Massive Ice Loss from the Mauna Loa Icecave, Hawaii

Author:

Pflitsch, Andreas, Schörghofer, Norbert, Smith, Stephen M., Holmgren, David

Title:

Massive Ice Loss from the Mauna Loa Icecave, Hawaii

Periodical:

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

Year:

2016

Volume:

48

Pages:

11

Subject:

Mauna Loa Permafrost Global warming Lava tubes

Summary:

Mauna Loa Icecave, located at ~3600 m elevation, has been known since at least 1978. The authors visited the cave and record air temperature, humidity, and ice levels from 2011 to 2014. Based on a map of the icecave from 1978, a massive ice floor (~260 square meters) at the middle of the cave has disappeared. Mineral deposites on the cave walls indicated previous sustained ice levels and is further evidence of significant ice loss.

Label:

Weather & Climate

URL:

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1657/AAAR0014-095

Date:

February 2016

Collection:

Periodicals