Swiss glaciers are once again facing a tough year. Experts say snow levels this winter were significantly below average, raising new concerns about accelerated melting as summer approaches.

Swiss glaciers face another tough year, snow levels 13% below average

Scientists have come up with a radical plan for stopping the melting of massive Antarctic glaciers, which can lead to catastrophic flooding on the US East Coast.

The researchers have said that by installing a giant&nbsp;underwater curtain, they can thicken the artificial glaciers with seawater or they can cool the bedrock to mitigate warm waters from entering the Thwaites Glacier, also called the "Doomsday Glacier".

The&nbsp;Thwaites Glacier has been melting at an accelerated speed because of climate change&nbsp;and is likely to raise global sea levels by 10 feet, with some fearing that coastal cities like New York,&nbsp;Charleston, Atlantic City, and Miami will be flooded.

To avoid this catastrophic flooding, researchers headed by the Climate Systems Engineering Initiative at the University of&nbsp;Chicago published a report in which they called the proposed idea a "major initiative".&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-figure-out-a-way-to-refreeze-ice-in-arctic-amid-bleak-glacial-future-761830">Scientists figure out a way to refreeze ice in Arctic amid bleak glacial future</a>

Professor of geophysical sciences and co-author of the white paper, Douglas MacAyeal, said, "Our argument is that we should start funding this research now, so that we aren't making panicked decisions down the road when the water is already lapping at our ankles."

<h2>Here's how researchers plan to save 'Doomsday Glacier'</h2>

In the new report, one proposal said that seawater can be pumped on the surface of the Doomsday Glacier where it will freeze because of cold air temperatures and thicken the glacier. However, the idea comes with its risks and costs, warned the authors.

The seawater's salinity can damage the ice's structural integrity and energy is required for pumping large volumes of seawater.

UK startup Real Ice has been working on the idea of pumping seawater since 2019. Earlier, the field trials showed promising results in Canada, however, its deployment at a large scale will cost around $6 billion per year and need enormous energy input.

Watch:&nbsp;Melting Glaciers Raise Eruption Risk Worldwide

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/melting-glaciers-raise-eruption-risk-worldwide-771018/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Scientists also proposed other geoengineering solutions for stopping the melting of the glacier.

According to some experts, the ideas are "radical" and said that geoengineering "would be difficult or impossible to achieve and draw focus away from the more necessary&nbsp; conversation of reducing carbon emissions."

Climate economist at the Columbia Climate School, Gernot Wagner, said, "When we talk about glacial geoengineering, we need to tell the truth, which is that it's not a solution to climate change - at best, it's a painkiller."

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have come up with a radical plan for stopping the melting of massive Antarctic glaciers, which can lead to catastrophic flooding on the US East Coast.

Scientists have come up with a radical plan for stopping the melting of massive Antarctic glaciers, which can lead to catastrophic flooding on the US East Coast. The researchers have said that by installing a giant underwater curtain, they can thicken the artificial glaciers with seawater or they can cool the bedrock to mitigate warm waters from entering the Thwaites Glacier, also called the "Doomsday Glacier". The Thwaites Glacier has been melting at an accelerated speed because of climate change and is likely to raise global sea levels by 10 feet, with some fearing that coastal cities like New York, Charleston, Atlantic City, and Miami will be flooded. To avoid this catastrophic flooding, researchers headed by the Climate Systems Engineering Initiative at the University of Chicago published a report in which they called the proposed idea a "major initiative". Also Read: Scientists figure out a way to refreeze ice in Arctic amid bleak glacial future Professor of geophysical sciences and co-author of the white paper, Douglas MacAyeal, said, "Our argument is that we should start funding this research now, so that we aren't making panicked decisions down the road when the water is already lapping at our ankles." Here's how researchers plan to save 'Doomsday Glacier' In the new report, one proposal said that seawater can be pumped on the surface of the Doomsday Glacier where it will freeze because of cold air temperatures and thicken the glacier. However, the idea comes with its risks and costs, warned the authors. The seawater's salinity can damage the ice's structural integrity and energy is required for pumping large volumes of seawater. UK startup Real Ice has been working on the idea of pumping seawater since 2019. Earlier, the field trials showed promising results in Canada, however, its deployment at a large scale will cost around $6 billion per year and need enormous energy input. Watch: Melting Glaciers Raise Eruption Risk Worldwide Scientists also proposed other geoengineering solutions for stopping the melting of the glacier. According to some experts, the ideas are "radical" and said that geoengineering "would be difficult or impossible to achieve and draw focus away from the more necessary conversation of reducing carbon emissions." Climate economist at the Columbia Climate School, Gernot Wagner, said, "When we talk about glacial geoengineering, we need to tell the truth, which is that it's not a solution to climate change - at best, it's a painkiller." (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists plan to install giant underwater curtain to stop 'Doomsday Glacier' from melting

Scientists have uncovered alarming findings about the Arctic's melting permafrost, which is releasing toxic mercury into water systems. This contamination could disrupt the region’s food chain and pose significant risks to local communities that rely on fish and game, according to researchers from the University of Southern California (USC).

