A glacier in Antarctica is committing “ice piracy” – stealing ice from a neighbour – in a phenomenon that has never been observed in such a short time frame, say scientists.
A glacier in Antarctica is committing “ice piracy” – stealing ice from a neighbour – in a phenomenon that has never been observed in such a short time frame, say scientists.
This activity was previously believed to take place over hundreds or even thousands of years.
However, high-resolution satellite observations reveal one huge glacier has been relentlessly pinching ice from its slower-moving neighbour over a period of less than 18 years.
University of Leeds researchers say it is unprecedented that this change in ice flow direction can be directly witnessed in Antarctica over such a short time span and its discovery is an important step in improving our understanding of the future of Antarctica and its contribution to sea level rise.
Read more at University of Leeds
Photo Credit: AlKalenski via Pixabay
