Scientists warn that the ice layer is cracking much faster than expected, increasing the likelihood of rising sea level
Cracks are presented by the huge glacier formed in Greenland – the second largest in the world – as a consequence of climate change.
Scientists have warned that the ice layer is cracking much faster than expected, increasing the likelihood of the sea level rising by seven meters.
A study by researchers from the University of Durham, Britain, found that the number of cracks has increased rapidly over the past five years.
Overall, the number of cracks increased by 4.3% between 2016 – 2021. This trend is particularly alarming because it suggests that glaciers are melting and flowing into the sea faster than expected.
Researchers warn that this could cause effects of impact resulting in the disappearance of Greenland’s “ice” sheet even faster.
Greenland’s glacier is the largest ice body in the northern hemisphere and covers over 1.7 million square kilometers – almost 80% of Greenland’s surface.
In the last century, the ice layer has melted at a steadily increasing rate, raising concerns about dangerous increases in sea levels worldwide.
Already, scientists estimate that Greenland’s ice layer has contributed 14mm to the rise of sea level since 1992 – and predict that it could add another 30cm to 2100.
The head of the research Dr Tom Chudley says: “In a world heated, we would expect to see more cracks formed”
Using over 8,000 three -dimensional satellite images, Dr Chudley and his associates mapped the cracks in the ice layer during the five -year period between 2016 – 2021.
This showed that the total number of cracks increased steadily, with some areas changing much faster than others.
At the edges of big glaciers, near where the sea encountered, the researchers identified “significant increases” in the number of cracks.
However, the overall increase seems to be much lower than one would expect because the Sermeq Kujalleq – the fastest glacier in Greenland – slowed down for a while during the study period.
However, the researchers note that this deceleration was only temporary and the dissolution of the sermeq Kujalleq is now accelerating once again.
Source: Skai
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