Scientists used a powerful computer model to study the impact of melting ice on tiny ocean organisms in Greenland. The study found that runoff from the country’s massive ice sheet is delivering nutrients to phytoplankton, boosting their growth and potentially benefiting marine animals and fisheries.
Greenland’s ice sheet sheds 293 billion tons of ice per year, creating meltwater plumes that rise hundreds of feet below the surface. Researchers have long suspected that these plumes may carry nutrients like iron and nitrate that support phytoplankton growth. A new NASA-supported study used a state-of-the-art computer model to simulate the interactions between ocean life and physics in one turbulent fjord.
The researchers found that the nutrient-rich meltwater plume could boost summertime phytoplankton growth by 15-40% in the study area. This has significant implications for Greenland’s marine ecosystem, as phytoplankton support larger animals like fish and whales.
While the study provides new insights into the impact of melting ice on ocean organisms, more research is needed to understand the broader effects on the ecosystem. The researchers plan to extend their simulations to other parts of Greenland’s coast and beyond.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/earth/nasa-supercomputers-take-on-life-near-greenlands-most-active-glacier