Spain-sized glacier sounds alarm on rising sea levels

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theweathernetwork.com

Tuesday, March 20, 2018, 5:48 PM - Scientists studying a glacier the size of Spain in Antarctica have discovered that more of the ice is floating on the water than previously thought, elevating the risk of melting and contributing to a rise in global sea levels.

On Tuesday, Dr. Ben Galton-Fenzi said the Totten Glacier is important due to its size and the amount of water it could spill into the ocean if it melts.

During a summer expedition, Dr. Galton-Fenzi and his team used seismic waves to look through the ice. That's when they realized the a large portion of the glacier was floating on water, as opposed to standing on bedrock.

“Since the 1900s the global sea-level has risen by around 20 centimetres and by the end of the century it’s projected to rise by up to one metre or more, but this is subject to high uncertainty, which is why studying glaciers such as the Totten is important,” Galton-Fenzi said.

“These precise measurements of Totten Glacier are vital to monitoring changes and understanding them in the context of natural variations and the research is an important step in assessing the potential impact on sea-level under various future scenarios.”

Past research has suggested Totten is being eroded by warm, salty sea water. The new measurements could help researchers better predict how quickly the glacier is melting.

"In some locations we thought were grounded, we detected the ocean below indicating that the glacier is in fact floating," said Paul Winberry from Central Washington University, who participated in the study.

"It also means the Totten might be more sensitive to climate variations in the future."

VIDEO: How Canada's glaciers contribute to rising sea levels:

Global sea levels rising faster than previously thought

In February, a study based on 25 years of NASA and European satellite data suggested that global sea levels are rising at an unprecedented rate.

"Water levels have been going up by accelerating incrementally in recent decades, rather than in the steady mode past studies had suggested," writes Dr. Mario Picazo, a contributor to The Weather Network.

"Past data shows that sea levels had been stable for about 3,000 years until the 20th century, then they began to rise as a result of global warming caused by an increase in the burning of fossil fuels."

VIDEO: Why pink snow is bad news for glaciers:



