According to a study published in the Nature Journal, in recent decades, Greenland’s glaciers have undergone significant changes, with almost every glacier thinning or retreating. This has led to an acceleration in glacier movements, contributing to rising sea levels and affecting global climate patterns.
Researchers have meticulously combined over 236,000 observations of glacier edges, both manually and through artificial intelligence, spanning from 1985 to 2022. This extensive study has allowed them to create a detailed monthly map of Greenland’s ice sheet over nearly 40 years.
The findings are concerning: since 1985, the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has lost an area of about 5,091 square kilometers. This corresponds to a staggering 1,034 gigatons of ice loss due to glacier retreat. Notably, this loss has been underestimated in past studies by up to 20%. While this massive ice loss has not significantly raised global sea levels yet, it has been enough to alter ocean circulation and heat distribution across the planet.
The study also highlights a seasonal pattern in Greenland’s ice loss, with approximately 193 square kilometers of ice retreating annually from May to September-October. Interestingly, the extent of this seasonal change in glacier edges can predict how sensitive a glacier is to long-term climate change.
The dramatic retreat of Greenland’s glaciers, a much bigger issue than previously thought, not only poses a future risk for sea-level rise but is already influencing global climate dynamics.
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
