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Greenland’s ice loss accelerating rapidly, gravity-measuring satellites reveal |
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Aerospace Engineering Professor Dr. Byron Tapley, director of the Center for Space Research at The University of Texas at Austin, leads the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission. According to new analyses from the twin satellites that measure global mass changes, melting of Greenland's ice sheet has increased dramatically in the past few years. The GRACE results were published in the Aug. 10 issue of Science. In front of Aerospace Engineering Professor Byron Tapley is a model of the twin satellites that are sensitive enough to the gravitational pull of masses on Earth to detect changes in mass. The gravitational impact causes minute changes in the distance between the paired satellites. |
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Using measurements taken from GRACE’s gravity maps, known to be up to 1,000 more accurate than previous maps, Dr. Jianli Chen authored the August 10, 2006 study published in the journal Science showing dramatic increases in glacial melting on Greenland. Chen is a researcher at The University of Texas at Austin's Center for Space Research. Dr. Chen received a 2006 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. Chen received the $500,000 research grant for outstanding contributions to understanding the variations of the mass and angular momentum of oceans and global altimetry and gravity observations, and for unique leadership in advancing interdisciplinary science.
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Dr. Jianli Chen from the Center for Space Research at The University of Texas at Austin. |
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Dr. Jianli Chen from the Center for Space Research at The University of Texas at Austin. |
