Engel, Z., Láska, K.,
Nývlt, D. and Stachon, Z.
2018
"Surface mass balance
of small glaciers on
James Ross Island,
north-eastern Antarctic
Peninsula, during 2009-2015."
Journal of Glaciology
64: 349-361
SUMMARY:
CO2-induced global warming
is expected to be most visible
in the polar regions, compared
with other latitudes.
Researchers frequently examine
the Arctic and Antarctic for
evidence of recent climate change.
Engel et al. (2018) recognized
there was a need for glaciological data
in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions.
The four Czech
scientists analyzed
surface mass-balance
records from two glaciers
on James Ross Island,
located off the
north-eastern edge
of the Antarctic Peninsula.
The Whisky Glacier
is a land-terminating
valley glacier,
while the Davies Dome
is an ice dome.
The authors say:
"because of their
small volume,
these glaciers
are expected to have a
relatively fast
dynamic response
to climatic oscillations and
their mass balance is
also considered to be
a sensitive climate indicator,"
citing the work of
Allen et al. (2008).
Engel et al.
"indicate a change
from surface mass loss that prevailed
in the region during the first decade
of the 21st century to predominantly
positive surface mass balance
after 2009 / 2010."
From 2009 through 2015,
Davis Dome and Whisky Glacier
both experienced cumulative
mass gains of 0.11 ± 0.37
and 0.57 ± 0.67 meters
of water equivalent, respectively;
and their annual surface mass
balances were positive
in every year except 2011 / 2012.
DETAILS:
The positive mass balances
observed on Davis Dome
and Whisky Glacier
"coincide with the
surface mass-balance records
from Bahía del Diablo Glacier
on nearby Vega Island,
Bellingshausen Ice Dome
on King George Island and
Hurd and Johnsons glaciers
on Livingston Island",
all of which records reveal
"a regional change from
a predominantly negative
surface mass balance
in the first decade
of the 21st century
to a positive balance
over the 2009-2015 period."
The researchers add that
"the change in the glacier
mass balance follows a
significant decrease in the
warming rates reported
from the northern Antarctic
Peninsula since the end
of the 20th century,"
and
"is also consistent
'with the regional trend
of climate cooling on the
eastern side of the
Antarctic Peninsula."
These counter-observations
contradict climate models
and their projections of
significant CO2-induced
global warming.
