The reason the cause is in debate is because the volume of water was unexpected.
Glaciers are frozen. Glacial collapse means the frozen glacier collapses - like a frozen landslide. Glacial dam outburst is when water that’s been trapped by the glacier suddenly bursts out. The seismic activity around the event is a confusing data point, because it was initially thought to be a rock face collapse that caused the glacier to fall.
It’s not so much a ‘duh’ as they didn’t think there was that much water under these glaciers. Now scientists are trying to figure out what they don’t know.
The reason the cause is in debate is because the volume of water was unexpected.
Glaciers are frozen. Glacial collapse means the frozen glacier collapses - like a frozen landslide. Glacial dam outburst is when water that’s been trapped by the glacier suddenly bursts out. The seismic activity around the event is a confusing data point, because it was initially thought to be a rock face collapse that caused the glacier to fall.
It’s not so much a ‘duh’ as they didn’t think there was that much water under these glaciers. Now scientists are trying to figure out what they don’t know.
Tonight, at nine: Scientists trying to figure out what they don’t know.
I know, it’s kind of silly to say, but people are acting like it’s self-evident, but it’s sort of not.