Over the last few years there has been an increased area of sea ice in Antarctica while at the same time a massive loss of ice in the Northern Arctic region.
The two regions are geographically completely different but even so it has been a puzzle.
A new report by Richard Bintanja, lead author of the study at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute shows that the permanent glaciers in the sea are melting from the bottom. This is caused by warmer sea currents melting the glacier ice and the fresh water released is floating over the colder, more dense, sea water and therefore it is more vulnerable to freezing by the cold winter conditions. This has caused more ice to form.
Scientist, Paul Holland of the British Antarctic Survey has shown that the increased wind speed around Antarctica is blowing the fresh surface ice away from the land and this has caused the ice to spread over a larger area.
Which ever is the dominant factor the sea ice melts in the summer and ultimately will be overcome by a warmer World and the area will start to reduce.
The two regions are geographically completely different but even so it has been a puzzle.
A new report by Richard Bintanja, lead author of the study at the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute shows that the permanent glaciers in the sea are melting from the bottom. This is caused by warmer sea currents melting the glacier ice and the fresh water released is floating over the colder, more dense, sea water and therefore it is more vulnerable to freezing by the cold winter conditions. This has caused more ice to form.
Scientist, Paul Holland of the British Antarctic Survey has shown that the increased wind speed around Antarctica is blowing the fresh surface ice away from the land and this has caused the ice to spread over a larger area.
Which ever is the dominant factor the sea ice melts in the summer and ultimately will be overcome by a warmer World and the area will start to reduce.
RSS Feed