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New York Post
05-05-2025
- Science
- New York Post
Antarctic ice has made a surprising rebound in mass, scientists say
The Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) has shown signs of record-breaking growth after decades of contributing to global sea-level rise — but experts warn this doesn't mean the climate-change crisis is over. A study published in Science China Earth Sciences revealed that between 2021 and 2023, the AIS gained mass at a rate of 108 gigatons per year — a remarkable reversal from the rapid loss seen in previous years. This graph shows the shift in ice mass between 2021 and 2023. Science China Press The researchers analyzed data from the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) and GRACE-FO (GRACE Follow-On) missions, which measure changes in Earth's gravity field to track ice mass fluctuations. They found that the AIS had been losing ice at a rate of 142 gigatons per year from 2011 to 2020. That accelerated mass loss was mainly driven by the destabilization of glaciers in West Antarctica and the Wilkes Land–Queen Mary Land (WL-QML) region of East Antarctica. However, the recent period from 2021 to 2023 saw a dramatic shift, with ice mass in East Antarctica particularly showing signs of recovery. Notably, four major glacier basins in the WL-QML region — Totten, Moscow University, Denman and Vincennes Bay — had been losing the most mass, with ice discharge and surface melting responsible for much of the loss. But between 2021 and 2023, those glaciers experienced significant mass gain, reversing the accelerated loss they had undergone. Icebergs are shown at the Larsen B Ice Shelf, located in the Weddell Sea, Antarctica. VWPics via AP Images The researchers attribute this rebound to unusual increases in precipitation, which led to an accumulation of snow and ice. This unexpected mass gain temporarily offset global sea level rise by about 0.3 millimeters per year — a small but notable increase. While this development is a glimmer of hope, scientists caution that it may not signal a long-term trend. The Antarctic Ice Sheet, which holds more than half of the world's freshwater, plays a crucial role in global sea-level rise. Its rapid melting has been one of the largest contributors to rising oceans, alongside Greenland's ice loss and thermal expansion of warming seas.
India Today
05-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
108 billion tons per year: Antarctica witnesses sudden rise in glacier ice
As climate change continues to batter the world with extreme weather events occurring from the US to India, there is a surprising new trend observed on one end of the planet - have noted a surprising jump in the Antarctic ice for the first time in decades, according to a new study published by Science China Earth Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (Grace) mission and its successor, GRACE-FO (GRACE Follow-On) satellites have observed a rise in the ice mass across the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Winter sea ice cover in the Arctic has reached an unprecedented low. (Photo: AFP) advertisement The study led by Dr. Wang and Prof. Shen at Tongji University has found that between 2021 and 2023, the ice sheet experienced a record-breaking increase in overall experienced a moderate increase in sea ice until 2015, followed by a sharp decline starting in University researchers say satellite gravimetry data shows that from 2011 to 2020, the Antarctic Ice Sheet lost 142 gigatons of ice per year. That trend flipped between 2021 and 2023 when the ice sheet allegedly gained about 108 gigatons of ice per year. From 2002 to 2010, Antarctica's ice sheet was losing about 74 billion tons of ice per year. From 2011 to 2020, the loss nearly doubled to about 142 billion tons per year, mainly because of faster ice melting in West Antarctica and parts of East things changed after that — between 2021 and 2023, Antarctica actually gained ice at a rate of about 108 billion tons per year, mostly due to unusually high Antarctica is gaining, researchers earlier highlighted the trend is not visible in the Arctic. Winter sea ice cover in the Arctic has reached an unprecedented low at its annual peak, according to recent data from NASA and the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC).Nasa said that on March 22, 2025, the maximum extent of Arctic sea ice was recorded at 14.33 million square kilometres, falling below the previous record low of 14.41 million square kilometres set in Reel
Hindustan Times
05-05-2025
- Science
- Hindustan Times
Good news! Surprising recovery seen in these East Antarctic glaciers after years of melting: What to know
In a surprising turn of events, Antarctica reportedly saw a net gain of 107.79 gigatons of ice per year between 2021 and 2023. This was a rare occurrence, as data from NASA's GRACE and GRACE-FO missions have been telling a grim tale for almost two decades. The data, which have been significant in tracking the Antarctic Ice Sheet's mass changes over the years, showed that from 2002 to 2010, Antarctica lost ice at a rate of 73.79 gigatons per year. The figure then rose to 142.06 gigatons annually between 2011 and 2020, most of the loss coming from West Antarctica and the Wilkes Land-Queen Mary Land (WL-QML) region in East Antarctica, as reported by Business Today. The gain between 2021 and 2023 was especially pronounced in four East Antarctic glacier basins — Totten, Moscow, Denman and Vincennes Bay. Previously, these areas were losing mass due to reduced surface accumulation and faster ice discharge. These glaciers have now begun accumulating ice again. There have been significant implications for sea-level rise. The AIS added that approximately 0.20 mm per year to global sea levels between 2002 and 2010, a number that surged to 0.39 mm per year from 2011 to 2020. However, Antarctica's mass gain helped offset sea-level rise by 0.30 mm per year in 2021-2023. Researchers believe this anomaly can be majorly linked to an increase in snowfall over the continent. However, the four glaciers that recently rebounded are actually among the most unstable glaciers of Antarctica, and hence the gains may just be temporary. In fact, sea levels can rise up by more than 7 meters, should there be a total collapse. Researchers from Tongji University, led by Dr. Wei Wang and Professor Yunzhong Shen, found that accelerated mass loss stems from two main factors – reduced surface mass balance (contributing 72.53% of the intensification) and increased ice discharge into the ocean (responsible for 27.47%). 'This accelerated mass loss was primarily driven by two factors: surface mass reduction (contributing 72.53%) and increased ice discharge (27.47%),' the researchers said, according to
