Greenland Shows Increase in Cracking that May Speed Ice Loss and SLR

Nature Geoscience, 03 February 2025

New satellite mapping models have revealed increases in both the size and depth of large cracks on the Greenland ice sheet from 2016 to 2021. These cracks progressively weaken and reduce the stability of the ice sheet. This study documented how rising ocean temperatures have sped up the flow of the ice sheet into the ocean, which deepens these cracks by drawing liquid water and heat into the ice, feeding into a cycle that speeds up the ice sheet’s melt. This may leads to increased ice loss and related sea-level rise. Such high resolution ice sheet mapping will enable more accurate and precise sea level rise projections, thus informing stronger mitigation policies and allowing communities to better plan and adapt.

Full paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-024-01636-6
News coverage by Durham University: https://phys.org/news/2025-01-greenland-ice-sheet-rapidly-response.html

By Emily Jacobson, Science Writing Intern; Amy Imdieke, Global Outreach Director; and Pam Pearson, Director of ICCI.
Published Feb. 10, 2025      Updated Feb. 17, 2025 3:56 pm