Earthwave co-founder Livia Jakob said the project was invaluable to our understanding of glacier ice loss.
It’s free, every week, in your inbox.
Thats equivalent to the entire global populations drinking water consumption for 30 years.
And the situation is snowballing.
Dust from the Sahara could also be to blame for the rapid decline of central Europes glaciers.
Particles in the air come from the Sahara desert and settle on glacier surfaces, darkening the ice.
This causes them to absorb more solar radiation and melt faster.
But ultimately, human-induced climate change is the greatest culprit.
Over the study period, glaciers contributed 18mm to global sea-level rise.
The research was conducted as part of the Glacier Mass Balance Intercomparison Exercise, or Glambie for short.
Jakob co-founded Earthwave in 2018.
Eyes over glaciers
While many haveexperiencedglacial decline first-hand, tracking it planet-wide is a bit more challenging.
Thats where satellites can help.
Numerous satellites monitor Earths ice thickness from orbit.
The Glambie study used this information to compile one of the most comprehensive overviews of glacier retreat ever conducted.
Story bySion Geschwindt
Sion is a freelance science and technology reporter, specialising in climate and energy.
