A team of scientists has identified a potential tipping point for the massive ice sheet in Greenland, which could collapse within the next decade due to global warming. The study warns that just 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) more warming could trigger a catastrophic event, resulting in a sea level rise of 23 feet (7 meters).
The researchers used a climate model to simulate the future of the ice sheet’s surface mass balance and found that a tipping point would be reached when approximately 230 gigatons (253.5 billion tons) of ice is lost in a single year. This scenario is tied to a global temperature increase of 6.12 F (3.4 C) above pre-industrial levels.
The Greenland ice sheet, which covers roughly 656,000 square miles (1.7 million square kilometers), is the world’s second-largest permanent ice sheet and holds about 70% of Earth’s freshwater reserves. However, it has been losing mass at an accelerated rate due to human-caused climate change, with a combined total of 6.9 trillion tons (6.3 trillion metric tons) lost since 1994.
Despite these significant losses, scientists believe that drastic cuts to carbon emissions could prevent the irreversible collapse of the ice sheet. However, if the worst-case scenarios come true, the consequences would be devastating for coastal communities and globally vital ocean currents.
The findings are part of a growing body of research highlighting the urgent need to address climate change. The study’s results are a stark reminder of the potential risks and consequences of inaction, emphasizing the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the effects of global warming.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change/scientists-identify-tipping-point-for-greenlands-ice-sheet-and-its-not-far-off