Earth is losing ice rapidly, with an area as large as Lake Superior melting each year.It is not surprising that the planet has begun to melt. For years, researchers have documented losses in the polar and seasonal ice sheets as well as in glaciers. Researchers have also discovered that the melting of ice on rivers, lakes and other bodies of water is faster in spring due to warmer temperatures. This could be because of climate change. A new study published in Earth's Future, an open-access journal, May 16th, is the first to combine all Earth's frozen parts and measure their melting in one go. The cryosphere is the collective ice of the planet.The new study, led by Xiaoqing Peng (a Chinese geographer at Lanzhou University), found that the planet has lost approximately 33,000 sq miles (87,000 km) of ice each year since 1979.Similar: Images of melt Earth's disappearing icePeng stated in a statement that the cryosphere was one of the most sensitive indicators of climate and the first to show a changing world. Its size change is a global issue, and not a regional one.Researchers gathered data on snow cover and sea-ice extent, as well as frozen soil. This includes information about the extent of polar ice sheets. Many measurements were taken by satellite and were collected by the National Snow and Ice Data Center. The researchers used data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts to determine snow cover. These datasets were then validated by the researchers comparing them to data from 28,000 weather stations around the world.The researchers found that the Northern Hemisphere was the dominant ice loser, with coverage shrinking by 39.300 square miles (102,000 km) per year. The Southern Hemisphere saw smaller gains of 5,400 sq miles (14,000 km) which offset the ice loss. The majority of the increase was in the Ross Sea, Antarctica, where sea ice grew due to freshwater runoff. This can alter ocean current patterns in complex ways and also change wind patterns.Researchers also discovered evidence that the winter season is shorter each year. On average, the first freeze of winter occurs 3.6 days earlier than in 1979. The first thaw is 5.7 days earlier.Three-quarters of the world’s fresh water is held in the cryosphere. The loss of ice is threatening water supplies in mountainous regions, which rely on snowmelt to supply their rivers and reservoirs. Next, the researchers will use global cryosphere data in order to understand how ice changes affect ecosystems. Shawn Marshall, a Canadian glaciologist who was not part of the research, stated that they also plan to use the data for comparisons of peak brightness or albedo to seasonal and long term climate change. The bright white snow and ice reflect sunlight off the Earth's surface, cooling it. However, melting can expose darker ground, which absorbs heat more quickly, causing warming.Marshall stated that Marshall thought this type of analysis was a good idea for a global indicator or index of climate change.Original publication on Live Science
