The last two weeks have seen periods of declining extent along with periods of little change or even gains in extent. Preliminary modeling from the May report, which hasn't yet been peer-reviewed, suggests a tsunami reaching hundreds of feet in elevation along the shoreline would result from a sudden massive failure, propagating throughout Prince William Sound, and into bays and fjords far from the source. Wildfires have the potential to worsen as summer drags on. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Read the original article here. November 6, 2020 Rivers melt Arctic ice, warming air and ocean by Heather McFarland, University of Alaska Fairbanks Water from Canada's Mackenzie … An unprecedented ‘mega-tsunami’ could be caused by a melting Alaska glacier, … 2020 produced frightening signs of the precariousness of Arctic sea ice. Of course, rubbing alcohol really lowers the melting point of water (down to minus 128 degrees), which is why it’s the basis of car windshield ice melt sprays. "Often, heavy or prolonged rain is a factor. Each year, the finest sculptors from around the world compete in the most challenging prestigious ice sculpting competition ever. Analysis of satellite imagery suggests that as Barry Glacier retreats from Barry Arm due to ongoing melting, a large rocky scar called a scarp is emerging on the face of the mountain above it. Mr. Fountain is a science writer and the author of “The Great Quake,” about Alaska’s deadly 1964 earthquake. ... Melting permafrost impacts stream food webs in Arctic Alaska. The Arctic summer of 2020 is one that has been marked by raging fires in the Far North, with smoke extending more than 1,000 miles downwind, along with alarming new temperature records and ice melt. This indicates an incremental, slow-moving landslide is already taking place above the fjord, but if the rock face were to suddenly give way, the consequences could be dire. A giant, catastrophic tsunami in Alaska triggered by a landslide of rock left unstable after glacier melting is likely to occur in the next two decades, scientists fear - and it could happen within the next 12 months. A giant, catastrophic tsunami in Alaska triggered by a landslide of rock left unstable after glacier melting is likely to occur in the next two decades, scientists fear - and it could happen within the next 12 months. In Remote Alaska, Warming Climate And Erosion Complicate 2020 Census In Newtok Rising temperatures are speeding up erosion in some Alaska Native villages and making traveling on ice … Earthquakes commonly trigger failures. (Winand Deerenberg/Getty Images), told Columbia University's GlacierHub blog. Barry Glacier, centre. From August 30 through September 5, there was a total loss of about 320,000 square kilometers (123,600 square miles). Perhaps the bigger takeaway is that the impacts of relatively rapid glacier retreats in the era of climate change could pose similar kinds of landslide and tsunami threats in many other places around the world, not just in Alaska. "When the climate changes, the landscape takes time to adjust," co-author of the letter and geologist Bretwood Higman from nonprofit Ground Truth Alaska told The Guardian. "Based on the elevation of the deposit above the water, the volume of land that was slipping, and the angle of the slope, we calculated that a collapse would release 16 times more debris and 11 times more energy than Alaska's 1958 Lituya Bay landslide and mega-tsunami.". ... Alaska… "Maybe we're entering a time now where we need to look at glaciated landscapes with the same kind of glasses.". Diego Delso. Arctic sea ice extent was 4.21 million square kilometers (1.62 million square miles) on September 16, which is likely near the seasonal minimum extent that is expected within the next week. Scientists warn of an imminent catastrophic event. PETER DOCKRILL. (CNN) The signs at Glacier National Park warning that its signature glaciers would be gone by 2020 are being changed. According to Thoman, all the ice within 150 miles of Arctic water surrounding Alaska has completely melted. These studies are detailed in the summer 2020 issue of the National Park Service Alaska Region’s semi-annual journal, Alaska Park Science. Analysis of satellite imagery suggests that as Barry Glacier retreats from Barry Arm due to ongoing melting, a large rocky scar called a scarp is emerging on the face of the mountain above it. Earthquakes commonly trigger failures. Tsunami projections. Our ASIP is staffed 7 days a week from 6:30 am to 3:30 pm Operations Phone Line: 907.266.5138 Operations Email: nws.ar.ice@noaa.gov While these kinds of subtle variations are still being investigated, the overall view is that the speed of glacier retreat increases the probability of more dramatic slope failures. