A hidden lake beneath the Greenland Ice Sheet suddenly drained in 2014, sending a massive surge of water through the ice to create a crater over a kilometre deep. The event released 90 million cubic metres of water, roughly equivalent to nine hours of Niagara Falls during peak flow. Researchers were surprised by what they discovered downstream: thousands of square metres of fractured and distorted ice, including enormous blocks up to 25 metres high.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience provides further insights into the discovery and how this process may affect the Greenland Ice Sheet’s response to climate change. The researchers used high-resolution models and satellite data to study the lake and flood event in detail. They found that water can be forced upwards through the ice under pressure, creating a pathway for meltwater to flow.
The study raises questions about whether current models accurately capture the behaviour of the Greenland Ice Sheet under a warming climate. As global temperatures rise, more events like this could happen, yet scientists still have much to learn about how they affect the future of our ice sheets.
Source: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/environment/greenland-ice-sheet-flood