Rapid Melting: Greenland’s Ice Is Cracking at Alarming Speed—What It Means for Our Planet

Recent research has shed light on the melting patterns of the Greenland Ice Sheet. This study shows that as the ice melts due to climate change, cracks are forming more rapidly. Using detailed 3D maps, scientists observed that large cracks, known as crevasses, are growing deeper and wider at the ice sheet’s edges between 2016 and 2021. As these crevasses enlarge, the ice flows faster, potentially increasing the loss of ice from Greenland.

Global temperatures have been rising steadily for years. Since 1992, Greenland’s melting has contributed about 14 millimeters to global sea levels. If the entire ice sheet were to melt, it could raise sea levels by as much as seven meters, or about 23 feet. Current models suggest that by 2100, Greenland’s melting could lead to a sea level rise of up to 30 centimeters, or one foot.

Researchers examined over 8,000 images of crevasses taken from 2016 to 2021. They found that in areas where glaciers meet the sea, larger crevasses were linked to an increase in ice flow. In some locations, crevasses grew by up to 25%, with a margin of error of around ten percent.

While many crevasses grew, some areas like Sermeq Kujalleq, home to Greenland’s fastest-moving glacier, showed smaller crevasses. However, the flow at Sermeq Kujalleq has returned to its previous speed, suggesting that losses across the ice sheet may have leveled off temporarily.

Dr. Tom Chudley from Durham University, a lead author of the study, stated that this is the first time researchers can clearly see significant increases in crevasse size at fast-moving glaciers within a short period. The study indicates that not only are new crevasses appearing, but existing ones are also becoming larger and deeper.

As crevasses expand, they contribute to faster glacier movement, which pushes water and heat to the ice sheet’s interior and speeds up the calving of icebergs. Professor Ian Howat, a co-author of the study, emphasized that this cycle could lead to even more crevasse formation, accelerating ice loss from Greenland.

This research underscores the importance of safeguarding scientific data, which is currently at risk due to policy changes. The study utilized images provided by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and National Science Foundation (NSF).

Sources: Durham University, Nature Geosciences