New research indicates that the Greenland ice sheet is vanishing at a much faster rate than previously believed, with potential consequences for global heat distribution. The study, published in Nature, suggests that the ice mass lost between 1985 and 2022 has been underestimated by up to 20%, exceeding 1,000 gigatons.
Scientists attribute the underestimation to the overlooked impact of calving around Greenland’s perimeter, where the ice sheet’s glaciers meet the sea. A team of researchers utilized over 235,000 observations to create an “ice mask” displaying the ice sheet’s extent monthly.
Chad Greene, a glaciologist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, highlighted the ubiquity of ice retreat on the island, except for one small glacier. While the current melting studied by the team had minimal impact on sea levels, the removal of the ice from deep fjords into the ocean is expected to accelerate inland melting, contributing to rising sea levels.
The findings serve as a roadmap to identify glaciers most sensitive to climate change, aiding predictions about future ice loss and sea level rise. Greenland’s ice sheet retreat is linked to global warming caused by fossil fuel combustion. The potential impact of melting ice on ocean circulation and heat distribution worldwide is also highlighted in the study, emphasizing the importance of updating ocean models.
As Greenland’s ice loss continues, the study prompts ocean modelers to incorporate the additional 1,000 gigatons of lost ice into their models to assess potential effects on ocean circulation and global heat distribution. The research contributes vital information to address the impacts of climate change and underscores the urgency of addressing the accelerated melting of the Greenland ice sheet.
