Tiger Stripes underneath Antarctic glaciers

Provided from the information give by Princeton University, friction zones occurring in wet areas underneath the Antarctic glaciers are slowing the flow of ice, causing a warming climate. Investigating how the friction areas can teach scientists how glaciers respond to a warming  climate. Just like how a speed bump would effect the speed of a car, the "Tiger Stripes" slow down the speed of glaciers.

"The friction at the interface of the bedrock and glacier ice is a major factor in the speed of the glacier." Said Sergianko, an associate research scientist at Princeton. "When friction is high, the glacier moves slowly. When friction is low, as when melting ice provides a liquid layer that allows the ice to slide over the bedrock, the glacier moves more quickly." (Science Daily)


Using mathematic data from the National snow and Ice data center, researcher discovered the locations of these areas. The tiger stripes, also referred to by researchers as "ribs" because of their  curvy form, the stripes decay over 100 by the infiltration of water that goes between the ice sheet and the bedrock.

Website: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131108091341.htm
Picture:http://images.natureworldnews.com/data/images/full/3785/antarctica.jpg?w=600