The Margerie Glacier in Alaska, like most glaciers worldwide, is in retreat. A new computer model quantifies the human contribution to the worldwide retreat of the glaciers. (Photo credit: Andrew Adams, via flickr)
A new paper helps quantify how much of the global loss of glaciers can be attributed to human activity as opposed to natural variation in earth’s temperature. The study uses a mathematical model to compare the amount of glacier melt that would have been expected based on natural and man-made forcings to the actual amount.
For the overall time period of 1851 to 2010, the human contribution is hard to quantify, and is reported as 25 ± 35 per cent. However, the availability of better data in more recent decades allows a more detailed analysis for the period 1991 to 2010; here the human contribution is reported at 69 ± 24 per cent.
The model complements similar results obtained for global temperatures and sea levels.
Original research paper published in the journal Science on August 14, 2014.
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