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Heavy Rainfall Could Accelerate Alaskan Glacier by 215%, Study Finds
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What Happened?
A new study reveals that heavy rainfall can temporarily increase the speed of Alaska's Sít’ Kusá glacier by over 250%. Researchers found that rainfall often triggers surges in the glacier's movement.
Key points
- The study published in The Cryosphere focuses on Sít’ Kusá, also known as Turner Glacier.
- Rainfall can increase the glacier's speed by up to 251%, with surges lasting up to 66 hours.
- During a surge, the glacier's peak speed reached 7.5 meters (24.6 feet), a 116% increase in one day.
- The research indicates that more than half of the rainfall events studied led to increased glacier speed.
- The glacier's drainage system plays a crucial role in its movement, affecting how quickly it can respond to rainfall.
Key insights
- Increased rainfall could lead to more frequent glacier surges, impacting local ecosystems.
- Coastal and island communities may face rising sea levels due to accelerated glacier melting.
- The findings highlight the need for improved monitoring of glacier dynamics in the context of climate change.
Why it matters
Understanding glacier dynamics is crucial for assessing climate change impacts and potential flooding risks.
Tags
Entities
Sít’ Kusá· LocationTurner Glacier· LocationBoise State University· OrganizationThe Cryosphere· EventYakutat Airport· Location
Source
Times of India
