Image credit: University of Leeds.
The Amundsen Sea Embayment, one of the regions in West Antarctica, has actually lost more than 3,000 billion lots of ice in 25 years, according to a new research study. This makes it the area that has actually changed the fastest in Antarctica and its presently the biggest factor to sea level rise from the Antarctic Ice Sheet, the scientists from the University of Leeds stated.
A group of researchers estimated the “mass balance” of the location. This is the balance in between the snow and ice acquired from snowfall and the amount lost through calving– the procedure through which icebergs break off of glaciers and wind up in the ocean. The location then loses mass total if calving takes place faster than snowfall is changed.
Located in West Antarctica, the Amundsen Sea Embayment was very first found in 1929 by a sea captain who named it after Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer. The location has 20 glaciers that play a key function in adding to the level of the oceans. Theres a lot water in the ice that if it melts, it would raise water level by a meter.
” Scientists are monitoring what is occurring in the Amundsen Sea Embayment due to the fact that of the essential role it plays in sea-level increase. If ocean levels were to rise substantially in future years, there are communities around the world who would experience severe flooding,” Benjamin Davison, the studys lead author, said in a media statement.
Looking into ice loss
The ice loss from the Amundsen Sea Embayment has actually also included a reduction in the Pine Island Glacier, the researchers stated. As it pulled back, one of its tributary glaciers became separated from the primary glacier and ice melting rapidly accelerated. The tributary glacier has now been called Piglet Glacier by the researchers so it can be easily recognized for more research studies.
Using environment designs, the scientists discovered that the Amundsen Sea Embayment experienced both periods of heavy snowfall and snow dry spells. Between 2009 and 2013, the region had a long period of low snowfall, shrinking the ice sheet. In 2019 and 2020 there was heavy snowfall, lowering the regions contribution to sea level rise.
The study discovered that the studied area in Antarctica experienced a net loss of 3,331 billion lots of ice in between 1996 and 2021, which caused 9 millimeters of sea level rise around the world. To comprehend the scale of this, if this amount of ice was stacked in Manhattan, it would tower at 61 kilometers or 137 Empire State Buildings placed on top of each other.
Between 2009 and 2013, the area had a long duration of low snowfall, shrinking the ice sheet. He stated the group was extremely shocked to see how much periods of high or low snowfall might affect the ice sheet over two to five-year periods. The ice loss from the Amundsen Sea Embayment has also included a reduction in the Pine Island Glacier, the researchers stated.
Davison stated changes in ocean temperature and blood circulation appear to be driving the long-term changes in the West Antarctic ice sheet mass. He said the group was really stunned to see how much periods of high or low snowfall might impact the ice sheet over 2 to five-year periods. He stated more research study was still required to comprehend these trends.
” As well as shedding new light on the role of extreme snowfall variability on ice sheet mass modifications, this research study likewise offers brand-new price quotes of how rapidly this essential region of Antarctica is adding to sea level increase,” Anna Hogg, a study author, stated in a declaration. “The Piglet Glacier accelerated its ice speed by 40%, as the bigger PIG pulled away.”
Located in West Antarctica, the Amundsen Sea Embayment was very first found in 1929 by a sea captain who named it after Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian explorer. Theres so much water in the ice that if it melts, it would raise sea levels by a meter.
Interested in the sea level contribution from West Antarctica? In my brand-new paper, we reviewed the impact of snowfall anomalies on rates of mass loss from the Amundsen Sea Embayment (ASE) https://t.co/Ah6f4pPhHB.
Thanks to co-authors & & @ICASLeeds, @UniversityLeeds & & @ESA_EO
— Ben Davison (@arctic_glaciers) March 20, 2023
The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.
