The West Antarctic Ice Sheet, which holds enough water to raise global seas by several feet, is thinning. Ian Joughin and other University of Washington researchers used detailed topography maps and computer modeling to show that the collapse appears to have already begun. The Thwaites Glacier will likely disappear in a matter of centuries, researchers say, raising sea level by nearly 2 feet.
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The rapid melting of Greenland glaciers is captured in the documentary “Chasing Ice.” The retreat of the ice edge from one year to the next sends more water into the sea. Now University of Washington atmospheric scientists have estimated that up to half of the recent warming in Greenland and surrounding areas may be due to climate variations that originate in the tropical Pacific and are not connected with the overall warming of the planet.
Read more at UW Today »The Future of Ice Speaker Series highlighted the complex issues connected to our planet’s polar environments, becoming a tremendously successful quarter-long event on the University of Washington Seattle campus. The subject matter proved a good fit for the middle of winter, providing a platform to highlight a diverse group of speakers and their perspectives related to the Arctic and Antarctic environments.
Read more »The rise and fall of acid rain is a global experiment whose results are preserved in the geologic record. By analyzing samples from the Greenland ice sheet, University of Washington atmospheric scientists found clear evidence of the U.S. Clean Air Act. They also discovered a link between air acidity and how nitrogen is preserved in layers of snow, according to a paper published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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Students are among the beneficiaries of the UW’s deep polar expertise, which is highlighted in the collaborative and new Future of Ice Initiative made up of multiple units across campus. The Initiative represents a commitment by the University to invest in knowledge about the polar regions, and provide a framework through which to foster collaborative partnerships with stakeholders at high latitudes.
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