<h2>Study Tracks Mercury in Yukon River</h2>

As the Yukon River flows westward towards the Bering Sea, it transports hazardous materials due to the erosion of permafrost along its path. This process introduces mercury-laden sediment into the water, according to a study published Thursday in Environmental Research Letters. The scientists noted that the mercury has likely been trapped in the permafrost for thousands of years.

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&nbsp;"There could be this giant mercury bomb in the Arctic waiting to explode," warned Josh West, professor of Earth sciences at USC. The river’s shifting flow is rapidly eroding sediment, releasing large amounts of mercury into the ecosystem.

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<h2>Long-Term Health and Environmental Impact</h2>

While immediate threats to drinking water are minimal, the research warns of the cumulative danger. As mercury builds up in the food chain through fish and wildlife, Arctic communities could face severe health consequences. "Decades of exposure, especially with increasing levels, could take a huge toll on the environment and human health," said Isabel Smith.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/india-dog-terrorises-up-colony-launches-attack-on-17-people-within-an-hour-750950">India: Dog terrorises UP colony, launches attack on 17 people within an hour</a>

With over 5 million people living in the Arctic region, the potential impact of this toxic release could escalate over time, raising concerns about the future of both the ecosystem and human life. 
The Arctic is melting faster than expected, leading to rising sea levels and longer days. Recent studies show the Greenland ice sheet is unstable and could put 400 million people at risk of flooding.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have uncovered alarming findings about the Arctic's melting permafrost, which is releasing toxic mercury into water systems. This contamination could disrupt the region’s food chain and pose significant risks to local communities that rely on fish and game, according to researchers from the University of Southern California (USC).

Scientists have uncovered alarming findings about the Arctic's melting permafrost, which is releasing toxic mercury into water systems. This contamination could disrupt the region’s food chain and pose significant risks to local communities that rely on fish and game, according to researchers from the University of Southern California (USC). Study Tracks Mercury in Yukon River As the Yukon River flows westward towards the Bering Sea, it transports hazardous materials due to the erosion of permafrost along its path. This process introduces mercury-laden sediment into the water, according to a study published Thursday in Environmental Research Letters. The scientists noted that the mercury has likely been trapped in the permafrost for thousands of years. Also read | US resident sues Hard Rock Hotel for $500,000 after falling out of golf cart "There could be this giant mercury bomb in the Arctic waiting to explode," warned Josh West, professor of Earth sciences at USC. The river’s shifting flow is rapidly eroding sediment, releasing large amounts of mercury into the ecosystem. Also read |Air India female crew member assaulted in London hotel on August 15 Long-Term Health and Environmental Impact While immediate threats to drinking water are minimal, the research warns of the cumulative danger. As mercury builds up in the food chain through fish and wildlife, Arctic communities could face severe health consequences. "Decades of exposure, especially with increasing levels, could take a huge toll on the environment and human health," said Isabel Smith. Also read | India: Dog terrorises UP colony, launches attack on 17 people within an hour With over 5 million people living in the Arctic region, the potential impact of this toxic release could escalate over time, raising concerns about the future of both the ecosystem and human life. The Arctic is melting faster than expected, leading to rising sea levels and longer days. Recent studies show the Greenland ice sheet is unstable and could put 400 million people at risk of flooding. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists warn of 'Mercury bomb' in Arctic as melting permafrost threatens environment

In a never-heard situation, global warming and melting of polar ice are slowing down the rotation of Earth and this can affect how time is measured.&nbsp;

In a study published on Wednesday (Mar 27), it was discovered that the melting of polar ice, which has been happening continuously due to climate change, has slowed down the spinning of Earth.&nbsp;

The study's author Duncan Agnew, who is a geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, said&nbsp;the rapid melting of ice on the poles changes where the mass of the Earth is concentrated.&nbsp;

In turn, the change affects the angular velocity of the planet as the presence of less solid ice at the poles will lead to more mass around the equator.&nbsp;

