Greenland's Accelerating Ice Melt

Greenland's ice sheet is melting at an alarming rate, with a recent study revealing that it is losing ice 20% faster than previously estimated. The unprecedented ice loss, amounting to approximately 30 million tonnes per hour, has significant implications for global sea levels and ocean circulation patterns.

Seasonal Variability and Ice Melt Rates

Ice melt rates on glaciers and ice sheets exhibit significant seasonal variability. Studies have observed that basal melt rates under ice shelves can vary considerably throughout the year, with some regions showing distinct seasonal patterns. Similarly, the melt rate of debris-covered glaciers fluctuates seasonally, with differences observed between the winter and pre-monsoon periods. Supraglacial ice cliffs also display substantial variability in melt rates over the course of the melt season, with maximum rates reaching 5 to 8 cm per day. This variability is driven by changes in atmospheric energy exchange, including variations in shortwave and longwave radiation, as well as turbulent fluxes. The melt seasons for the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets typically last from April to November and November to April, respectively.

Historical Ice Loss and Future Projections

Recent studies have reconstructed historical ice loss and projected future changes in the mass balance and volume of glaciers and ice sheets.