Glacier loss is a pressing concern worldwide, with ice melt impacting freshwater supplies, sea-level rise and ocean circulation. Often, global glacier models are employed to better understand the extent of this threat, such as a recent model that shows widespread deglaciation in mid-latitudes by 2100. However, with this model and others, there are uncertainties regarding any linear relationship between temperature and glacier loss, particularly in regions like Iceland that experience temperature extremes deviating from the global average.
The study based on Bruarjokull found precipitation rather than temperature to be the key climate driver of glacier area. This finding contrasts with reports that indicate temperature is the key climate driver of Icelandic glaciers. But the study further finds that linear modeling of Bruarjokull area as a function of precipitation cannot be reliably used for short-term or long-term forecasting of glacier extent.
The nuance lies where one looks at the model residuals—the differences between observed and predicted values of data. The residuals are used when assessing the quality of a model as a diagnostic measure. In this case, the study indicates that glacier-meteorological dynamics may be only partially modeled linearly, but that the model successfully explains underlying trends in the area-precipitation relationship.
. Whether or not regional modeling applies to Icelandic glaciers cannot be strictly determined from the recent findings, but this does highlight an exciting new opportunity., can be used for local glacier studies. This highlights the need for more sophisticated, comprehensive and expensive data better suited for studying glaciers .
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Life by 2100: Space settlements, education, and the future of warfareBy 2100, humans will live in space, educate themselves, and still go to war.
Read more »
Ocean acidification set to triple by 2100—What this means for the US coast'We found evidence that [ocean acidification] could make seaweeds more vulnerable,' study author Alexandra Kinnby told Newsweek.
Read more »
UPS to hire 2,100 seasonal workers in Indianapolis areaUPS is expecting to hire around 2,100 seasonal employees in the Indianapolis area ahead of the holidays in full and part-time positions, including delivery drivers, CDL drivers and package handlers.
Read more »
How Often Do You Think About the Roman Empire?How often do you think about the Roman Empire? Unless you've been living under a rock for the past month, you know that the answer, at least for men, is every day.
Read more »
Majority of Black adults often see racist depictions in the news, study findsThe Pew Research Center survey found 63% of respondents saying news about Black people is often more negative than it is toward other groups, with 28% saying it is about equal.
Read more »