Speaking to NBC News, Thomas Herring, a professor of geophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was not part of the new study said, “What you’re doing with the ice melt is you’re taking water that’s frozen solid in places like Antarctica and Greenland, and that frozen water is melting, and you move the fluids to other places on the planet. The water flows off towards the equator.”&nbsp;

The groundbreaking study has showcased how humans have been capable of doing something never thought was in control of humanity.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-plan-to-suck-out-water-from-earths-atmosphere-to-fight-climate-change-695106">Scientists plan to suck out water from Earth's atmosphere to fight climate change</a>

“It’s kind of impressive, even to me, that we’ve done something that measurably changes how fast the Earth rotates. Things are happening that are unprecedented," Agnew said.&nbsp;

<h2>So, why will time stop in 2029?</h2>

It is universally known that an extra day gets added in the month of February once every four years, which is known as a leap year.&nbsp;

However, after every few years, a 'leap second' also gets added which is usually at the end of December or June.

This happens because the speed at which Earth spins around its axis slightly fluctuates, which means one complete rotation is not exactly one day.&nbsp;

However, after the study, Agnew has called for a 'negative' leap second, which is the deletion of a second for the first time in history.&nbsp;

The professor suggested that the negative leap second should occur in 2029 to account the for fast spinning of the Earth, however, he warned that that this can cause 'unprecedented' problems in smartphones and computers.&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Asteroid flew past Earth in near miss

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-asteroid-flew-past-earth-in-near-miss-690710/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"Extrapolating the trends for the core and other relevant phenomena to predict future Earth orientation shows that Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as now defined will require a negative discontinuity by 2029," said Professor Agnew, in his new paper.&nbsp;

"This will pose an unprecedented problem for computer network timing and may require changes in UTC to be made earlier than is planned," he added.&nbsp;

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the ultra-precise 'atomic clock' which keeps ticking continuously and precisely around the world.&nbsp;

However, these atomic clocks fail to align with the observed 'solar time', as per which every day is the representation of a single rotation of the Earth.

If the rotation of the Earth is not slowed by the melting ice, there will be a requirement of the negative leap second three years earlier in 2026, said Professor Agnew.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

In a never-heard situation, global warming and melting of polar ice are slowing down the rotation of Earth and this can affect how time is measured. In a study published on Wednesday (Mar 27), it was discovered that the melting of polar ice, which has been happening continuously due to climate change, has slowed down the spinning of Earth.

In a never-heard situation, global warming and melting of polar ice are slowing down the rotation of Earth and this can affect how time is measured. In a study published on Wednesday (Mar 27), it was discovered that the melting of polar ice, which has been happening continuously due to climate change, has slowed down the spinning of Earth. The study's author Duncan Agnew, who is a geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, said the rapid melting of ice on the poles changes where the mass of the Earth is concentrated. In turn, the change affects the angular velocity of the planet as the presence of less solid ice at the poles will lead to more mass around the equator. Speaking to NBC News, Thomas Herring, a professor of geophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who was not part of the new study said, “What you’re doing with the ice melt is you’re taking water that’s frozen solid in places like Antarctica and Greenland, and that frozen water is melting, and you move the fluids to other places on the planet. The water flows off towards the equator.” The groundbreaking study has showcased how humans have been capable of doing something never thought was in control of humanity. Also Read: Scientists plan to suck out water from Earth's atmosphere to fight climate change “It’s kind of impressive, even to me, that we’ve done something that measurably changes how fast the Earth rotates. Things are happening that are unprecedented," Agnew said. So, why will time stop in 2029? It is universally known that an extra day gets added in the month of February once every four years, which is known as a leap year. However, after every few years, a 'leap second' also gets added which is usually at the end of December or June. This happens because the speed at which Earth spins around its axis slightly fluctuates, which means one complete rotation is not exactly one day. However, after the study, Agnew has called for a 'negative' leap second, which is the deletion of a second for the first time in history. The professor suggested that the negative leap second should occur in 2029 to account the for fast spinning of the Earth, however, he warned that that this can cause 'unprecedented' problems in smartphones and computers. Watch: Gravitas: Asteroid flew past Earth in near miss "Extrapolating the trends for the core and other relevant phenomena to predict future Earth orientation shows that Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) as now defined will require a negative discontinuity by 2029," said Professor Agnew, in his new paper. "This will pose an unprecedented problem for computer network timing and may require changes in UTC to be made earlier than is planned," he added. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is the ultra-precise 'atomic clock' which keeps ticking continuously and precisely around the world. However, these atomic clocks fail to align with the observed 'solar time', as per which every day is the representation of a single rotation of the Earth. If the rotation of the Earth is not slowed by the melting ice, there will be a requirement of the negative leap second three years earlier in 2026, said Professor Agnew. (With inputs from agencies)

Time will stop in 2029? Melting polar ice slows Earth's rotation, scientists warn...

