Giant Cavern the Size of Manhattan Under Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica
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Avery Thompson writes in Popular Mechanics
In Thwaites’ case, that radar uncovered a gigantic cavern between the glacier itself and the bedrock below it. That cavern is likely filled with air much warmer than the surrounding ice, triggering faster melting of the glacier than would happen otherwise.
From the cited NASA release I would have assumed that the cavity is full of water (if only because ice is not strong enough to support such a large air-filled cavern).
Is it air or water?
glacier antarctica
asked yesterday
Keith McClaryKeith McClary
659210
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add a comment |
$begingroup$
Avery Thompson writes in Popular Mechanics
In Thwaites’ case, that radar uncovered a gigantic cavern between the glacier itself and the bedrock below it. That cavern is likely filled with air much warmer than the surrounding ice, triggering faster melting of the glacier than would happen otherwise.
From the cited NASA release I would have assumed that the cavity is full of water (if only because ice is not strong enough to support such a large air-filled cavern).
Is it air or water?
glacier antarctica
asked yesterday
Keith McClaryKeith McClary
659210
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Follow-up question: Giant Cavern the Size of Manhattan Under Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica - how was satellite and airborne radar data combined?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
38 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Avery Thompson writes in Popular Mechanics
In Thwaites’ case, that radar uncovered a gigantic cavern between the glacier itself and the bedrock below it. That cavern is likely filled with air much warmer than the surrounding ice, triggering faster melting of the glacier than would happen otherwise.
From the cited NASA release I would have assumed that the cavity is full of water (if only because ice is not strong enough to support such a large air-filled cavern).
Is it air or water?
glacier antarctica
asked yesterday
Keith McClaryKeith McClary
659210
$endgroup$
Avery Thompson writes in Popular Mechanics
In Thwaites’ case, that radar uncovered a gigantic cavern between the glacier itself and the bedrock below it. That cavern is likely filled with air much warmer than the surrounding ice, triggering faster melting of the glacier than would happen otherwise.
From the cited NASA release I would have assumed that the cavity is full of water (if only because ice is not strong enough to support such a large air-filled cavern).
Is it air or water?
glacier antarctica
glacier antarctica
asked yesterday
Keith McClaryKeith McClary
659210
asked yesterday
Keith McClaryKeith McClary
659210
asked yesterday
Keith McClaryKeith McClary
659210
asked yesterday
Keith McClaryKeith McClary
659210
asked yesterday
Keith McClaryKeith McClary
659210
659210
$begingroup$
Follow-up question: Giant Cavern the Size of Manhattan Under Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica - how was satellite and airborne radar data combined?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
38 mins ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Follow-up question: Giant Cavern the Size of Manhattan Under Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica - how was satellite and airborne radar data combined?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
38 mins ago
$begingroup$
Follow-up question: Giant Cavern the Size of Manhattan Under Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica - how was satellite and airborne radar data combined?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
38 mins ago
$begingroup$
Follow-up question: Giant Cavern the Size of Manhattan Under Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica - how was satellite and airborne radar data combined?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
38 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
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The cave is created by warm water, so the ice has been replaced by the water.
It is common to find areas under the front of glaciers that have been melted away by warm water.
Warm water here means just warmer than the ice.
The thing that's making this news is the scale of the area that has melted away.
This is the situation scientists have been predicting to happen as our planet warms, water advancing inland below the ice and possibly making the glacier move faster.
Ice that is connected to bedrock will create friction making the ice move at a slower pace. When ice is no longer connected to the bedrock under it will loose this friction and possibly speed up the flow.
This might be one of the tipping points making the ice melt at a faster pace.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thwaites_Glacier
As fred say in his comment ice moving over bedrock will create friction this friction will create a layer of liquid water lubricating the ice and make the ice flow faster,And when ice melts at the surface of the ice the melt water will run down cracks in the ice and reach the bedrock lowering the friction even more.
answered yesterday
trond hansentrond hansen
752415
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Water between the ice/glacier and the bedrock will act a a lubricant allowing the ice to move faster.
$endgroup$
– Fred
yesterday
$begingroup$
thank you @Fred i added this to my answer.
$endgroup$
– trond hansen
21 hours ago
add a comment |
Your Answer
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1 Answer
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active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
The cave is created by warm water, so the ice has been replaced by the water.
It is common to find areas under the front of glaciers that have been melted away by warm water.
Warm water here means just warmer than the ice.
The thing that's making this news is the scale of the area that has melted away.
This is the situation scientists have been predicting to happen as our planet warms, water advancing inland below the ice and possibly making the glacier move faster.
Ice that is connected to bedrock will create friction making the ice move at a slower pace. When ice is no longer connected to the bedrock under it will loose this friction and possibly speed up the flow.
