How will glaciers and ice sheets respond to climate change?
This question is of great concern as human society faces the threat of accelerated sea level rise, altered ocean circulation and loss of freshwater supply. Byrd Center researchers studying glacier dynamics are developing and applying innovative methods for observing glacier change, through remote sensing and field measurements, and they are using these observations to build quantitative models of ice flow. These models are then used to predict future changes to the Earth's ice masses under likely climate change scenarios. This improved understanding will help the public make more informed decisions regarding infrastructure, energy and resources.
