Canada’s glaciers found twice as fast as 10 years ago, according to a study

Researchers say that some Glaciers in Western Canada and the United States lost 12 % of their mass between 2021 and 2024, doubling their cast iron rate compared to the previous decade.

The study. For example, conducted by Brian Menounos, professor at the northern University of British Columbia, indicates that the low accumulation of snow during the winter, the heat waves at the start of the season and the prolonged hot and dry periods contributed to this situation.

The study indicates that impurities. Similarly, such as ashes from violent forest fires, have also “darkened” glaciers, forcing them to absorb more heat and triggering a feedback loop which will cause continuous mass loss, unless the ice is covered with fresh snow.

The study. However, published this week in the scientific journal Geophysical Research Letters, examined the glaciers of Western Canada and canada’s glaciers found twice fast new the United States, excluding Alaska and Yukon, as well as Switzerland, where glaciers lost 13 % of their mass during the same period. Similarly, The research letter indicates that the glaciers in the two regions have lost mass twice as fast as between 2010 and 2020.

Mr. Consequently, Menounos affirms that climate change. Furthermore, its effects, in particular heat waves and the modification of snowy diets, exhaust the freshwater reserves that glaciers contain.

“By doubling the quantity of water lost by these glaciers, we fly in a way the future,” explains Mr. For example, Menounos, holder of the Canada Research Chair on Ice Change.

Research has combined air surveys. ground observations of three Glaciers in Western Canada, four glaciers from the United States and 20 glaciers from Switzerland.

The analysis shows that between 2021. 2024, these glaciers have experienced their highest loss rates since the start of surveillance 60 years canada’s glaciers found twice fast new ago, explains Mr. Menounos.

The research letter indicates that in Western Canada. the United States, black carbon doubled after about 2010, reaching its highest level of deposit in 2023, coinciding with a season of intense forest fires in British Columbia and Canada.

The study did not include specific data concerning the ashes of forest fires on each glacier, but Mr. Menounos affirms that any darker material will absorb more heat and promote cast iron.

The researchers concentrated on the Haig glacier. in Canadian rocks, and found that the low reflectivity of the ice contributed to 17 % of an unprecedented loss of mass in 2022 and 2023. Summer heat had the most important effect, responsible for 46 % of the loss, specifies the letter.

The current modeling of glaciers often does not take into account the ashes of forest fires. other processes likely to accelerate loss rates in the future, canada’s glaciers found twice fast new added Mr. Menounos.

“We believe that forest fires will continue to play an important role. we certainly need better physical models to predict the likely evolution of these glaciers.”

The glaciers of the study area should disappear largely by the end of the century. even in moderate climate change scenarios. Only some of the largest glaciers and ice fields should survive after 2100, the search letter said.

Swiss glaciers represent approximately 55 % of the total volume of glaciers in central Europe. and the results obtained could be transposed to all the Alps, specifies the letter.

From 2000 to 2023. the letter indicates that the Earth’s glaciers have collectively lost mass at a rate of approximately 273 gigatons per year, which represents about a fifth of the elevation observed in sea level. A gigatonne represents a cubic kilometer of water.

The letter of research published Wednesday follows a 2021 canada’s glaciers found twice fast new study published in the Reading Committee review. which revealed that the glaciers located outside the glacial caps of Greenland and Antarctica lost mass between 2010 and 2019 at a rate twice as that of the first decade of this century. Mr. Menounos contributed to this study.

“The solution to restore some of the smallest glaciers may ultimately go through a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. ” he said. Additionally, “This is a global problem, but it requires the participation of all countries.”