France's highest mountain is shrinking. Mont Blanc, the tallest mountain in the Alps has shrunk by 2.2 metres since 2021 to its lowest height in recent memory. Experts believe the decline could be down to lower precipitation during summers and climate change.

Mont Blanc shrinks by another 2 metres

Chile's glaciers are melting and fast disappearing because of climate change.

Chile: In the shadow of melting glacier

Sea ice in the antarctic region falls to a record low. Study reveals 'no quick fix to reverse ice loss.

Scientists: no quick fix for Antarctic Sea ice loss

What happens when the ice shelves start melting rapidly and how will this impact the world around us? Ice shelves are permanent floating extensions of an ice sheet connected to a land mass.

WION Climate Tracker: Ice shelves connect floating sheets to land mass

According to a new study, the highest glacier on Mount Everest has been melting at a rapid pace, courtesy climate change. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In last 25 years, the South Col Glacier has already lost over 180ft (54m) thickness. The research has been led by the experts of University of Maine. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/where-can-we-expect-the-existence-of-alien-life-study-makes-the-revelation-450620" hreflang="en">Where can we expect the existence of alien life? Study makes the revelation</a>

Located around 7,906m (25,938 ft) above sea-level, the glacier is melting 80 times faster than usual. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The rise in temperatures and strong winds have been blamed for this development. &nbsp;

Since 1990s, the ice, which formed in around 2,000 years, has melted away, the study found. &nbsp;

Dr Mariusz Potocki, one of the lead researchers of the study, said that the findings suggested "that the South Col Glacier may be on the way out - it may already be a 'relic' from an older, colder, time". &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-covid-pandemic-most-americans-turned-into-germaphobes-says-survey-450658">After Covid pandemic, most Americans turned into ‘germaphobes’, says survey</a>

Dr Tom Matthews, another author of the report and a climate scientist from Kings College London, told BBC that there had been no change in the climate of the region to trigger the surge in melting. &nbsp;

"Instead, the steady uptick in temperatures eventually pushes the glacier across a threshold, and suddenly everything changes," Matthews said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

According to a new study, the highest glacier on Mount Everest has been melting at a rapid pace, courtesy climate change. In last 25 years, the South Col Glacier has already lost over 180ft (54m) thickness.

According to a new study, the highest glacier on Mount Everest has been melting at a rapid pace, courtesy climate change. In last 25 years, the South Col Glacier has already lost over 180ft (54m) thickness. The research has been led by the experts of University of Maine. Also Read: Where can we expect the existence of alien life? Study makes the revelation Located around 7,906m (25,938 ft) above sea-level, the glacier is melting 80 times faster than usual. The rise in temperatures and strong winds have been blamed for this development. Since 1990s, the ice, which formed in around 2,000 years, has melted away, the study found. Dr Mariusz Potocki, one of the lead researchers of the study, said that the findings suggested "that the South Col Glacier may be on the way out - it may already be a 'relic' from an older, colder, time". Also Read: After Covid pandemic, most Americans turned into ‘germaphobes’, says survey Dr Tom Matthews, another author of the report and a climate scientist from Kings College London, told BBC that there had been no change in the climate of the region to trigger the surge in melting. "Instead, the steady uptick in temperatures eventually pushes the glacier across a threshold, and suddenly everything changes," Matthews said. (With inputs from agencies)

Climate change effect: Highest glacier on Mount Everest melting at a rapid pace, says study

New data released by Danish researchers suggest that Greenland's ice sheet has lost an immense level of ice in the past 20 years, enough to submerge the entire United States in half a metre of water.

Greenland's Ice sheet lost in past 20 years enough to submerge entire US in half a metre of water

Climate Change is pushing Greenland over the edge. As the planet grows warmer, the volume of Greenland's ice sheet is growing smaller every year.

Climate Change: Monitoring the melting of Greenland's ice sheet

Brynn Kimber, a research scientist at the University of Washington who works in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Mammal Laboratory, has spent a lot of time analysing audio data recorded in the icy waters north of Alaska, Canada and Russia. Typically, Kimber hears the chatter of bowhead whales, belugas, narwhals and other cetaceans native to that part of the Arctic.