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Captain charged with seaman's manslaughter in boat fire that killed 34, More details released about man's rescue 86 miles out to sea. "It was hard to believe the numbers at first," one of the researchers, geophysicist Chunli Dai from the Ohio State University told NASA's Earth Observatory. A new study suggests that the melting of Alaska’s glaciers into the North Pacific could have far-ranging effects on ocean circulation and the climate. "Maybe we're entering a time now where we need to look at glaciated landscapes with the same kind of glasses.". John Tillmansays: November 7, 2020 at 6:30 am. Ice melt in Alaska threatens to unleash unprecedented 'mega-tsunami,' scientists warn Peter Dockrill 10/19/2020. Melting ice has left one small town on the brink of disaster. This isn’t the first time a big glacier has melted in Alaska. The melting of Arctic sea ice removes an obstacle from shipping liquefied natural gas off Alaska’s North Slope, according to the Anchorage-based company, Qilak LNG. A giant, catastrophic tsunami in Alaska triggered by a landslide of rock left unstable after glacier melting is likely to occur in the next two decades, scientists fear - and it could happen within the next 12 months. The findings are available on the ADNR website. told Columbia University's GlacierHub blog. A record-breaking Sahara dust storm that spread harmful air pollution across parts of North America in June 2020 was caused by winds linked to melting Arctic sea ice A first for the Arctic: Ice melt and open ocean north of Greenland on August 17, 2020, never before seen in the satellite record going back to 1979. Since the report's release earlier in the year, subsequent landslide analysis has suggested little or no movement of land masses on the slope, although in itself that doesn't tell us much, since research shows that the rock face has been shifting since at least 50 years ago, at some points speeding up, while slowing down at others. Alamy Stock Photo. Although it's remote, this is an area that's frequented by commercial and recreational boats, including cruise ships. January 2020 was the 15th coldest Januaryon record in Fairbanks Alaska. Ice melt in Alaska threatens to unleash unprecedented 'mega-tsunami,' scientists warn. © ScienceAlert Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. A group of scientists warned of the prospects of this impending … "It's really pretty terrifying," Higman told Columbia University's GlacierHub blog in May, likening the environmental risks to volcanoes – something that humanity has understood to be a dangerous, unpredictable geohazard for much, much longer. ... November 15, 2020 The landslide in Barry Arm has been lurching toward the ocean since the 1950s. ... Changing snow and ice seasons are also likely to disrupt transportation in the state. "When the climate changes, the landscape takes time to adjust," co-author of the letter and geologist Bretwood Higman from nonprofit Ground Truth Alaska told The Guardian. Published May 14, 2020 Updated May 15, 2020 Ongoing monitoring by numerous organisations – including ADNR, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the US Geological Survey – is keeping tabs on developments at Prince William Sound, to track movements above the Barry Glacier, and to refine predictions of what the fallout from a mega-tsunami would be. Several people have died in Alaska after falling through thin ice, a result of warming weather trends. “A new study shows that increased heat from Arctic rivers is melting sea ice in the Arctic Ocean and warming the atmosphere.” until winter when all that extra heat is radiated into outer space. (Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory/USGS). "It was hard to believe the numbers at first," one of the researchers, geophysicist Chunli Dai from the Ohio State University told NASA's Earth Observatory. What is clear is that glacier retreat in Prince William Sound, along the south coast of Alaska, does seem to be having an impact on mountain slopes above Barry Arm, about 97 kilometers (60 miles) east of Anchorage. October 19, 2020. Arctic sea ice extent—the area where ice concentration is at least 15 percent—reached its apparent annual maximum on March 5, 2020. Figure 1: 10-year averages between 1979 and 2018 and yearly averages for 2007, 2012, and 2020 of the daily (a) ice extent and (b) ice area in the Northern Hemisphere and a listing of the extent and area of the current, historical mean, minimum, and maximum values in km2. … "It's really pretty terrifying," Higman told Columbia University's GlacierHub blog in May, likening the environmental risks to volcanoes – something that humanity has understood to be a dangerous, unpredictable geohazard for much, much longer. Preliminary modelling from the May report, which hasn't yet been peer-reviewed, suggests a tsunami reaching hundreds of feet in elevation along the shoreline would result from a sudden massive failure, propagating throughout Prince William Sound, and into bays and fjords far from the source. A group of scientists warned of the prospects of this impending disaster in Prince William Sound in an open letter to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) in May. On March 24, the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) reported that the 2019–2020 growth season had an unexceptional finish: 5.81 million square miles (15.05 million square kilometers). Although it's remote, this is an area that's frequented by commercial and recreational boats, including cruise ships. Since the report's release earlier in the year, subsequent landslide analysis has suggested little or no movement of land masses on the slope, although in itself that doesn't tell us much, since research shows that the rock face has been shifting since at least 50 years ago, at some points speeding up, while slowing down at others. Ice Melt in Alaska Threatens to Unleash Unprecedented 'Mega-Tsunami', Scientists Warn. It was the 11 th-lowest maximum in the 42-year satellite record. This indicates an incremental, slow-moving landslide is already taking place above the fjord, but if the rock face were to suddenly give way, the consequences could be dire. Bartos said he expects some snow in the Anchorage Bowl to outlast the … As melting ice leads to increased temperatures, there is a potential for the permafrost in Arctic regions to melt, adding to atmospheric carbon dioxide, explains Serreze. Warming rivers are melting Arctic sea ice, new study shows November 10, 2020 by Erin McKinstry, Alaska's Energy Desk - Sitka (Photo provided by Lisa Hatland/USCG) Pale scarp lines above Barry Glacier. Hot weather that drives thawing of permafrost, snow, or glacier ice can also be a trigger.". 