Tech – Metro | Shocking drone pictures reveal just how much glaciers are shrinking because of climate change

Researchers used drone photography to show glacial ice loss over the course of decades (PA)

A series of images taken from the air show just how much climate change has been devastating glaciers in Iceland over the last few decades.

Researchers have created composite images matching old aerial photos from the 1980s with modern day pictures captured by drones. The result is a stark reminder of the dramatic ice-loss on the south side of Vatnajökull, one of the largest ice caps in Europe.

The project was led by Dr Kieran Baxter from the University of Dundee who spent two years working with the University of Iceland and the Icelandic Meteorological Office, who conduct glacier monitoring in the country.

'We have been working to produce images that are both engaging and easy to understand,' Dr Baxter said.

'It is important to show how climate change is physically and visibly affecting the region. To do this, we developed a novel process based on principles that are used by glaciologists to measure ice-volume loss.'

The loss of the glacier as a result of climate change (PA)

The outline shows the original placement of the ice (PA)

'This method allows us to compose unique aerial views of past landscapes and to see how they have changed over the last 30 to 40 years. This period, which is within living memory for many people, has seen accelerated melt in Southeast Iceland.'

Glaciers photographed for the project include the Heinabergsjökull glacier and the rapidly retreating Breiðamerkurjökull glacier.

Dr Tomas Johannesson, Coordinator of Glaciological Research at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, said, 'Outreach about changes in the climate and the on-going downwasting of glaciers of Iceland has become increasingly important in our glaciological work at the Icelandic Meteorological Office in recent years.

'Our collaboration with Kieran Baxter and the University of Dundee is important for our public outreach and has proved effective to explain the changes that have occurred in recent decades.

'It is also important for our collaboration with the Vatnajökull National Park and other organizations and agencies for the creation of educational material and exhibits about glaciers and glacier changes.'

Earlier this year, Iceland marked the first ever 'death' of a glacier because of climate change.

This level of ice loss is only set to continue (PA)

Climate scientists as well as journalists and the UN's high commissioner on human rights attended an event to mark the passing of the Okjokull glacier.

Iceland's Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir said: 'I hope this ceremony will be an inspiration, not only to us here in Iceland, but also for the rest of the world, because what we are seeing here is just one face of the climate crisis.'

A monument is unveiled at the site of Okjokull, Iceland's first glacier lost to climate change (AFP)

The plaque bears the inscription 'A letter to the future', and is intended to raise awareness about the decline of glaciers and the effects of climate change.

It also bears the label '415 ppm CO2', referring to the record level of carbon dioxide measured in the atmosphere in May 2018.

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