Part of the Arctic ’s large remain ice-skating rink ledge has shattered and – surprise , surprise – it ’s looking like the main culprits are warm temperature and climate change .
scientist at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland ( GEUS ) and Friedrich - Alexander University in Germany say they ’re “ very interested ” after optical planet imagery has shownthat part of the Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden glacier name Spalte glacierin northern Greenland has just detached a 113 - kilometers - squared ( 43 - sea mile - square ) area in a spectacular calving case .
The artificial satellite data from the European Space Agency ( ESA ) has also shew the area had an annual loss of 50 substantial klick ( 19 square miles ) in the past two year . This comes off the at-bat of 20 years of slow but steady disintegration . Since 1999 , it ’s estimated the ice ledge has lost 160 solid kilometers ( 61 square miles ) , an surface area about twice the size of Manhattan Island .
“ Using almost 30 years of planet data , we see speed up in the glacier flow over the preceding ten . It is not only near the current dissolution , but we evaluate quickening 80 kilometer upriver where the ice begins to blow , indicating a gravid - scale change to this huge glacier , ” Dr Anne Solgaard , a inquiry scientist at GUES , said in astatement .
heavy calving events such as this occur when water drains from theGreenland ice sheetonto the tongue of the glacier each summertime , form river and pool on the aerofoil , which you’re able to just about see in the planet imagery . When winter comes and the temperature drops , these pools of water freeze once again , which can put excess force per unit area on the floating tongue and up the risk of parts crack off .
The last few long time have been incredibly warm in northeasterly Greenland and much of the Arctic . Observations fromlocal weather stationshave shown that the average air temperature have been consistently high-pitched for the retiring two years , create the ideal portion for extended thaw conditions .
“ The atmosphere in this neighborhood has warmed by approximately 3 ° C since 1980 and record - breaking temperatures have been observed in 2019 and 2020 , ” said Jenny Turton , a investigator at Friedrich - Alexander University .
On top of this , it ’s consider the floating ice shelf is also being gentlymelted from beneath as well through warmer sea temperatures .
While the late calving issue have been striking , the research worker say they are n’t overly surprised given these high temperature that have been afflicting the expanse .
“ When you observe large function of an frosting ledge breaking off you do raise an eyebrow , but with current developments in the Arctic there is also the realization that this is to be have a bun in the oven , ” explains Dr Niels J Korsgaard , a researcher at GEUS .
“ Temperatures in the Arctic are turn out quicker than the global average . More heat is available from air and ocean to melt away the bottom and surface of ice shelf , and the thinning water ice shelves are more susceptible to break up . We take in this with Zachariae Glacier , this summer with Milne Ice Shelf in Canada , and now Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden Glacier is lose parts of its chicken feed shelf as well . ”