2021 Multi-Block Classic.......... February 15th - … If the team's calculations are correct, such a result borders on the unthinkable, because the 1958 episode – likened by eyewitnesses to the explosion of an atomic bomb – is often thought to be the tallest tsunami wave in modern times, reaching a maximum elevation of 524 meters (1,720 feet). The Nenana Ice Classic Poster Contest has officially started! A giant, catastrophic tsunami in Alaska triggered by a landslide of rock left unstable after glacier melting is likely to occur in the next two decades, scientists fear - and it could happen within the next 12 months. The deadline to get your entries in to the Nenana Ice Classic Office is Wednesday Nov. 11, 2020 Visit the Poster Contest link for the offical rules. The findings are available on the ADNR website. Schoolchildren play on melting ice … Perhaps the bigger takeaway is that the impacts of relatively rapid glacier retreats in the era of climate change could pose similar kinds of landslide and tsunami threats in many other places around the world, not just in Alaska. While the potential risks of such a landslide are very serious, there remain a lot of unknowns about just how or when this calamity could take place. Located in the heart of Alaska, Fairbanks; The Tanana Valley Fairgrounds is home to the World Championships. A much more recent slope failure event in 2015 in Taan Fiord to the east produced a tsunami reaching as high as 193 metres (633 ft), and the researchers say these failures can be brought about by numerous causes. A much more recent slope failure event in 2015 in Taan Fiord to the east produced a tsunami reaching as high as 193 meters (633 ft), and the researchers say these failures can be brought about by numerous causes. It’s melting so rapidly that it could create a new bay north of Yakutat. What is clear is that glacier retreat in Prince William Sound, along the south coast of Alaska, does seem to be having an impact on mountain slopes above Barry Arm, about 97 kilometres (60 miles) east of Anchorage. it was over 13 degrees below average this year. Rivers melt Arctic ice, warming air and ocean Date: November 7, 2020 Source: University of Alaska Fairbanks Summary: A new study shows that increased heat from Arctic rivers is melting sea ice … This article was originally published by ScienceAlert. "Slopes like this can change from slow creeping to a fast-moving landslide due to a number of possible triggers," the May report explains. Powerful Mega-Tsunami Coming From Alaskan Ice Melt. Ice Melt in Alaska Threatens to Unleash 'Mega-Tsunami' Peter Dockrill, Science Alert October 20, 2020. "If a glacier retreats really quickly it can catch the surrounding slopes by surprise – they might fail catastrophically instead of gradually adjusting.". If the team's calculations are correct, such a result borders on the unthinkable, because the 1958 episode – likened by eyewitnesses to the explosion of an atomic bomb – is often thought to be the tallest tsunami wave in modern times, reaching a maximum elevation of 524 metres (1,720 feet). A Siberian heat wave in spring 2020 began this year’s Arctic sea ice melt season early, and with Arctic temperatures being 14 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit (8 to 10 degrees Celsius) warmer than average, the ice extent kept declining. Ongoing monitoring by numerous organizations – including ADNR, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the US Geological Survey – is keeping tabs on developments at Prince William Sound, to track movements above the Barry Glacier, and to refine predictions of what the fallout from a mega-tsunami would be. Barry Glacier in Harriman Fjord. ... 2020. "Often, heavy or prolonged rain is a factor. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. If you have any questions please contact the Nenana Ice Classic Office @ 907-832-5446 (Briggs et al., open letter to ADNR, May 2020). Sea ice in Alaska is melting faster than ever before. While the potential risks of such a landslide are very serious, there remain a lot of unknowns about just how or when this calamity could take place. "Slopes like this can change from slow creeping to a fast-moving landslide due to a number of possible triggers," the May report explains. A group of scientists warned of the prospects of this impending disaster in Prince William Sound in an open letter to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (ADNR) in May. "If a glacier retreats really quickly it can catch the surrounding slopes by surprise – they might fail catastrophically instead of gradually adjusting.". While these kinds of subtle variations are still being investigated, the overall view is that the speed of glacier retreat increases the probability of more dramatic slope failures.