The Greenland ice cap is losing an average of 30m tonnes of ice an hour due to the climate crisis, a study has revealed, which is 20% more than previously thought. This substantial ice loss from Greenland as a result of global heating has been recorded for decades, with almost every glacier in Greenland thinning or retreating in recent decades.
A new study has found that the Greenland ice sheet has lost about 1,965 square miles to glacial retreat since 1985, an area roughly the size of Delaware. The breakup of icebergs has accelerated in Greenland, and previous analyses might have underestimated its influence, according to the study. The current consensus estimates of ice-sheet mass balance may have underestimated recent mass loss from Greenland by as much as 20%, highlighting the urgency of addressing the accelerated glacial retreat.
Scientists are concerned that the additional source of freshwater pouring into the north Atlantic from the rapid ice loss in Greenland might bring the collapse of the ocean currents called the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (Amoc) closer to being triggered. The potential collapse of Amoc could have severe consequences for humanity and the global climate system.
The techniques employed to measure the ice loss, such as satellite images and gravity data, have been effective in determining the losses that contribute to rising sea levels. However, the alarming rate at which the Greenland ice cap is melting underscores the need for continued research and urgent actions to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the Arctic region and the global ocean currents. Addressing the accelerated glacial retreat in Greenland is crucial to better understanding and preparing for the potential implications on the collapse of the globally important north Atlantic ocean currents.
