Varying amounts of glacial debris in a core of ancient sediment show the ice cover grew and shrank until airborne carbon dioxide levels fell below 600 parts per million, spurring steady growth.
glaciers & ice sheets
Posted inResearch Spotlights
At the Intersection of Ice and Water
Scientists observe ice dynamics in water-terminating glaciers around the world to better understand how the process of subaqueous melt drives ice loss.
Posted inNews
Faster-Merging Snow Crystals Speed Greenland Ice Sheet Melting
Satellite data and modeling reveal a trend toward coarser-grained, more-light-absorbent snow.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Characterizing Interglacial Periods over the Past 800,000 Years
Researchers identified 11 different interglacial periods over the past 800,000 years, but the interglacial period we are experiencing now may last an exceptionally long time.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Ocean Waves Vibrating the Ross Ice Shelf
Scientists use seismic stations to study ice shelf vibrations generated by ocean waves to better understand their impact on the integrity of the Ross Ice Shelf.
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Seismic Clues Reveal the Mechanisms Behind Iceberg Calving
Scientists combine models and video footage of iceberg calving to analyze the potential of seismology to unravel physical processes behind the breakup of ice sheets.
Posted inNews
Pleistocene Rocks Tell Tale of Past Ice Sheet Melting
Researchers examine evidence from a past interglacial period to predict sea level rise in the future.
Posted inScience Updates
Sea Level and Ice Sheet Changes During Past Warm Periods
PALSEA2 2015 Workshop; Tokyo, Japan, 22–24 July 2015
Posted inResearch Spotlights
Antarctic Meltwater Makes the Ocean Warmer and Fresher
Scientists model how Antarctic meltwater from specific locations could affect the Antarctic Bottom Water, ocean temperatures, and salinity.
Posted inNews
Antarctic Ice May Harbor Huge Network of Canyons
Scientists saw hints in satellite data of dramatic geologic features under thousands of meters of ice in a little-probed part of East Antarctica. Now they are using airborne radar to explore further.