Glaciers in the Svalbard archipelago are witnessing alarming warming rates, according to a new study. The study reveals that these glaciers are warming at twice the rate of the Arctic and four times the rate of the planet itself. This exceptional warming is causing a dangerous feedback loop, where the loss of albedo (reflectivity) results in more warming, ice melting, and the release of carbon emissions.
Scientists have uncovered a methane feedback loop in Svalbard’s melting glaciers. Methane-laced meltwater from these glaciers seeps into the groundwater beneath the ice stream, leading to the thinning or retreat of the glaciers. As a result, methane-saturated water is released into the atmosphere, exacerbating climate change further.
The study found methane-rich groundwater springs in the recently exposed forefields of 78 land-terminating glaciers in central Svalbard. To put it into perspective, the amount of methane in these springs is around 600,000 times the atmospheric equilibrium of methane. Experts believe that this methane has been trapped underground for millions of years, seeping out from a large underground reserve of gas.
This discovery raises concerns about the amount of greenhouse gases that could be released into the atmosphere, which current climate models have not accounted for. Water chemistry analysis reveals that the glacial groundwater springs in Svalbard contain substantial amounts of dissolved methane. Methane emissions from these springs could exceed 2,000 tonnes annually, roughly equivalent to 10 percent of Norway’s annual methane emissions from its oil and gas industry.
Scientists also noticed concentrated methane emissions in specific “hot spots” that correlate with rock formations where the groundwater originates, such as shale and coal. This finding highlights the urgency for updated climate models and further research on methane emissions from glaciers.
The sources of methane in Svalbard and Greenland differ. In Greenland, methane in the ice cap results from decomposing permafrost, while in Svalbard, it originates from shale rocks. Understanding these different sources is crucial in developing targeted mitigation strategies for methane emissions.
As this study sheds light on the rapid warming and consequential methane feedback loop in Svalbard’s glaciers, it emphasizes the need for immediate action and heightened efforts to combat climate change. The findings call for updated climate models and additional research to accurately assess and address methane emissions from glaciers, a crucial step in tackling the global climate crisis.
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