LONDON - Advances in satellite technology have revealed that the world's glaciers contain significantly less ice than previously thought, according to aThe revised estimate reduces global sea level rise by three inches if all glaciers were to melt. But it raises concern for some communities that rely on seasonal melt from glaciers to feed rivers and irrigate crops. If glaciers contain less ice, water will run out sooner than expected.
Countries are already struggling with disappearing glaciers. Peru is investing in desalination to make up for declining freshwater. And Chile hopes to create artificial glaciers in its mountains. The Nature Geoscience study assessed how quickly glaciers were moving across the landscape, or their velocity. Such measurements allow scientists to more accurately measure volume, as the way glaciers flow indicates where ice is thick or thin. But collecting this information has been limited by technology.
"This is one of the first really impressive results coming out" from satellite advances, said Daniel Farinotti, a glaciologist at ETH Zurich not involved in the research.
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