British Antarctic Survey - Antarctic Peninsula Glaciers' Flow Rate Up 12% From 1993 - 2003 - BBC

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Satellite data confirms glaciers on the Antarctic Peninsula are flowing faster.
British Antarctic Survey (BAS) scientists used Europe's ERS-1 and -2 spacecraft to track the flow rate of over 300 "ice rivers".

They found a 12% increase in the speed of the glaciers over the period from 1993 to 2003.

The team, which reports its work in the Journal of Geophysical Research, says the study will inform estimates of future sea level rise. The BAS scientists calculate this group of glaciers alone is currently contributing about 0.047mm a year to global ocean height.

"The Antarctic Peninsula has experienced some of the fastest warming on Earth, nearly 3C over the last half-century," explained lead author Dr Hamish Pritchard. "Eighty-seven percent of its glaciers have been retreating during this period and now we see these glaciers are also speeding up."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6727543.stm