The study found that Greenland’s glaciers have lost at least 587 cubic miles (km3) of ice over the past century. (Photo: Shutterstock)
Using historical data, scientists mapped 5,327 glaciers and ice sheets that existed at the end of the Little Ice Age in 1900.
Greenland’s glaciers and ice sheets are melting three times faster since the early 20th century, a study finds. The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, provides critical insights into long-term changes in Greenland’s glaciers and ice sheets due to climate change, which has contributed about one-fifth to global sea level rise over the past decade.
Using historical data, scientists mapped 5,327 glaciers and ice sheets that existed at the end of the Little Ice Age in 1900; a period of widespread cooling in which the average temperature on Earth fell by as much as 2 degrees Celsius. The study found that Greenland’s glaciers have lost at least 587 cubic miles (km3) of ice over the past century, accounting for 1.38 millimeters of sea level rise. That equates to 499 gigatons (Gt) at an alarming rate of 4.34 Gt per year.
It estimates that the rate at which the water melted between 2000 and 2019 was three times the long-term average (since 1900). “Seeing how glaciers have evolved over a longer period of time helps us predict how they will change in the future,” says Clare Boston from the University of Portsmouth, UK. Previous research using satellite data suggests Greenland’s glaciers and ice caps could lose between 19 and 28 percent of their volume by 2100.
“These predictions only use information gathered from decades past, while our research provides baseline data from more than 100 years ago,” said study co-author Clare Boston of the University of Portsmouth. “Seeing how glaciers have evolved over a longer period of time may give us a better chance of predicting how they will change in the future,” Boston said.
The researchers noted that the impact of meltwater flowing from Greenland to the North Atlantic extends beyond global sea level rise, affecting North Atlantic circulation, European climate patterns and the water quality of Greenland’s fjords and marine ecosystems. affects.
“This also has huge implications for humans, as these glacial changes have a direct impact on the economic activities of fishing, mining and hydropower, as well as human health and behavior,” said study lead author Jonathan L. Carrivick of the University of Leeds, UK The research also highlights the complex nature of glacier evolution due to significant differences in locations, temperatures and the influence of regional and local factors, the researchers said.
Glaciers in the northern region have experienced the greatest rate of mass loss compared to other regions, while those ending in lakes have increased the most in their rate of mass loss, she added.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and was published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)
