[나우뉴스] [안녕? 자연] Warm water beneath the’Apocalypse Glacier’… Faster melting

▲ For the first time, three routes of warm seawater flowing under the Suwaites Glacier in Antarctica, also known as the’Glacier on the End of the Earth’, have been identified.

▲ Changes of the Suwaites Glacier seen from the satellite

It has once again been confirmed that warm waters are flowing into Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, also known as the’Glacier on the End of the Earth’.

It has been pointed out several times that the massive Suwaites Glacier facing the Amundsen Sea in the west of Antarctica is melting rapidly. The continental ice sheet in West Antarctica accounts for about 10% of the current rate of sea level rise, and there have been concerns that the rate of sea level rise may be raised, especially because the rate of melting of the Suwaites glacier is very fast.

In this regard, the research team of Dr. Anna Vohlin of the Department of Oceanography at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden analyzed the situation underneath the Swaitz glacier using the unmanned submersible’Ran’. Until now, on-site measurements have been virtually impossible, as thick ice and icebergs block access and are difficult to access.

At the end of last year, a study showed that there was a very large hole under the Swaits Glacier, but this was the result of prediction based on icebreakers and aerial photographs.

▲’Ran’, an unmanned submarine used to explore the bottom of the Suwaites Glacier in Antarctica

The unmanned submarine, which was first used for ultra-low sea exploration, measured the water temperature, salinity, and oxygen content of the ocean current flowing under the Suwaites Glacier. As a result, it was discovered that the deep waters of the Pine Island Bay, which were thought to have been blocked by the sea and sea ridge, flow east of the glacier.

The researchers also used ultrasonic waves to find three paths through which warm seawater flows through the cavity on the ice shelf, and it is estimated that 75㎦ of ice per year melts. This is close to the total amount of ice melting at the bottom of the ice shelf.

▲ For the first time, three routes of warm seawater flowing under the Suwaites Glacier in Antarctica, also known as the’Glacier on the End of the Earth’, have been identified.

▲ For the first time, three routes of warm seawater flowing under the Suwaites Glacier in Antarctica, also known as the’Glacier on the End of the Earth’, have been identified.

“This is the first field measurement performed under the Suwaites Glacier, which is called the’Glacier of the End of Earth’,” the researchers explained.

He added, “Warm water is flowing into the area where the ice shelf and the sea floor are in contact. When this point melts and the ice rises above the water, it can make the ice shelf unstable and ultimately cause the glaciers to flow to the land.”

The researchers claim that the study brings the good news that it can collect the data needed to predict the future of the Swaitz Glacier and more accurately calculate the rate at which the ice melts.

In this regard, experts have warned that melting of the Suwaites Glacier could raise world sea levels by 65 centimeters. There is also a constant concern that warm seawater flows through the paths that exist beneath the glacier could accelerate the rate of glacial collapse.

Reporter Song Hyun-seo [email protected]