The phrase
"polar glaciers" refers to large masses of ice found in the polar regions of the Earth. These glaciers are located near the North and South Poles and are made up of layers of compacted snow that have accumulated over thousands of years. They play a crucial role in shaping the landscape and are important indicators of climate change.
Full definition
The shelf ice plays an important role in slowing the progress of
south polar glaciers: remove the shelf ice and the glacier flow accelerates.
«We no longer need to wonder; for a couple of decades now, we've been able to directly observe the results of climate warming
on polar glaciers.
Every 100,000 years or so there has been a predictable warming period during which
polar glaciers melt and sea levels rise.
Tulaczyk is not entirely sure why, but a better understanding of what slowed Whillans down might suggest ways to put the brakes on
other polar glaciers.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that sea levels will rise between 0.18 and 0.59 meters (0.59 to 1.9 feet) by 2099 as warming sea water expands, and mountain and
polar glaciers melt.
«For a couple of decades now, we've been able to directly observe the results of climate warming
on polar glaciers.
The difference was less than a degree but sea levels were about 5 metres higher than now, with this water currently held in
the polar glaciers.