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Antarctica gains ice for first time in decades, reversing trend of mass loss, study finds
The Brief The Antarctic Ice Sheet gained mass between 2021 and 2023, a dramatic reversal from decades of loss. Four key glacier basins in East Antarctica showed significant growth due to increased snowfall. The mass gain briefly contributed to a decrease in global sea level rise, according to satellite data. A surprising shift is underway at the bottom of the world. After decades of contributing to rising sea levels, Antarctica's massive ice sheet has started growing again — at least for now. A study published this week in Science China Earth Sciences finds that the Antarctic Ice Sheet (AIS) experienced a record-breaking mass gain between 2021 and 2023, largely due to anomalous increases in precipitation. The rebound is especially significant in East Antarctica, where four major glacier basins had previously shown signs of destabilization. Big picture view Researchers from Tongji University and other institutions analyzed satellite gravimetry data from the GRACE and GRACE-FO missions, which measure variations in Earth's gravity to detect changes in ice mass. They found that between 2011 and 2020, the AIS was losing ice at a rate of 142 gigatons per year. But between 2021 and 2023, the trend reversed, with the ice sheet gaining approximately 108 gigatons per year — a historic turnaround. That growth was enough to temporarily offset global sea level rise by about 0.3 millimeters per year during the same period. The most notable gains were in East Antarctica's Wilkes Land and Queen Mary Land region, including the Totten, Denman, Moscow University, and Vincennes Bay glacier basins. These glaciers had been losing mass at an accelerating rate from 2011 to 2020 — driven by surface melting and faster ice discharge into the ocean — but now appear to have partially recovered. Scientists warn, however, that this shift doesn't mean the climate crisis is over. The gains were linked to unusual precipitation patterns, which may be temporary. What's next The Antarctic Ice Sheet holds more than half of the world's fresh water. For decades, it's been one of the largest contributors to sea level rise, alongside Greenland's melting ice and thermal expansion of warming oceans. This new period of growth is both a surprise and a reminder of how dynamic and sensitive polar regions are to climate shifts. If similar conditions persist, they could reshape near-term sea level predictions. But most scientists stress the rebound is likely temporary unless supported by larger climatic trends. The Source This story is based on the peer-reviewed study "Spatiotemporal mass change rate analysis from 2002 to 2023 over the Antarctic Ice Sheet and four glacier basins in Wilkes-Queen Mary Land" published March 19, 2025, in Science China Earth Sciences. This story was reported from Los Angeles.
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Climate
- Newsweek
NASA Images Reveal Extent of Major New Jersey Fire
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. NASA has released striking satellite images that capture the devastating scale of the damage caused by the Jones Road fire, one of the largest wildfires to hit the state of New Jersey in the last two decades. The images, taken by the Operational Land Imager-2 on Landsat 9, show thick clouds of smoke and burnt landscapes across the Pine Barrens, a coastal forest known for being prone to wildfires. The fire, which started in the Greenwood Wildlife Management Area near Waretown on April 22, rapidly escalated into an emergency, affecting air quality as far as New York City. At the time, officials closed off some major roads, including the Garden State Parkway and Route 532 and ordered the evacuation of over 5,000 people in the area. They also cut power for over 25,000 as a precaution. As of April 24, more than 15,000 acres of land had been burned. Drag slider compare photos Wildland fires have long been integral to New Jersey's Pinelands, says the Pinelands Preservation Alliance, helping to rejuvenate its ecosystem by adding nutrients to the soil and creating a habitat that is essential for many species. However, combined with the recent drought and critically low levels of soil moisture and groundwater in the federally protected reserve, the fire quickly spiraled. Using NASA observations from the GRACE (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment) and GRACE-FO (GRACE Follow On) satellites, the National Drought Mitigation Center detected anomalously dry conditions in the Pinelands, classifying the drought in the region as "severe." Abnormally warm temperatures across New Jersey contributed to the drought, exacerbating the wildfire threat. Thankfully, rain is forecast for Friday and into Saturday, which could assist firefighting efforts. In the meantime, residents have been advised to monitor real-time updates from the New Jersey Forest Fire Service in case any new evacuation orders are put into place. Those with respiratory conditions have also been advised to stay indoors due to the current air pollution levels. An air quality official for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection previously told Newsweek in a statement: "Due to this being an active fire, we are monitoring the conditions and will update if necessary. The next chance of rain is this weekend, which may help improve air quality." No injuries have been reported so far, although at least one commercial building and several other smaller structures were lost in the fire. As of Thursday, about 50 percent of the fire was contained, and all evacuation orders were lifted. Authorities have arrested 19-year-old Joseph Kling of Waretown in connection with starting the Jones Road wildfire. He is currently being held in Ocean County Jail, charged with aggravated arson and arson, pending a detention hearing. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about wildfires? Let us know via science@
