“It’s a very high level of melting and it will probably change the face of Greenland, because it will be a very strong driver for an acceleration of future melting, and therefore sea-level rise.”
Greenland is rapidly losing vast amounts of ice this melting season, which usually lasts from June to August.
Last week, the ice sheet lost 8.5bn tons of surface mass in a single day ( 27 July, Tuesday). It resulted in meltwater that was enough to drown Florida in two inches of water, the Danish government monitoring the area reported.
It was the third-largest single-day loss of ice in Greenland since 1950. The others being in 2012 and 2019.
The region also witnessed an all-time record temperature of 19.8C the following day.
According to the Danish researchers who posted the data on Polar Portal, the island has already lost more than 100bn tons of ice since the start of June this year.
While the 2019 melting event was more extreme with 11bn tons of ice lost in a single day, the World Meteorological Organization said the area of land melting is much larger this time around.
Climate crisis
The Arctic is warming three times faster than the global average thanks to the impacts of human-caused climate change.
Data reveals that Greenland and Antarctica – the earth’s other polar region – have together lost 6.3tn tons of ice since 1994 and Greenland’s ice melting rate currently is the highest it has been in the past 12,000 years.
Marco Tedesco, a glacier expert at Columbia University and adjunct scientist at Nasa said: “It’s a very high level of melting and it will probably change the face of Greenland, because it will be a very strong driver for an acceleration of future melting, and therefore sea-level rise.
“We had these sorts of atmospheric events in the past but they are now getting longer and more frequent.”
‘Meaningful climate action’ needed
Scientists warn that rising temperatures will continue to thaw Greenland’s surface, which in turn will change ocean currents, alter marine ecosystems, and impact sea levels.
The current ice melt rate is expected to elevate global sea level between 2 and 10 centimetres by the end of the century and these levels could wash away the world’s low-lying coastal cities by storm-surge flooding in the future.
“It’s very worrisome”, Tedesco said.
“The action is clear – we need to get to net-zero emissions but also we need to protect exposed populations along the coast. This is going to be a huge problem for our coastal cities.”
Thomas Slater, a glaciologist at the University of Leeds, told CNN: “While such events are concerning, the science is clear.
“Meaningful climate targets and action can still limit how much the global sea level will rise this century, reducing the damage done by severe flooding to people and infrastructure around the world.”
Share this story: Greenland’s major ice melt event last Tuesday was enough to cover Florida in two inches of water, scientists warn.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
35% of Brits are now buying less or no meat at all, new survey shows
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 29th June 2022
Rising food costs are motivating Brits to adjust their diets. While vegan food has always been branded more expensive than its meat counterpart, a new survey has busted this myth by showing that Brits are changing their eating habits with more individuals ditching meat in favor of vegan food. The survey The Vegan Society hosted …
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81% of military personnel want plant-based meals, new survey reveals
- Mohsina Dodhiya
- 27th June 2022
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QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …
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QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a …
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QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God Marlon Farrugia Marlon Farrugia is a freelance writer from Brighton. He has been a dedicated vegan for many years, and …