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Antarctica‘s Giant Ice sheet “Sings” as It Melts, Scientists Discover
Scientists have detected unusual seismic sounds emanating from the Ross Ice shelf (RIS), Antarctica’s largest ice layer, which is shaped like a massive triangular crack. This colossal ice formation, roughly the size of Spain, France, or Texas, is supported by glaciers from both the East and West Antarctic Ice Sheets.
While geologists have long been fascinated by RIS, they were surprised to discover it’s not silent.Instead, they’ve recorded strange seismic “groans” and “moans” that appear to be linked to its melting process.
A recent study published by researchers revealed peculiar spectral anomalies – high-frequency seismic waves trapped within the top layers of snow. This uppermost layer, known as the Firn, is highly sensitive to temperature fluctuations and even subtle shifts in wind patterns.When the ice surface experiences disturbances, these vibrations become trapped, creating subtle ripples and tremors throughout the ice sheet.
“the dispersal of the Firn is considered one of the moast important factors in the destabilization of the ice layer,” explained Julien Chaput, a geophysics and mathematics expert and lead author of the study, as quoted by Green Matters.
The researchers found that the ice sheet is covered by thick snow blankets, featuring large snow dunes akin to desert sand formations.This snow acts like an insulating “fur coat” for the ice beneath,protecting it from warming and preventing dispersal when temperatures rise. though, when wind or temperature variations cause the Firn to disperse, this protective layer loses its insulating power.Consequently, deeper glaciers flow more freely into surrounding lakes, leading to rising sea levels and ice melt.
To map these vibrational structures, Chaput and his team deployed 34 ultra-sensitive seismic sensors on the ice above the Firn. They analyzed data collected from these sensors over a three-year period, concluding in 2017.
Their findings indicated that strong winds blowing over the snow dunes on RIS cause the “fur coat” to constantly tremble and rumble. Glaciologist Douglas Macayeal likened the sound to a large swarm of buzzing insects or crickets chirping over grass.
“It sounds like you’re constantly blowing a flute on the ice surface,” Chaput described.
Perhaps even more astonishing is the fact that these seismic vibrations are not static; their tone and frequency change,largely in response to shifting weather conditions.
“Just as musicians can alter a flute’s sound by changing finger positions or airflow, weather conditions on the ice sheet can modify the vibration frequency by altering the topography, like these snow dunes,” Chaput elaborated.
Initially, the detected frequencies were beyond human hearing. However, Chaput was able to amplify them by approximately 1,200 times. While the resulting sounds might seem unsettling, they offer a valuable insight into the health of RIS, potentially indicating if the ice sheet is nearing a critical tipping point.