A few years ago, they started hearing a distinctive cry acousticians describe as similar to that of a disgruntled house cat: The piercing call of a killer whale. Kimber wondered at first if their ears were deceiving them.

“When I started the job, my mentor told me, ‘You won’t see killer whales this far north,’ ” Kimber said. But as years of data accumulated, along with more orca calls in areas where they’d never been recorded, it appeared that was no longer true.

“Where I would see absolutely none in previous years, in later years I was seeing more and more,” Kimber said. “That was pretty unusual.”

The orca calls are further evidence of a rapidly changing Arctic. As sea ice has receded, killer whales — which are actually dolphins — are now venturing to parts of the sea that were once inaccessible, and spending more time in places they were once seen only sporadically, according to data Kimber presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in Seattle.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/antarctica-burned-with-forest-fires-when-dinosaurs-roamed-earth-says-study-424792">Also read |&nbsp;Antarctica burned with forest fires when dinosaurs roamed Earth, says study</a>

As a result, some of nature’s most effective predators have vastly broadened the scope of their hunt. The change has potentially significant consequences for animals up and down the food chain — including humans.

Arctic sea ice has declined significantly in the four decades since satellite monitoring began. Roughly 75% of ice volume disappeared in the past 15 years alone, and the remaining ice is thinner and of poorer quality, said Amy Willoughby, a marine mammal biologist with NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center.

The loss of ice coupled with warming waters and atmospheric temperatures has affected every level of the Arctic ecosystem. Large mammals like polar bears have struggled to navigate shrinking habitats, while the marine algae at the base of the Arctic food chain blooms sooner and more abundantly than ever before.

In recent years, scientists have noticed similar upheaval in the behavior of the region’s marine mammals. Orca are feasting more often on bowhead whales. Scientists and Indigenous Arctic communities have noted a growing number of bowhead whale carcasses in the northeastern Chukchi and western Beaufort seas with signs of orca attack.

Even if the orca don’t take a single bite, the predators’ mere presence can have far-reaching consequences. Bowhead whales typically retreat into protective patches of dense ice when threatened by orcas, which lack the giant-skulled bowheads’ ability to break through frozen waters for air. An Inuit word, “aarlirijuk,” describes this bowhead fear response evolved specifically to evade killer whales.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-scientists-discover-new-plant-species-in-antarctica-396722">Also read |&nbsp;Indian scientists discover new plant species in Antarctica</a>

But as the ice recedes, these defense mechanisms can prove a liability. Bowheads must spend more time than ever before hiding in thick ice where feeding opportunities are scarce. Calves that aren’t yet strong enough to crack through the ice can suffocate.

Any decline in bowhead numbers could have consequences up the food chain, too: The baleen whales are a significant food source for subsistence hunters in Indigenous Arctic communities, Kimber said.

“Killer whales are really intelligent,” said Cory Matthews, a research scientist with the Arctic region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. “They consume really fast. If a new area opens up, they can get in there maybe within the next year and exploit a prey population that could be perhaps really slow to respond to those changes.”

It could take years, he added, before scientists fully understand the long-term consequences of how these extremely lethal and newly emboldened hunters are expanding their reach in the Arctic.

Brynn Kimber, a research scientist at the University of Washington who works in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Mammal Laboratory, has spent a lot of time analysing audio data recorded in the icy waters north of Alaska, Canada and Russia.

