A new model that takes into account the unique interaction between ice and water at the island's fjords shows that the glaciers are melting 100 times faster than before.
There is a new representation of melt factors in the latest observations of how ice is eaten away from the ends of glaciers. In the past, scientists used models that were developed in Antarctica, where glaciers float on top of the water.
Kirstin Schulz is a research associate in the Oden Institute for Computational Engineering and she is the lead author of the paper. There is more and more evidence that the traditional approach causes too low melt rates.
They published their findings in the journal in September.
Climate change can be seen from space.
The researchers knew their understanding of the glaciers wasn't perfect. It's difficult to get close to the edges of the glaciers because they are located at the end of fjords. The researchers say that mini-tsunamis are created when chunks of ice the size of buildings fall into the water.
The Rutgers University researchers led by Rebecca Jackson have been using robotic boats to get close to the dangerous ice cliffs. They did this at Alaska's LeConte Glacier. Jackon's measurement suggest that the models underestimate the melt of the glaciers. LeConte is vanishing 100 times quicker than predicted.
Ocean circulation is driven by the mixture of cold fresh water from the glaciers and warmer seawater, meaning the melt has far-reaching implications. Sea levels can be raised by 20 feet (6 meters) with the help of the ice sheet.
A more realistic understanding of how the steep, cliff-like faces of the glaciers impact ice loss is included in the new model. The results are in line with Jackson's findings.
Ocean climate model results are relevant for humankind to predict trends associated with climate change. It was an important step to make climate models better.
The original article was published on Live Science.
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