Climate Change: Glaciers are Melting Faster Than Ever Before

It turns out that glaciers are melting faster than ever. Scientists have compiled worldwide data on glacier changes for more than 120 years and have found that in the first decade of the 21^st century, glaciers have melted faster than ever before.

"The observed glaciers current lose between half a meter and one meter of its ice thickness every year-this is two to three times more than the corresponding average of the 20^th century," said Michael Zemp, lead author of the new study, in a news release. "Exactly measurements of this ice loss are reported from a few hundred glaciers only. However, these results are qualitatively confirmed from field and satellite-based observations for tens of thousands of glaciers around the world."

The current rate of glacier melt is the fastest it has ever been throughout the world during the observed time period. The study also revealed that the long-term retreat of glacier is a global phenomenon. In fact, intermittent re-advancement periods at regional and decadal scales are normally restricted to a subsample of glaciers and have not come close to achieving the Little Ice Age maximum positions.

The findings are important to note as researchers track the retreat of glaciers and sea-level rise. By knowing how susceptible these bodies of ice are to melting, scientists can refine their models and better understand how ice loss occurs.

Unfortunately, this ice loss isn't at an end. It's likely that these glaciers will suffer further ice loss, even if the climate remains stable.

The findings are published in the Journal of Galciology.

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