Greenland's ice sheet cracks more swiftly due to climate change

(MENAFN) Greenland’s ice sheet is increasingly breaking apart due to climate change, according to a recent study published on Monday. The research, conducted by Durham University in the UK and led by Tom Chudley, found that crevasses at the edges of the ice sheet have grown significantly in both size and depth between 2016 and 2021. This acceleration is linked to the effects of climate change on the ice sheet's stability.

To assess the extent of the changes, researchers analyzed over 8,000 3-D surface maps, which were created using high-resolution satellite imagery. This study focused on Greenland’s ice sheet, which is the second-largest in the world, to understand the ongoing impact of climate change on its structure and integrity. The UN reports that Greenland’s ice sheet loses 2.5 million liters of fresh water per second. In 2023, it lost 80 gigatons of water, continuing a trend of shrinking for the 28th consecutive year.

The study’s findings reveal that crevasses are developing more rapidly than previously detected. In some regions at the ice sheet's edge, where it meets the sea, there was a 25 percent increase in crevasse size, with a margin of error of plus or minus 10 percent. These alarming results underscore the accelerating pace at which Greenland’s ice is disintegrating.

Since 1992, Greenland has contributed approximately 14 millimeters to global sea level rise, and researchers warn that this could increase significantly, with projections suggesting it could add up to 30 centimeters (nearly one foot) by 2100.

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