Brynn Kimber, a research scientist at the University of Washington who works in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Mammal Laboratory, has spent a lot of time analysing audio data recorded in the icy waters north of Alaska, Canada and Russia. Typically, Kimber hears the chatter of bowhead whales, belugas, narwhals and other cetaceans native to that part of the Arctic. A few years ago, they started hearing a distinctive cry acousticians describe as similar to that of a disgruntled house cat: The piercing call of a killer whale. Kimber wondered at first if their ears were deceiving them. “When I started the job, my mentor told me, ‘You won’t see killer whales this far north,’ ” Kimber said. But as years of data accumulated, along with more orca calls in areas where they’d never been recorded, it appeared that was no longer true. “Where I would see absolutely none in previous years, in later years I was seeing more and more,” Kimber said. “That was pretty unusual.” The orca calls are further evidence of a rapidly changing Arctic. As sea ice has receded, killer whales — which are actually dolphins — are now venturing to parts of the sea that were once inaccessible, and spending more time in places they were once seen only sporadically, according to data Kimber presented Thursday at the annual meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in Seattle. Also read | Antarctica burned with forest fires when dinosaurs roamed Earth, says study As a result, some of nature’s most effective predators have vastly broadened the scope of their hunt. The change has potentially significant consequences for animals up and down the food chain — including humans. Arctic sea ice has declined significantly in the four decades since satellite monitoring began. Roughly 75% of ice volume disappeared in the past 15 years alone, and the remaining ice is thinner and of poorer quality, said Amy Willoughby, a marine mammal biologist with NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center. The loss of ice coupled with warming waters and atmospheric temperatures has affected every level of the Arctic ecosystem. Large mammals like polar bears have struggled to navigate shrinking habitats, while the marine algae at the base of the Arctic food chain blooms sooner and more abundantly than ever before. In recent years, scientists have noticed similar upheaval in the behavior of the region’s marine mammals. Orca are feasting more often on bowhead whales. Scientists and Indigenous Arctic communities have noted a growing number of bowhead whale carcasses in the northeastern Chukchi and western Beaufort seas with signs of orca attack. Even if the orca don’t take a single bite, the predators’ mere presence can have far-reaching consequences. Bowhead whales typically retreat into protective patches of dense ice when threatened by orcas, which lack the giant-skulled bowheads’ ability to break through frozen waters for air. An Inuit word, “aarlirijuk,” describes this bowhead fear response evolved specifically to evade killer whales. Also read | Indian scientists discover new plant species in Antarctica But as the ice recedes, these defense mechanisms can prove a liability. Bowheads must spend more time than ever before hiding in thick ice where feeding opportunities are scarce. Calves that aren’t yet strong enough to crack through the ice can suffocate. Any decline in bowhead numbers could have consequences up the food chain, too: The baleen whales are a significant food source for subsistence hunters in Indigenous Arctic communities, Kimber said. “Killer whales are really intelligent,” said Cory Matthews, a research scientist with the Arctic region of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. “They consume really fast. If a new area opens up, they can get in there maybe within the next year and exploit a prey population that could be perhaps really slow to respond to those changes.” It could take years, he added, before scientists fully understand the long-term consequences of how these extremely lethal and newly emboldened hunters are expanding their reach in the Arctic.

Melting Arctic is a bonanza for the ocean’s natural born killers

Melting of Himalayan glaciers has doubled since the start of the 21st century due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/limiting-global-warming-to-15-will-require-a-social-transformation-170375">rising temperatures</a>, losing over a vertical foot and half of ice each year and potentially threatening water supply for hundreds of millions of people in countries including India, a study has found.

The analysis, spanning 40 years of satellite observations across India, China, Nepal and Bhutan, is the latest and perhaps most convincing indication that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/opinion-why-its-so-hard-to-detect-the-fingerprints-of-global-warming-on-monsoon-rains-161838">climate change </a>is eating the Himalayas' glaciers, researchers said.

It indicates that glaciers have been losing the equivalent of more than a vertical foot and half of ice each year since 2000 -- double the amount of melting that took place from 1975 to 2000.&nbsp;

"This is the clearest picture yet of how fast Himalayan glaciers are melting over this time interval, and why," said Joshua Maurer, a PhD candidate at Columbia University in the US.

While not specifically calculated in the study, the glaciers may have lost as much as a quarter of their enormous mass over the last four decades, said Maurer, lead author of the study published in the journal Science Advances.

Currently harbouring some 600 billion tonnes of ice, the Himalayas are sometimes called the earth's "Third Pole."&nbsp;

The study synthesises data from across the region, stretching from early satellite observations to the present. The synthesis indicates that the melting is consistent in time and space, and that rising temperatures are to blame.

Temperatures vary from place to place, but from 2000 to 2016 they have averaged one degree Celsius higher than those from 1975 to 2000.

Researchers analysed repeat satellite images of some 650 glaciers spanning 2,000 kilometers from west to east. Many of the 20th-century observations came from recently declassified photographic images taken by US spy satellites.&nbsp;

They created an automated system to turn these into 3D models that could show the changing elevations of glaciers over time. They then compared these images with post-2000 optical data from more sophisticated satellites, which more directly convey elevation changes.

They found that from 1975 to 2000, glaciers across the region lost an average of about 0.25 metres of ice each year in the face of slight warming. 
Following a more pronounced warming trend starting in the 1990s, starting in 2000 the loss accelerated to about half a metre annually.&nbsp;

Recent yearly losses have averaged about 8 billion tonnes of water, or the equivalent 3.2 million Olympic-size swimming pools, said Maurer.&nbsp;

Asian nations are burning ever-greater loads of fossil fuels and biomass, sending soot into the sky, researchers said. Much of it eventually lands on snowy glacier surfaces, where it absorbs solar energy and hastens melting.

