A recent study has found that isolated glaciers can store liquid water in their upper layers throughout the year.
This research clarifies that there are more places on Earth other than just the Greenland ice sheet where snow and ice store liquid water. A glaciologist from University of Washington and the lead author of the study, Knut Christianson said "I do think they will be found in more glaciers that have similar processes at work".
Some years back scientists found that several regions of the Greenland Ice Sheet hold huge amount of water in liquid state. These collections of water are called as "firn" aquifers. A firn is the layer of snow which did not melt in the past few seasons and has turned into ice. The water is stored amid the snow particles.
Recently researchers from the University of Washington and the Norwegian Polar Institute have found a new firn aquifer in the Holtedahlfonna glacier, Norway. About the Holtedahlfonna glacier, it is 50kms (31 miles) long and covers and area of 390 square miles (150 square miles)
A group of Japanese scientist discovered the aquifer 20 years back. They reportedly discovered an ice core inside the glacier soaking with water. This discovery wasn't considered unusual as the aquifers are common in summer. "Aquifers on mountain glaciers have been known since the 1970s, but they are thought to drain every summer," Christianson said.
Inspection of the glacier during winter also found liquid water. After this discovery scientists started a close observation on the glacier. After observing carefully the researchers found that the water was present during quite a few years. Though the level of water rose in summer and dropped in winter.
Presently scientists are researching whether the ice sheet aquifers in Greenland are prone to getting bigger due to global warming.
