COPENHAGEN, Denmark – A study published on Tuesday revealed that Greenland’s ice sheet has experienced significant melting over the past three decades, with the area of ice loss now 36 times the size of New York City. The study also showed that as ice and snow have disappeared, wetlands and shrub areas in Greenland have expanded.
According to the scientists behind the study, satellite imagery analysis found that Greenland lost around 11,000 square-miles of ice between the mid-1980s and the mid-2010s. This rapid ice loss is concerning, as it could have serious implications for climate change and sea level rise.
The researchers pointed to warmer air temperatures as the main driver of the accelerating ice loss. This, in turn, has caused the melting of permafrost, a frozen layer beneath the Earth’s surface, releasing planet-warming carbon dioxide and methane, further contributing to global warming.
The study’s co-author, Jonathan Carrivick, emphasized that the loss of ice in Greenland is triggering a chain reaction, resulting in further melting and “greening” of the area. As ice disappears, areas that were once covered in ice are being transformed into barren rock, tundra, and eventually shrub. The loss of ice is also creating a feedback loop, leading to more heat absorption and negative impacts on the environment.
The consequences of this rapid ice loss extend beyond climate change. The study’s lead author, Michael Grimes, highlighted the impact on indigenous communities whose traditional hunting practices rely on the stability of the delicate ecosystems affected by the changes in Greenland.
Overall, the findings of this study underscore the urgent need to address the accelerating ice loss in Greenland, as it not only threatens the island’s delicate ecosystems but also contributes significantly to global sea level rise. As Greenland continues to warm at a rate twice that of the global average, the study’s authors warn that more extreme temperatures are likely in the future. This poses a significant challenge for the 57,000 people living in Greenland, particularly for the indigenous population that depends on natural ecosystems for their survival.