Researchers compiled temperature data during the study period from ground stations and then calculated the amount of melting that observed temperature increases would be expected to produce.&nbsp;

They then compared those figures with what actually happened. They matched.&nbsp;

"It looks just like what we would expect if warming were the dominant driver of ice loss," Maurer said.

The Himalayas are generally not melting as fast as the Alps, but the general progression is similar, say the researchers.&nbsp;

The study does not include the huge adjoining ranges of high-mountain Asia such as the Pamir, Hindu Kush or Tian Shan, but other studies suggest similar melting is underway there as well.

Some 800 million people depend in part on seasonal runoff from Himalayan glaciers for irrigation, hydropower and drinking water.&nbsp;

The accelerated melting appears so far to be swelling runoff during warm seasons, but scientists project that this will taper off within decades as the glaciers lose mass. This will eventually lead to water shortages.&nbsp;

Even on Mount Everest, long-lost corpses of climbers who failed to return are emerging from melting ice and snow along trails.

The study shows that "even glaciers in the highest mountains of the world are responding to global air temperature increases driven by the combustion of fossil fuels," said Joseph Shea, a glacial geographer at the University of Northern British Columbia in Canadia who was not involved in the study.

"In the long term, this will lead to changes in the timing and magnitude of streamflow in a heavily populated region," said Shea.

Melting of Himalayan glaciers has doubled since the start of the 21st century due to rising temperatures, losing over a vertical foot and half of ice each year and potentially threatening water supply for hundreds of millions of people in countries including India, a study has found.

Melting of Himalayan glaciers has doubled since the start of the 21st century due to rising temperatures, losing over a vertical foot and half of ice each year and potentially threatening water supply for hundreds of millions of people in countries including India, a study has found. The analysis, spanning 40 years of satellite observations across India, China, Nepal and Bhutan, is the latest and perhaps most convincing indication that climate change is eating the Himalayas' glaciers, researchers said. It indicates that glaciers have been losing the equivalent of more than a vertical foot and half of ice each year since 2000 -- double the amount of melting that took place from 1975 to 2000. "This is the clearest picture yet of how fast Himalayan glaciers are melting over this time interval, and why," said Joshua Maurer, a PhD candidate at Columbia University in the US. While not specifically calculated in the study, the glaciers may have lost as much as a quarter of their enormous mass over the last four decades, said Maurer, lead author of the study published in the journal Science Advances. Currently harbouring some 600 billion tonnes of ice, the Himalayas are sometimes called the earth's "Third Pole." The study synthesises data from across the region, stretching from early satellite observations to the present. The synthesis indicates that the melting is consistent in time and space, and that rising temperatures are to blame. Temperatures vary from place to place, but from 2000 to 2016 they have averaged one degree Celsius higher than those from 1975 to 2000. Researchers analysed repeat satellite images of some 650 glaciers spanning 2,000 kilometers from west to east. Many of the 20th-century observations came from recently declassified photographic images taken by US spy satellites. They created an automated system to turn these into 3D models that could show the changing elevations of glaciers over time. They then compared these images with post-2000 optical data from more sophisticated satellites, which more directly convey elevation changes. They found that from 1975 to 2000, glaciers across the region lost an average of about 0.25 metres of ice each year in the face of slight warming. Following a more pronounced warming trend starting in the 1990s, starting in 2000 the loss accelerated to about half a metre annually. Recent yearly losses have averaged about 8 billion tonnes of water, or the equivalent 3.2 million Olympic-size swimming pools, said Maurer. Asian nations are burning ever-greater loads of fossil fuels and biomass, sending soot into the sky, researchers said. Much of it eventually lands on snowy glacier surfaces, where it absorbs solar energy and hastens melting. Researchers compiled temperature data during the study period from ground stations and then calculated the amount of melting that observed temperature increases would be expected to produce. They then compared those figures with what actually happened. They matched. "It looks just like what we would expect if warming were the dominant driver of ice loss," Maurer said. The Himalayas are generally not melting as fast as the Alps, but the general progression is similar, say the researchers. The study does not include the huge adjoining ranges of high-mountain Asia such as the Pamir, Hindu Kush or Tian Shan, but other studies suggest similar melting is underway there as well. Some 800 million people depend in part on seasonal runoff from Himalayan glaciers for irrigation, hydropower and drinking water. The accelerated melting appears so far to be swelling runoff during warm seasons, but scientists project that this will taper off within decades as the glaciers lose mass. This will eventually lead to water shortages. Even on Mount Everest, long-lost corpses of climbers who failed to return are emerging from melting ice and snow along trails. The study shows that "even glaciers in the highest mountains of the world are responding to global air temperature increases driven by the combustion of fossil fuels," said Joseph Shea, a glacial geographer at the University of Northern British Columbia in Canadia who was not involved in the study. "In the long term, this will lead to changes in the timing and magnitude of streamflow in a heavily populated region," said Shea.

