Western Canadian glaciers melting twice as fast as they did a decade ago, research shows
Glaciers in Western Canada and U.S. Losing Mass at Alarming Rate, Study Shows
A recent study led by University of Northern British Columbia professor Brian Menounos has revealed that glaciers in Western Canada and the United States have experienced a significant loss of mass between 2021 and 2024. According to the research, these glaciers lost 12 per cent of their mass during this period, which is double the melt rates compared to the previous decade.
The study attributes this accelerated melting to factors such as low snow accumulation over winter, early-season heat waves, and prolonged warm and dry spells. Additionally, impurities like ash from severe wildfire seasons have darkened the glaciers, causing them to absorb more heat and leading to a feedback loop that perpetuates further loss unless covered by fresh snow.
Published in the peer-reviewed journal Geophysical Research Letters, the research also examined glaciers in Switzerland, where a similar trend was observed with a 13 per cent loss of mass over the same period. Both regions saw glaciers melting twice as fast as they did between 2010 and 2020.
Menounos highlighted the concerning impact of climate change on glacier melt rates, emphasizing that the loss of water stored in glaciers is like draining a “bank account” of fresh water resources. He warned that continued doubling of water loss from glaciers is depleting these natural reservoirs without sufficient replenishment.
The study combined aerial surveys with ground-based observations of glaciers in Western Canada, the United States, and Switzerland. It revealed that between 2021 and 2024, these glaciers experienced their highest rates of loss since monitoring began 60 years ago.
One significant finding was the increase in black carbon deposition on glaciers after 2010, reaching peak levels in 2023 coinciding with severe wildfire seasons. This darker material absorbs more heat, accelerating melting rates. The study focused on the Haig Glacier in the Canadian Rockies, where low ice reflectivity contributed to a substantial loss of mass in 2022 and 2023.
Looking ahead, the research suggests that glaciers across the study area could mostly disappear by the end of the century, even under moderate climate change scenarios. Only the largest glaciers and icefields are expected to survive beyond 2100.
Menounos emphasized the need for global cooperation to address this pressing issue, stating that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is crucial to mitigating glacier loss. He stressed that combating glacier melt requires collaborative efforts from all countries to combat climate change effectively.
