British Scientists to Study Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica
- 11 years ago
Water draining from the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica is reportedly adding to rising sea levels more than any other glacier on Earth. During the Antarctic summer, two expeditions will be launched as part of the iStar Project, which includes scientists from different institutions in the United Kingdom.
Water draining from the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica is reportedly adding to rising sea levels more than any other glacier on Earth.
Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey are on their way to study this massive glacier responsible for draining approximately 10 percent of the ice falling off the west side of the continent.
During the Antarctic summer, two expeditions will be launched as part of the iStar Project, which includes scientists from different institutions in the United Kingdom.
Doctor Andy Smith, iStar's science program manager at British Antarctic Survey said: “We want to improve our understanding of what this glacier is doing and to use that information to be able to make good predictions for its contribution to global sea level in the years ahead. And if we can do that…then we'll also have some tools to apply to the rest of the Antarctic and the Greenland ice sheet as well.”
Because the Pine Island Glacier is so remote, scientists haven’t been able to study it before, but satellite images over the past 2 decades have shown just how much the glacier is changing and that is affecting sea levels worldwide.
Water draining from the Pine Island Glacier in Antarctica is reportedly adding to rising sea levels more than any other glacier on Earth.
Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey are on their way to study this massive glacier responsible for draining approximately 10 percent of the ice falling off the west side of the continent.
During the Antarctic summer, two expeditions will be launched as part of the iStar Project, which includes scientists from different institutions in the United Kingdom.
Doctor Andy Smith, iStar's science program manager at British Antarctic Survey said: “We want to improve our understanding of what this glacier is doing and to use that information to be able to make good predictions for its contribution to global sea level in the years ahead. And if we can do that…then we'll also have some tools to apply to the rest of the Antarctic and the Greenland ice sheet as well.”
Because the Pine Island Glacier is so remote, scientists haven’t been able to study it before, but satellite images over the past 2 decades have shown just how much the glacier is changing and that is affecting sea levels worldwide.