Science Daily

Subscribe to Science Daily feed Science Daily
Read science articles on the ice age, glaciation and climatology. Discover the connection between ice ages and global warming.
Updated: 59 min 58 sec ago

The genetic history of Ice Age Europe

Mon, 05/02/2016 - 12:12
Analyses of ancient DNA from prehistoric humans paint a picture of dramatic population change in Europe from 45,000 to 7,000 years ago, according to a new study. The new genetic data reveal two big changes in prehistoric human populations that are closely linked to the end of the last Ice Age around 19,000 years ago.

Forming fogbows: Study finds limit on evaporation to ice sheets, but that may change

Fri, 04/29/2016 - 18:28
Although the coastal regions of the Greenland Ice Sheet are experiencing rapid melting, a significant portion of the interior of that ice sheet has remained stable -- but a new study suggests that stability may not continue. Researchers found that very little of the snow and ice on the vast interior of the ice sheet is lost to the atmosphere through evaporation because of a strong thermal 'lid' that essentially traps the moisture and returns it to the surface where it refreezes.

What lies beneath West Antarctica?

Fri, 04/29/2016 - 18:28
New research provides the first look into the biogeochemistry, geophysics and geology of Subglacial Lake Whillans, which lies 800 meters (2,600 feet) beneath the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Ice loss accelerating in Greenland's coastal glaciers

Thu, 04/28/2016 - 12:22
Surface meltwater draining through and underneath Greenland's tidewater glaciers is accelerating their loss of ice mass, according to a new study that sheds light on the relationship between meltwater and subglacial discharge.

Sea-level rise summit coincides with flooding risks in south Florida due to the moon, high tides and inclement weather

Thu, 04/28/2016 - 08:52
Just as parts of South Florida are bracing for potential risks of flooding in low-lying areas due to the close proximity of the moon, high tides, sea-level rise and inclement weather, researchers are bringing together professionals from the private and public sectors to help identify solutions and develop adaptation pathways.

New tool puts a consistent value on experts' uncertainty on climate change models

Wed, 04/27/2016 - 14:09
To bridge the gap between projections of future sea-level rise and the need to prepare for it, a research team developed a method that consolidates climate models and the range of opinions that leading scientists have about them into a single, consistent set of probabilities.

Climate change, extreme weather linked to high pressure over Greenland

Tue, 04/26/2016 - 20:54
Greenland is one of the fastest-warming regions of the world, according to climate change experts. The work has identified changes in weather systems over Greenland that have dragged unusually warm air up over the western flank of Greenland's Ice Sheet.

Carbon dioxide fertilization greening Earth, study finds

Tue, 04/26/2016 - 15:26
From a quarter to half of Earth's vegetated lands has shown significant greening over the last 35 years largely due to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, according to a new study.

Ancient glass-glued walls studied for nuke waste solutions

Tue, 04/26/2016 - 13:47
The modern challenge of nuclear waste storage and disposal has researchers looking back at ancient materials from around the world.

Citizen scientists collected rare ice data, confirm warming since industrial revolution

Tue, 04/26/2016 - 10:06
In 1442, Shinto priests in Japan began keeping records of the freeze dates of a nearby lake, while in 1693 Finnish merchants started recording breakup dates on a local river. Together they create the oldest inland water ice records in human history and mark the first inklings of climate change, says new research.

Ancient marine sediments provide clues to future climate change

Mon, 04/25/2016 - 13:15
Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration was the major driver behind the global climatic shifts that occurred between 53 and 34 million years ago, according to new research.

Researchers discover fate of melting glacial ice in Greenland

Mon, 04/25/2016 - 13:15
A team of researchers has discovered the fate of much of the freshwater that pours into the surrounding oceans as the Greenland ice sheet melts every summer. They were surprised to discover that most of the meltwater found off the west coast of Greenland actually originated from ice on the east coast. Meltwater originating from the west coast of Greenland, on the other hand, is often kept pinned to the coastline by strong winds, which push it northward toward Baffin Bay.

Do fish survive in streams in winter?

Mon, 04/25/2016 - 08:55
Most stream-resident fish stay throughout winter despite the ice. Researchers have made this discovery by tagging trout and sculpins with transponders to follow fish migration. Fish’s general state of health is the single most important factor for surviving winter, they add.

Paperbark tree to unlock climate change

Fri, 04/22/2016 - 10:56
Synonymous with the Australian landscape, the paperbark tree is most recognized for its distinctive bark, but it is the leaves that have found themselves at the center of research which could provide crucial insights into climate change. The research found Melaleuca leaves preserved in ancient wetlands could be used to reconstruct past rainfall activity.

Volcanoes tied to shifts in Earth's climate over millions of years

Thu, 04/21/2016 - 14:00
A new study reveals that volcanic activity associated with the plate-tectonic movement of continents may be responsible for climatic shifts from hot to cold over tens and hundreds of millions of years throughout much of Earth's history.

The Arctic is facing a decline in sea ice that might equal the negative record of 2012

Thu, 04/21/2016 - 07:52
Sea ice physicists are anticipating that the sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean this summer may shrink to the record low of 2012. The scientists made this projection after evaluating current satellite data about the thickness of the ice cover.

Accounting for volcanoes using tools of economics

Wed, 04/20/2016 - 10:12
Scientists can read old descriptions of eruptions and analyze ash deposits captured in polar ice, but consistently estimating the climate impact of past eruptions has been difficult. A new technique may change that.

Polar bears are swimming more as sea ice retreats, study indicates

Wed, 04/20/2016 - 09:43
A study undertaken by scientists to understand swimming behavior in polar bears is showing an increase in this behavior related to changes in the amount and location of summer sea ice. The pattern of long-distance swimming by polar bears in the Beaufort Sea shows the fingerprint of climate change. Swims are occurring more often, in association with sea ice melting faster and moving farther from shore in the summer.

Ancient tectonic activity was trigger for ice ages

Tue, 04/19/2016 - 09:41
Continental shifting may have acted as a natural mechanism for extreme carbon sequestration.

Two volcanoes trigger crises of the late antiquity

Tue, 04/19/2016 - 07:32
Contemporary chronicles, archaeological studies and physical evidence all point to severe climatic changes and ensuing social crises in the middle of the 6th century. New data from ice cores suggest that these events were caused by two major volcanic eruptions. An international team of scientists has reconstructed the effects using state-of-the-art climate models. As they present now the volcanic double event was likely the strongest volcanic driver of Northern Hemisphere climate over the past one and a half millennia.

Pages