An unusually hot core may be causing the melting of certain glaciers in the Antarctic – scientists
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The reason for the very rapid melting of some glaciers in the Antarctic may be an atypically hot core in the atmosphere, which is formed by the overlap of two streams of warm air.
Such a conclusion was reached by meteorologists of the National Antarctic Scientific Center in cooperation with foreign colleagues, the National Center for Scientific Research reports.
“We study the physical mechanisms of extreme warming at various scales, as well as in the perspective of climate change. First of all, we focus on explaining the formations of “hot spots” – certain areas of the coast of Antarctica, where the melting of glaciers occurs much faster than in neighboring areas“, – says the head of the Department of Atmospheric and Geocosm Physics of the National Center of Natural Sciences, Denys Pishnyak.
Although the decrease in the height of the ice sheet is influenced by many factors, the study showed that the contribution of atmospheric processes is very important. In particular, scientists discovered that during warming in the area of the Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers, an atypical hot core forms in the atmosphere.
| Photo: tenedos/Depositphotos |
Scientists obtained such a result at the beginning of 2023. They suggested that this core is the main reason for the local melting of these glaciers. Therefore, the following studies were aimed at explaining the mechanism of the formation of the hot core of the atmosphere and the ways of heat transfer to the surface of the glacier.
“But the scientists discovered an unexpected feature. In the areas of local warming, the flow of warm moist air from the north is superimposed on the warm phoenix (dry) flow from the east.
As a result, firstly, a thick layer of warm air is formed, and, secondly, precipitation in the form of snow is formed (due to the forced rise of moist air over drier air, as well as over the continental slope).” – they say in the National Academy of Sciences.
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| In areas of local warming, the flow of warm moist air from the north is superimposed on the warm phoenix (dry) flow from the east |
This abundant snow in the process of falling has time to melt and turn into warm rain. That is, precipitation probably takes the temperature from the warm part of the surface atmosphere and transfers it to the surface of the glaciers.
In addition, the snow cover becomes darker due to rain and absorbs more light and infrared radiation, which also accelerates its melting, notes the National Institute of Natural Sciences.
It will be recalled that scientists have determined how much ice has melted in Antarctica in 25 years. Also, global warming has accelerated the rate of melting of the glaciers in Greenland by five times, compared to the situation that was 20 years ago.
Nepal’s snow-capped mountains have lost nearly a third of their ice in more than 30 years due to global warming. And the glaciers in the Himalayas may lose up to 75% of their volume by the end of the century due to global warming.
The rapid melting of the Antarctic ice slows down the movement of deep ocean currents, which can have a catastrophic effect on the climate, in particular causing cooling in Europe.
The United Nations has declared 2023 the hottest year in human history.
Read also: More than 20% of freshwater fish in the world are threatened with extinction – environmentalists
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