The Greenland Ice Sheet, the world’s second-largest ice body, is cracking faster than scientists previously thought.
A team of researchers led by Dr. Tom Chudley from Durham University studied over 8,000 3D maps of the ice sheet using satellite images taken between 2016 and 2021. They discovered that cracks, called crevasses, near the edges of the ice sheet have grown significantly deeper and wider during this period.
The Greenland Ice Sheet is a massive glacier that covers 80% of Greenland, the world’s largest island. Located near the North Pole and mostly inside the Arctic Circle, it is one of the coldest places on Earth. However, scientists say climate change is making it warmer, causing the ice to flow faster and cracks to expand. Meltwater from warmer temperatures is also seeping into these crevasses, forcing them to grow even deeper.
Since 1992, melting ice from Greenland has caused global sea levels to rise by 14 millimetres. If the entire ice sheet were to melt, sea levels worldwide could rise by as much as seven meters, according to scientists.
Dr. Chudley explained, “In a warming world, we would expect to see more crevasses forming.” He added that this is happening as glaciers speed up in response to rising ocean temperatures. The researchers believe their work will help scientists better predict how the Greenland Ice Sheet might change in the future, which is crucial for understanding its impact on global sea levels.
