Top Highlights
- Researchers mapped deep temperature variations beneath Greenland and northeastern Canada, revealing significant east-west differences that influence ice sheet dynamics.
- Findings indicate that the upper mantle’s viscosity can vary widely, affecting how easily ice moves over the bedrock and leading to uneven ice thinning.
- The study connects geothermal heat from the Earth’s interior to ice melt and land motion, helping predict Greenland’s response to climate change.
- Enhanced 3D models integrating deep-Earth data improve accuracy in forecasting sea-level rise and ice-sheet behavior, highlighting the solid Earth’s role in the climate system.
New Insights into Greenland’s Ice Loss
Researchers have developed advanced 3D temperature models to explore heat beneath Greenland and northeastern Canada. These models reveal significant differences in heat flow across the region. This discovery helps explain the varying rates of ice loss across Greenland, where the past few decades have shown alarming ice reductions. For instance, from 1992 to 2020, the island lost approximately 5.4 trillion short tons of ice. The recent study emphasizes the link between deep-Earth heat and ice behavior.
This research highlights how geothermal heat affects basal melting. Warmer areas beneath the ice reduce resistance, allowing it to slide more easily. Consequently, some regions of the ice sheet thin at a faster rate. As scientists delve deeper, they find that temperature differences also clarify why satellite data shows uneven patterns of gravity and height change across the ice cover. With this knowledge, researchers aim to link deep-Earth models with coastal observations, shedding light on future ice thinning.
Understanding the Bigger Picture
The temperature variations align with a hotspot track from a long-lived mantle plume. This revelation allows scientists to assess how the solid Earth responds under varying loads. The research team uses a joint inversion method, combining multiple data sources to clarify the connection between deep structure and surface changes. Their findings indicate that deep heat directly affects ice mass loss and the subsequent rise in sea levels.
As Greenland continues to experience significant ice loss, understanding these dynamics becomes increasingly urgent. Recent data show that in 2023 alone, the island lost 195 billion short tons of ice. By integrating temperature and viscosity models, scientists can improve predictions about Greenland’s future impact on sea-level rise. This comprehensive approach underscores the importance of studying Earth’s inner workings to enhance climate understanding and prepare for the challenges ahead.
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