A research team made a surprising discovery about a massive layer of ice in Antarctica that could make world levels of the sea increase up to 20 feet.
His findings, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, identify a culprit that potentially drives ice loss, and could provide a clearer roadmap to combat the problem.
What is happening?
As the National Tribune detailed, the ice layer of Western Antarctic covers an area larger than the United States and Mexico, and has been constantly melted since the 1940s. To understand this pattern, the researchers deepened in the theory that the west winds were feeding this fusion of ice.
They used historical data of ice samples, trees and coral rings to carry out a series of ice simulations, measuring ice loss after feeding their climate model wind patterns. They repeated the process 29 times with different wind patterns at five -year intervals.
Surprisingly, his study suggests that the North Winds, instead of the Western winds, resulted in a loss of ice because they reorganized the Polynyyas, essentially the pores of the ice layer.
“When the winds of the north close the Polynyyas, it reduces the loss of heat from the ocean, which means warmer waters and more ice shelves under the surface,” said Kyle Armor, professor of oceanography and atmospheric and climate science at the University of Washington.
“We had all kinds of theories about the winds that blow from west to east, but the north winds were not in our radar. We were in 90 degrees,” Armor added.
Why is this important?
Understanding how critical climatic problems are shaping the world provides information on how to prepare for the future and limit the adverse effects of the increase in global temperatures.
As for the north winds, researchers believe that heat capture gases generated by human activities may be feeding them. They pointed out that other studies that indicate that humans induced climate change is altering a low pressure center that influences many Antarctic climatic patterns, according to the national tribe.
While the loss of ice in Antarctica may not seem a pressing concern given the remote location of the region, threatens the coastal communities around the world. According to the Oceanic and Atmospheric National Administration, sea levels have increased by up to 9.4 inches since 1880. This has exacerbated floods and erosion of the coast.
The sea level in the sea has also made cyclonic swells more mortal and dangerous. In addition, although storms have always occurred throughout history and would even happen without global temperatures decreasing more, the heater climate is intensifying extreme climatic events such as hurricanes, essentially provides more fuel to cause ravages in their destruction paths.
What is being done about it?
Armor told the National Tribune that the investigation, directed by the postdoctoral oceograph of the UW, Gemma O’Connor, could “lead to a complete revolution in the understanding of what drives the loss of Antarctic ice.” If heat capture pollution really contributes to ice loss, stopping it could help keep this under control.
On a personal level, you can participate by disconnecting vampires of energy, changing to LED and updating domestic energy efficiency technologies. In addition to contributing to a more fresh and safe future, it will reduce its electrical bills, which makes it a situation of winning.
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(Tagstotranslate) National Tribune (T) Antarctic Antarctic ice
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