Global Study Finds Tropical Glaciers Melting Ahead of Predictions
📸: Ethan C. Parrish/Whispering River Media An international group of scientists discovered a peculiar absence of beryllium-10 and carbon-14 isotopes in the minerals that border glaciers in the Andes highlands. This finding suggests that the last time these rocks were exposed to the warmth of our Sun was at least 11,700 years ago. In addition to the devastating floods that are occurring as a result of melt pools bursting through the ice that was formerly holding them, the Andes area is already facing droughts that are shattering records and lack of water as a consequence. Across the globe, from the Alps to the Arctic, glaciers are shrinking, leaving increasingly larger areas exposed both in mountainous regions and around polar ice caps; [...] The retreat of glaciers is one of the most evident signs of climate change, explained Levan Tielidze, a Monash University glaciologist. During the winter months, glaciers store water in the form of snow, and when the snow melts in the s...