Asked by Johnny Hi Johnny, Thanks for your question! Glaciology encompasses a number of disciplines, from maths, physics and chemistry, geology and geography. A science background is necessary but there is a huge range of specialities within glaciology, ranging from numerical modelling (needs maths and physics and computer science) to geomorphological mapping (needs Geography or […]
What do I need to study to become a glaciologist? Read More »
Is there a significant cyclic variation in the position of the glacier terminus along the year? -Asked by Felix Hi Felix. This is a great question. In some areas with glaciers with especially fast response times, this may indeed be the case. Some glaciers in places like Scandinavia and Iceland have small annual moraines, which
Do glaciers recede during summer and advance during winter? Read More »
Non-native animals are not allowed in Antarctica. We must be very careful not to accidentally introduce small insects or plant seeds when we visit – our boots and clothes must be thoroughly cleaned if they have ever been used elsewhere. More information about accidental introduction of ‘aliens’ is covered in the Antarctic Treaty.
Have you ever brought non-native animals to Antarctica? Read More »
Icebergs ‘ground’ on the ocean floor when their keel is deeper than the water depth. They may become stuck until high tide floats them off, or if they are washed into a shallow area, until they melt sufficiently to float away.
What is iceberg grounding? Read More »
I was wondering how ice cores are dated accurately. I know Carbon 14 is one method, but some ice cores go back hundreds of thousands of years. Would other isotopes with longer half-lives be more accurate? Also, how much does it cost to date the core? How are samples acquired without destroying the ice? I
How are ice cores dated? Read More »
Parts of Antarctica are warming rapidly, and this is affecting snowfall, snowmelt, sea ice distribution and thickness, and ice shelves. Different species are affected in different ways by these processes. Emperor penguins are often cited as one of the most vulnerable animals. Over the past 50 years, the population of Emperors in Terre Adelie has
Asked by Haifeng The headwall of a glacier is the rocky wall at the top end (head) of a glacier. There are some nice illustrations here.
What is the headwall of a glacier? Read More »
I’m trying to figure out how is it possible that by decreasing pressure on an ablation area (due to stress reduction) an an enhancement on ice motion is obtained. It would be very useful for me if you could explain it through a simple example cause I’m not a scientist. Thanks! Asked by Gus Dear
Question: Hello, we are 25 Primary 5 pupils from Inverness. We are studying Antarctica as our topic and would love to communicate with a scientist who has worked in Antarctica. We hope you can answer some of our questions. Do you still feel the cold through the many layers of clothing that you wear? Is
Do you still feel the cold through the many layers of clothing that you wear? Read More »
Asked by Yasmin Icebergs form when chunks of ice break off (‘calve’) from a glacier or ice shelf that ends in the ocean.
How are icebergs made? Read More »
