What is the 'Pamir-Karakoram anomaly' studied by scientists like Yoshinori Iizuka?

The anomaly refers to glaciers in the Pamir-Karakoram region that have resisted melting and, in some cases, slightly grown, contrary to global trends.

How can ice cores from Tajikistan help protect global glaciers?

Analyzing ice cores reveals past climate conditions, offering insights to understand glacier behavior and potentially develop strategies to preserve threatened glaciers worldwide.

Where are the ice core samples from the Tajikistan expedition stored?

Samples are stored in a sanctuary in Antarctica by the Ice Memory Foundation and at Hokkaido University in Japan for scientific analysis.

Home / Science / Scientists Study Growing Glaciers to Save Melting Ice

Scientists Study Growing Glaciers to Save Melting Ice

14 Jan

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Summary

Tajikistan glaciers resist melting, offering hope for global ice preservation.
Ice cores from 5,810 meters aim to unlock secrets of anomalous glacier growth.
Research seeks to apply findings to protect threatened glaciers worldwide.

Scientists Study Growing Glaciers to Save Melting Ice

Japanese scientist Yoshinori Iizuka is part of an international team studying glaciers in Tajikistan's Pamir Mountains, where an unusual phenomenon of ice growth is occurring. These glaciers have resisted the widespread melting observed globally, a situation scientists are calling the 'Pamir-Karakoram anomaly.' The research aims to understand the mechanisms behind this resilience.

Ice cores, drilled to approximately 105 meters from the Kon-Chukurbashi ice cap at 5,810 meters altitude, are being analyzed. One set of samples is stored in Antarctica, while another is at Hokkaido University in Japan. Scientists are meticulously examining these cores for clues about past precipitation and temperature, hoping to reconstruct climatic history stretching back thousands of years.

The analysis of these ancient ice samples could provide crucial insights into how to protect glaciers threatened by global warming. By understanding why these specific glaciers have grown, researchers hope to develop strategies applicable to preserving glacial ice worldwide, offering a potential pathway to mitigating the impacts of climate change on these vital natural resources.