Greenland’s Ice Shelves Rapidly Weakening Due to Warming Ocean Temperatures, Study Finds
Greenland’s ice shelves, once believed to be stable, are rapidly deteriorating due to warming ocean temperatures, according to a new study published in Nature Communications. These ice shelves provide a crucial barrier to hold back glaciers on land, preventing ice loss. However, as they continue to melt and weaken, more land-based ice is sliding into the ocean, further contributing to rising sea levels.
Using satellite images, climate models, and field measurements, researchers analyzed eight ice shelves in northern Greenland. The study revealed a troubling trend, with these ice shelves losing more than 35% of their total volume since 1978. Alarmingly, three of these ice shelves have collapsed entirely since the early 2000s.
The primary force behind this ice loss is basal melting. Warm ocean currents are melting the ice shelves from below, closely linked to rising ocean temperatures. As a result, the grounding lines, which indicate glacier stability, have retreated as the ice shelves continue to melt. This retreat leads to increased ice discharge into the ocean, exacerbating sea level rise.
If ocean temperatures continue to rise, the consequences could be dire. The vulnerability of the ice shelves increases, potentially leading to their complete collapse and significantly contributing to sea level rise. Greenland’s ice sheet melting already contributed to over 17% of observed sea level rise between 2006 and 2018. The collapse of the Zachariæ Isstrøm glacier’s ice shelf in 2003 doubled ice discharge into the ocean, serving as a stark reminder of the potential rapid changes that lie ahead.
Efforts to reduce planet-heating pollution are crucial in determining the fate of Greenland’s glaciers. The future of these ice shelves hangs in the balance, and urgent action is needed to mitigate climate change and protect the planet.
Furthermore, continued monitoring is necessary to understand how the ice shelves will respond to ongoing climate change. Particularly important is understanding the role of basal melting and its impact on sea level rise. Such knowledge is not only vital for Greenland’s ice shelves but also for comprehending the behavior of larger ice shelves in Antarctica.
This groundbreaking study sheds light on the sources and triggers of changes in Greenland’s ice sheet. It also contributes to a broader understanding of how polar regions are grappling with the climate crisis. As the world faces the consequences of global warming, research like this highlights the urgency for swift action to combat climate change and protect our planet’s fragile ecosystems.
