Something Hidden Beneath Greenland Is Speeding Up Global Ice Loss
Indian Defence Review • • science
Key Points:
- A study by UC San Diego scientists has identified a previously hidden layer beneath Greenland’s ice sheet that significantly influences glacier movement and melting, potentially accelerating ice loss and impacting sea-level rise.
- Using seismic waves generated by earthquakes, researchers mapped the subsurface beneath Greenland, revealing a complex mosaic of rigid and fluid materials that affect glacier flow rates toward the ocean.
- The interaction between meltwater, temperature, and these subsurface layers alters pressure at the ice base, enabling faster glacier sliding during warmer months and challenging previous assumptions about ice stability.
- This discovery suggests that Greenland’s contribution to sea-level rise may increase more rapidly than current models predict, highlighting the need for more detailed seismic monitoring and integrated ice-sheet models.
- The study underscores the importance of understanding
