Glaciers Reshaping Earth Faster Than Previously Thought

Glaciers Reshaping Earth Faster Than Previously Thought
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A new study led by researchers at the University of Victoria has revealed that glaciers are eroding the Earth’s surface at a much faster rate than scientists had previously understood, SciTech Daily reported. The research, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, utilized machine learning to analyze 85% of the world’s modern glaciers.

The study found that most glaciers erode the land at an average rate of 0.02 to 2.68 millimeters per year, which is roughly the thickness of a credit card. Led by geographer Sophie Norris, the international team’s research provides the most comprehensive assessment to date on the speed at which glaciers wear down the land. It also offers the first global estimates for the future erosion rates of over 180,000 glaciers.

The findings indicate that these erosion rates are influenced by a complex mix of factors, including temperature, the amount of water beneath the glacier, the type of rocks in the region, and heat emanating from the Earth’s interior. This new understanding has wide-ranging implications for managing landscapes, planning for long-term nuclear waste storage, and tracking the movement of sediment and nutrients across the globe. The study was supported by the Canadian Nuclear Waste Management Organization.