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NASA Study Reveals Disturbing Findings on Greenland's Ice Sheet

  • 24 Jan 2024

Recently, a new study from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory unveiled alarming findings regarding the state of Greenland's ice sheet, pointing to heightened threats from climate change.

Key Points

  • Increased Ice Mass Loss: NASA's comprehensive analysis of nearly four decades of satellite data indicates that Greenland's ice sheet has lost approximately 21% more mass than previous estimates suggested.
  • Glacier Retreat: Out of 207 glaciers studied from 1985 to 2022, a significant 179 have experienced substantial retreat, particularly in fjords below sea level around Greenland's periphery.
  • "Pulling the Plug" Effect: As glaciers calve and retreat, the process is likened to "pulling the plug out of the fjord," accelerating the drainage of ice into the ocean, leading to a rapid loss of ice.
  • Unaccounted Ice Loss: The additional loss of approximately 1,140 billion tons of ice, previously unaccounted for by the Ice sheet Mass Balance Inter-comparison Exercise (IMBIE), poses a substantial influx of freshwater into the oceans.
  • Impact on Sea Levels and Circulation: While the lost ice does not directly contribute to rising sea levels, it has the potential to disrupt the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, a critical component of the global oceanic "conveyor belt," with far-reaching implications for weather patterns and ecosystems.
  • Consistent Ice Retreat: The study underscores that ice retreat has consistently outstripped growth since the early 2000s, with significant recession observed after 2000.
  • Specific glaciers, such as Zachariae Isstrom, Jakobshavn Isbrae, and Humboldt Gletscher, have experienced substantial losses.
  • Sensitivity to Climate Change: Glaciers showing the largest seasonal fluctuations in ice front positions correlate with the greatest overall retreat, indicating that those most sensitive to summer warming are the most vulnerable to climate change.
  • Importance of the Study: The research provides a systematic and comprehensive view, offering significant insights into Greenland's ice sheet that were previously lacking. Continued monitoring and research are deemed urgent to understand the full impact of climate change on the planet's polar regions.