Study: Warm Water Is Melting Weak Spots in Huge Antarctica Glacier
2023-02-21
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1In two recent studies, researchers say warm water is melting weak areas on Antarctica's huge Thwaites Glacier.
2Two research papers describing melting recently appeared in the publication Nature.
3The research results came after an investigative effort involving a team of 13 American and British scientists.
4Teams spent about six weeks on the glacier in late 2019 and early 2020.
5The researchers used an underwater robot vehicle equipped with instruments and sensors to collect data.
6They were able to measure the glacier's grounding line, the place where glacial ice stops being supported by land and starts being supported by water.
7One of the papers was led by Cornell University-based scientist Britney Schmidt.
8She reported the warmer water was making its way into crevasses and other openings known as terraces, which caused sideways melt of 30 meters or more per year.
9"Warm water is getting into the weakest parts of the glacier and making it worse," Schmidt told Reuters news agency.
10"That is the kind of thing we should all be very concerned about," she said about the latest findings.
11Schmidt's paper said the collapse of the Thwaites Glacier "represents more than half a meter of global sea-level-rise."
12It could also influence events leading to a three-meter rise in the sea levels over several hundred years.
13Schmidt also worked on the other paper's findings.
14That research showed about five meters per year of melt near the glacier's grounding line.
15This level was less than what the most aggressive thinning scientific potential models had predicted.
16But Schmidt said the melting was still extremely concerning.
17"If we observe less melting...that doesn't change the fact that it's retreating," she added.
18In the past, scientists have depended on satellite images to show the behavior of the ice, making it difficult to get detailed results.
19The papers represent the first time a team has gone to the grounding line of a major glacier, providing a look into where "the action begins," Schmidt said.
20The findings should help with the development of climate change models, said Paul Cutler.
21He is the program director of Antarctic Sciences at the National Science Foundation.
22He examined the papers, but was not involved in the research.
23"These things can now be taken on board in the models that will predict the future behavior," Cutler said.
24"And that was exactly the goal of this work," he added.
25I'm Bryan Lynn.
1In two recent studies, researchers say warm water is melting weak areas on Antarctica's huge Thwaites Glacier. 2Two research papers describing melting recently appeared in the publication Nature. 3The research results came after an investigative effort involving a team of 13 American and British scientists. Teams spent about six weeks on the glacier in late 2019 and early 2020. 4The researchers used an underwater robot vehicle equipped with instruments and sensors to collect data. They were able to measure the glacier's grounding line, the place where glacial ice stops being supported by land and starts being supported by water. 5One of the papers was led by Cornell University-based scientist Britney Schmidt. She reported the warmer water was making its way into crevasses and other openings known as terraces, which caused sideways melt of 30 meters or more per year. 6"Warm water is getting into the weakest parts of the glacier and making it worse," Schmidt told Reuters news agency. 7"That is the kind of thing we should all be very concerned about," she said about the latest findings. 8Schmidt's paper said the collapse of the Thwaites Glacier "represents more than half a meter of global sea-level-rise." It could also influence events leading to a three-meter rise in the sea levels over several hundred years. 9Schmidt also worked on the other paper's findings. That research showed about five meters per year of melt near the glacier's grounding line. This level was less than what the most aggressive thinning scientific potential models had predicted. 10But Schmidt said the melting was still extremely concerning. "If we observe less melting...that doesn't change the fact that it's retreating," she added. 11In the past, scientists have depended on satellite images to show the behavior of the ice, making it difficult to get detailed results. 12The papers represent the first time a team has gone to the grounding line of a major glacier, providing a look into where "the action begins," Schmidt said. 13The findings should help with the development of climate change models, said Paul Cutler. He is the program director of Antarctic Sciences at the National Science Foundation. He examined the papers, but was not involved in the research. 14"These things can now be taken on board in the models that will predict the future behavior," Cutler said. "And that was exactly the goal of this work," he added. 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 17___________________________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19glacier - n. a very large area of ice that moves slowly down a slope or valley or over a wide area of land 20crevasse - n. a deep, wide crack, especially in ice 21potential -n. the chance or possibility that something could happen 22retreat - v. to go away to a place or situation that is safer or quieter 23_______________________________________________________________________ 24What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 25Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.