This might be one of the tipping points making the ice melt at a faster pace.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thwaites_Glacier
As fred say in his comment ice moving over bedrock will create friction this friction will create a layer of liquid water lubricating the ice and make the ice flow faster,And when ice melts at the surface of the ice the melt water will run down cracks in the ice and reach the bedrock lowering the friction even more.
answered yesterday
trond hansentrond hansen
752415
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Water between the ice/glacier and the bedrock will act a a lubricant allowing the ice to move faster.
$endgroup$
– Fred
yesterday
$begingroup$
thank you @Fred i added this to my answer.
$endgroup$
– trond hansen
21 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The cave is created by warm water, so the ice has been replaced by the water.
It is common to find areas under the front of glaciers that have been melted away by warm water.
Warm water here means just warmer than the ice.
The thing that's making this news is the scale of the area that has melted away.
This is the situation scientists have been predicting to happen as our planet warms, water advancing inland below the ice and possibly making the glacier move faster.
Ice that is connected to bedrock will create friction making the ice move at a slower pace. When ice is no longer connected to the bedrock under it will loose this friction and possibly speed up the flow.
This might be one of the tipping points making the ice melt at a faster pace.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thwaites_Glacier
As fred say in his comment ice moving over bedrock will create friction this friction will create a layer of liquid water lubricating the ice and make the ice flow faster,And when ice melts at the surface of the ice the melt water will run down cracks in the ice and reach the bedrock lowering the friction even more.
answered yesterday
trond hansentrond hansen
752415
$endgroup$
$begingroup$
Water between the ice/glacier and the bedrock will act a a lubricant allowing the ice to move faster.
$endgroup$
– Fred
yesterday
$begingroup$
thank you @Fred i added this to my answer.
$endgroup$
– trond hansen
21 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
The cave is created by warm water, so the ice has been replaced by the water.
It is common to find areas under the front of glaciers that have been melted away by warm water.
Warm water here means just warmer than the ice.
The thing that's making this news is the scale of the area that has melted away.
This is the situation scientists have been predicting to happen as our planet warms, water advancing inland below the ice and possibly making the glacier move faster.
Ice that is connected to bedrock will create friction making the ice move at a slower pace. When ice is no longer connected to the bedrock under it will loose this friction and possibly speed up the flow.
This might be one of the tipping points making the ice melt at a faster pace.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thwaites_Glacier
As fred say in his comment ice moving over bedrock will create friction this friction will create a layer of liquid water lubricating the ice and make the ice flow faster,And when ice melts at the surface of the ice the melt water will run down cracks in the ice and reach the bedrock lowering the friction even more.
answered yesterday
trond hansentrond hansen
752415
$endgroup$
The cave is created by warm water, so the ice has been replaced by the water.
It is common to find areas under the front of glaciers that have been melted away by warm water.
Warm water here means just warmer than the ice.
The thing that's making this news is the scale of the area that has melted away.
This is the situation scientists have been predicting to happen as our planet warms, water advancing inland below the ice and possibly making the glacier move faster.
Ice that is connected to bedrock will create friction making the ice move at a slower pace. When ice is no longer connected to the bedrock under it will loose this friction and possibly speed up the flow.
This might be one of the tipping points making the ice melt at a faster pace.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thwaites_Glacier
As fred say in his comment ice moving over bedrock will create friction this friction will create a layer of liquid water lubricating the ice and make the ice flow faster,And when ice melts at the surface of the ice the melt water will run down cracks in the ice and reach the bedrock lowering the friction even more.
answered yesterday
trond hansentrond hansen
752415
edited 21 hours ago
answered yesterday
trond hansentrond hansen
752415
answered yesterday
trond hansentrond hansen
752415
answered yesterday
trond hansentrond hansen
752415
752415
$begingroup$
Water between the ice/glacier and the bedrock will act a a lubricant allowing the ice to move faster.
$endgroup$
– Fred
yesterday
$begingroup$
thank you @Fred i added this to my answer.
$endgroup$
– trond hansen
21 hours ago
add a comment |
$begingroup$
Water between the ice/glacier and the bedrock will act a a lubricant allowing the ice to move faster.
$endgroup$
– Fred
yesterday
$begingroup$
thank you @Fred i added this to my answer.
$endgroup$
– trond hansen
21 hours ago
$begingroup$
Water between the ice/glacier and the bedrock will act a a lubricant allowing the ice to move faster.
$endgroup$
– Fred
yesterday
$begingroup$
Water between the ice/glacier and the bedrock will act a a lubricant allowing the ice to move faster.
$endgroup$
– Fred
yesterday
$begingroup$
thank you @Fred i added this to my answer.
$endgroup$
– trond hansen
21 hours ago
$begingroup$
thank you @Fred i added this to my answer.
$endgroup$
– trond hansen
21 hours ago
add a comment |
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Follow-up question: Giant Cavern the Size of Manhattan Under Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica - how was satellite and airborne radar data combined?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
38 mins ago