Greenland’s ice sheet, a significant portion of which has melted since the 1980s, is now giving way to vegetation, posing risks such as increased greenhouse gas emissions, rising sea levels, and landscape instability. Satellite records indicate that approximately 11,000 sq miles of Greenland’s ice sheet and glaciers, equivalent to the size of Albania, have melted over the past three decades, constituting 1.6% of its total ice cover. This ice retreat has led to a 33,774 sq mile increase in land with vegetation, more than double the initial coverage.
The study reveals a nearly fourfold expansion of wetlands across Greenland, particularly around Kangerlussuaq in the southwest and isolated areas in the northeast, contributing to methane emissions. Warmer air temperatures, causing accelerated ice retreat, have been observed since the 1970s, with average annual temperatures in Greenland between 2007 and 2012 being 3C higher than the average between 1979 and 2000. The report suggests a link between increased vegetation and further ice loss.
Jonathan Carrivick, an Earth scientist at the University of Leeds and co-author of the study, emphasizes the interconnected reactions triggered by ice loss, resulting in ongoing greening of Greenland. Lead author Dr. Michael Grimes highlights the critical impact on sediment and nutrient flow into coastal waters, affecting Indigenous populations dependent on stable ecosystems for subsistence hunting. The loss of ice mass in Greenland significantly contributes to global sea level rise.
The researchers have developed a model based on their findings to predict areas in Greenland likely to experience accelerated changes, emphasizing the need for continuous monitoring to address the challenges posed by ongoing environmental transformations. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
If you want to dive more in depth on Greenland’s waning ice sheets, check out Rachel Keenan’s piece on the same topic here: Climate experts sound alarm over thriving plant life at Greenland ice sheet | Greenland | The Guardian