A new study on the Greenland Ice Sheet has found that crevasses are expanding at an alarming rate due to climate change. The research suggests that these cracks, which can grow up to 300 feet wide and thousands of feet long, are widening faster than previously thought, accelerating ice loss and global sea level rise.
Crevasses form when glaciers begin to flow faster, causing the ice to break apart into wedge-shaped fractures. As the climate warms, melting snow on the surface flows through these cracks, joining with other hidden streams to create a vast drainage system that affects how fast glaciers and ice sheets move.
The study found that crevasses are expanding more quickly than previously detected, and around 50-90% of water flowing through the Greenland Ice Sheet goes through these cracks. This can warm deeply submerged portions of the glacier and increase lubrication between the base of the ice sheet and the underlying rock, leading to faster melting.
The research has significant implications for climate science, as it suggests that the speed of the meltdown could accelerate beyond what is currently anticipated. The study provides unprecedented detail on the distribution of crevasses at different elevations of the ice sheet and how they have been changing over time.
“This is the first study to unequivocally say that the expansion of crevasse zones is ubiquitous across Greenland’s outlet glaciers,” said William Colgan, a glaciology and climate professor. “The absolute numbers are large… We’re talking about thousands of square kilometers of ice sheet being crevassed.”
The findings highlight the urgent need for further research into the impacts of climate change on the Greenland Ice Sheet. As one of the largest contributors to sea level rise, projecting the speed of the meltdown is crucial to help people prepare for the consequences.
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Source: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03022025/greenland-ice-sheet-study-shows-glaciers-falling-apart