Glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula are slowly speeding up due to climate change, according to a new study using satellite data. The 1,000 km long peninsula has a significant impact on global climate, and the data reveals a surprising speed-up of glaciers there in recent years. The study was conducted by researchers from the European Union’s Remote Sensing Centre and published in the journal Remote Sensing of Environment.
Antarctica’s Glaciers Are Sensitive to the Environment
The Antarctic Peninsula is a large store of frozen water and is thought to contribute to sea level rise. A study has been conducted using satellite images to understand how glaciers change their behavior depending on the environment. The study has shown that Antarctica’s glaciers are sensitive to the environment, and that this can have an impact on sea level. The paper will be published today in the journal Nature Geosciences.
The Antarctic Peninsula has a 1,000 km long mountainous spine
When you think about the Antarctic Peninsula, what comes to mind? For many people, it is likely just the tip of the peninsula that sticks out into the Southern Ocean. But if you look closely, you will see that the peninsula has a 1,000 km long mountainous spine, similar in length to the east coast of Great Britain.
Along the west coast of the peninsula, the glaciers drain ice from the ice sheet directly into the Southern Ocean. This process help to contribute to global sea levels, as the weight of all of that water makes it harder for the earth to move and shake.
But what you may not know is that there is more going on with these glaciers than just their effect on sea levels. Analysis of satellite data has shown that they are speeding up in summer as snow melts and the temperature of the waters in the Southern Ocean rises. It is thought that water from the melting snow acts as a lubricant between the ice sheet and the underlying rock, reducing friction and increasing the speed at which the glaciers slide.
In addition, the warmer waters of the Southern Ocean erode the front of the moving ice, reducing the buttressing forces it exerts to resist the ice flow. Combined, these factors have led to an overall increase in glacier speed on the Peninsula over recent decades.
EURAO Sentinel-1 aiding in Antarctic climate study Satellite data helps understand changes in the environment around the continent
There are many benefits to using Earth observation satellites to study the environment. These satellites can help us understand things like seasonal speed-ups of glaciers and changes in the environment around Antarctica.
The European Space Agency and European Commission Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellite was used in this study to monitor the environment around Antarctica. This satellite has a number of sensors that can be used to measure different aspects of the environment. These sensors include a scanning radiometer, a water vapor sensor, an optical bench, and a temperature sensor.
The results of the study found that the environment around Antarctica is changing, with seasonal speed-ups of glaciers occurring in spring and early summer. The scans also showed that there is an increase in snowfall on the northern part of the peninsula. This increase in snowfall is likely due to warmer temperatures on the peninsula.
The findings of this study could help us to better understand how climate change is affecting the environment around Antarctica. Additionally, the data collected by Sentinel-1 could be used by scientists to improve predictions about global sea levels.
The data collected by satellites has helped scientists better understand the sensitivity of Antarctica’s glaciers to the surrounding environment. The results of this study have shown that the glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula are speeding up, indicating that the region is experiencing a significant environmental change.