Himalayan glaciers melting doubled since 2000: Study

Mangalore in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/mumbai-hit-by-heavy-rains-waterlogging-4246">Karnataka and Mumbai are at a high</a> risk of encountering floods due to melting ice caps, a NASA report said.&nbsp;

In the past week up to 550 mm (21.7 inches) of rain poured over India&#39;s southeastern coast in the state of Tamil Nadu, NASA said in its website. Total rainfall in southeastern India was measured at around 200 mm (7.9 inches).&nbsp;

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center informed that computer models indicate that rains are expected to move in a northerly direction, wind speed is predicted at approximately 37 to 46.3 kilometers per hour, and with a minimum central pressure near 1004 millibars, NASA confirmed.

The low-pressure continued to produce heavy rain in Tamil Nadu and in remote areas over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, NASA revealed.&nbsp;

Over the next 100 years, the glacial melt may potentially rise Mangalore&#39;s sea levels by 15.98cm as and&nbsp;to 15.26cm in&nbsp;Mumbai and 10.65cm for New York, according&nbsp;to a&nbsp;study carried in the journal Science Advances.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The insights are based on a forecasting tool, gradient fingerprint mapping (GFM) which help to predict how water will be &ldquo;redistributed&rdquo; globally.

&ldquo;This provides, for each city, a picture of which glaciers, ice sheets, and ice caps are of specific importance,&rdquo; researchers said.

&ldquo;As cities and countries attempt to build plans to mitigate flooding, they have to be thinking about 100 years in the future and they want to assess risk in the same way that insurance companies do,&rdquo; said Erik Ivins, senior scientist at NASA&rsquo;s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the US.

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The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA&#39;s Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible image of rainfall hugging the Indian coast. (Others)
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Moreover, the three prime characteristics which play a part in influencing &ldquo;the sea-level fingerprint,&rdquo; the pattern of sea-level change around the world consist of gravity, the push-pull influence of ice and rotation of the plant itself, said a study published in the journal Science Advances, according to reports.&nbsp;

The melting of ice sheets due to global warming in Greenland and Antarctica is a major contributor to sea level rise.

Mangalore in Karnataka and Mumbai are at a high risk of encountering floods due to melting ice caps, a NASA report said. In the past week up to 550 mm (21.7 inches) of rain poured over India's southeastern coast in the state of Tamil Nadu, NASA said in its website. Total rainfall in southeastern India was measured at around 200 mm (7.9 inches). The Joint Typhoon Warning Center informed that computer models indicate that rains are expected to move in a northerly direction, wind speed is predicted at approximately 37 to 46.3 kilometers per hour, and with a minimum central pressure near 1004 millibars, NASA confirmed. The low-pressure continued to produce heavy rain in Tamil Nadu and in remote areas over south coastal Andhra Pradesh, NASA revealed. Over the next 100 years, the glacial melt may potentially rise Mangalore's sea levels by 15.98cm as and to 15.26cm in Mumbai and 10.65cm for New York, according to a study carried in the journal Science Advances. The insights are based on a forecasting tool, gradient fingerprint mapping (GFM) which help to predict how water will be “redistributed” globally. “This provides, for each city, a picture of which glaciers, ice sheets, and ice caps are of specific importance,” researchers said. “As cities and countries attempt to build plans to mitigate flooding, they have to be thinking about 100 years in the future and they want to assess risk in the same way that insurance companies do,” said Erik Ivins, senior scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the US. The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite captured a visible image of rainfall hugging the Indian coast. (Others) × Moreover, the three prime characteristics which play a part in influencing “the sea-level fingerprint,” the pattern of sea-level change around the world consist of gravity, the push-pull influence of ice and rotation of the plant itself, said a study published in the journal Science Advances, according to reports.

Mumbai, Mangalore at high risk of flooding: NASA

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