A recent research by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California found that the Greenland Ice Sheet has lost even more ice than previously estimated.
Over the last 40 years, around one-fifth of the ice has melted, leading to rising sea levels. The study, published in Nature, examined data from 1985 to 2022 and used over a quarter million satellite photos to track changes in glacier positions.
Of the 207 glaciers studied 179 retreated severely, 27 remained steady, and one advanced marginally. The majority of ice loss happened below sea level in fjords, where ancient glacial ice broke off and melted, potentially altering the flow of ice from higher elevations.
The study discovered that the Greenland Ice Sheet lost roughly 21% more ice mass than previously estimated, totaling approximately 1,140 billion tonnes. While the new ice does not immediately raise sea levels, it does release a large amount of freshwater into the ocean.
The study also highlighted glaciers with considerable ice loss. Zachariae Isstrom, in northeast Greenland, lost the most ice, followed by Jakobshavn Isbrae on the west coast and Humboldt Gletscher on the northwest. Interestingly, just one glacier, Qajuuttap Sermia in southern Greenland, expanded slightly all over the research period.
The study's findings have major consequences for ocean circulation and climate patterns around the world. The melting ice could affect the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, affecting weather and ecosystems. The study offers a complete view of glacial retreat, stressing glaciers' sensitivity to rising temperatures and the need for a better knowledge of how the Greenland Ice Sheet changes over time.
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