Widespread Sea-Ice Decline in Nordic Seas Associated with Past Extreme Greenland Warming

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, November 9
During the last Ice Age (about 110 000 to 10 000 years ago), a number of abrupt climate warming events increased temperatures up to 16.5°C over the Greenland Ice Sheet over just a few decades. New analysis of ice and sediment cores shows that such events were tightly linked to rapid and widespread sea-ice decline in the Greenland, Barents and Norwegian Seas over a span of less than 250 years. The rate of warming during those events is analogous to current atmospheric warming and sea-ice retreat in the Arctic, which may foreshadow similar changes in the region and significantly impact lower latitude climate as well.

https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2020/11/03/2005849117

Compiled by Amy Imdieke.
Pam Pearson

Recent Posts

Without Emissions Cuts, A Real Risk of Extreme Sea-level Rise by 2100

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, 23 April 2026 Observations suggest we are currently tracking…

2 days ago

Increasing Avalanche Risk from Himalayan Hanging Glaciers

NPJ Natural Hazards, 16 April 2026) Rising temperatures and shifting regional precipitation patterns are reducing…

2 days ago

Heavier Rainfall, Glacier Melt Increase Flooding Across the Tibetan Plateau

Nature Communications, 18 March 2026 This study identified a marked increase in both flood frequency…

2 days ago

Intense Ocean Warming, Even If Temporary, Could Trigger Major Antarctic Ice Loss

The Cryosphere, 7 April 2026 Projections of Antarctica’s response to temporary but extreme ocean warming…

2 days ago

Antarctic Sea Ice Decline Linked to Extreme Weather and Climate Patterns

The Cryosphere, 1 April 2026 Antarctic sea ice stayed fairly steady from 2010-2014, but began…

2 days ago

COP30 Video of the Week: Emerging Evidence of Abrupt Changes in the Antarctic Environment

Changes in Antarctica can trigger fast and cascading impacts, often with global consequences. Multiple abrupt…

2 days ago