 degree Celsius, thus, seriously affecting the ability of life to evolve and diversify. The researchers now speculate that the sudden emergence of icehouse conditions brought about fundamental changes in ocean circulation, instigating thermohaline circulation in the oceans.

Melting of massive ice 'lid' resulted in huge release of carbon dioxide at the end of the ice age

Science Daily - Mon, 01/04/2016 - 15:32
A new study of how the structure of the ocean has changed since the end of the last ice age suggest that the melting of a vast 'lid' of sea ice caused the release of huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Climate change is altering Greenland ice sheet, accelerating sea level rise

Science Daily - Mon, 01/04/2016 - 12:04
The Greenland ice sheet has traditionally been pictured as a sponge for glacier meltwater, but new research has found it's rapidly losing the ability to buffer its contribution to rising sea levels, say researchers. They have also found that climate change has caused meltwater from lower elevations to run directly into the sea.

Large, increasing methane emissions from northern lakes

Science Daily - Mon, 01/04/2016 - 12:04
Climate-sensitive regions in the north are home to most of the world's lakes. New research shows that these northern freshwaters are critical emitters of methane, a more effective greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

An ice core study to determine the timing and duration of historical climate stages

Science Daily - Fri, 12/25/2015 - 13:16
In ice core studies, accurate and precise dating is important to better constrain the timing, sequence, and duration of past climatic events. Two deep ice cores were drilled at different remote dome summits in Antarctica, Dome Fuji and Dome C, and were volcanically synchronized. A total of 1401 volcanic matching points were identified within the past 216 kyr. This work contributes to the establishment of a common time scale for all Antarctic ice cores.

Geologic formation could hold clues to melting glacier floodwaters

Science Daily - Wed, 12/23/2015 - 12:41
Geologists investigating an unusual landform in the Wabash River Valley in southern Illinois expected to find seismic origins, but instead found the aftermath of rushing floodwaters from melting Midwestern glaciers after the last ice age. The finding could give clues to how floodwaters may behave as glacier melt increases today in places like Greenland and Iceland.

Salty sea spray affects lifetimes of clouds, researchers find

Science Daily - Mon, 12/21/2015 - 18:41
Ice particles from sea spray affect the phase structure of clouds and their radiative impacts, a new study reveals. Researchers now say that sea spray is a unique, underappreciated source of what are called ice nucleating particles -- microscopic bits that make their way into clouds and initiate the formation of ice, and in turn affect the composition and duration of clouds.

Same growth rate shown for farming, non-farming prehistoric people

Science Daily - Mon, 12/21/2015 - 18:39
Prehistoric human populations of hunter-gatherers in a region of North America grew at the same rate as farming societies in Europe, according to a new radiocarbon analysis. The findings challenge the commonly held view that the advent of agriculture 10,000-12,000 years ago accelerated human population growth.

Melting sea ice increases Arctic precipitation, complicates climate predictions

Science Daily - Mon, 12/21/2015 - 18:34
The melting of sea ice will significantly increase Arctic precipitation, creating a climate feedback comparable to doubling global carbon dioxide, a new study finds.

Pages

Subscribe to Explore the Ice Age Midwest aggregator