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Rapid disintegration and weakening of ice shelves in North Greenland

Author

Listed:
  • R. Millan

    (INP)

  • E. Jager

    (INP)

  • J. Mouginot

    (INP)

  • M. H. Wood

    (San José State University)

  • S. H. Larsen

    (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS))

  • P. Mathiot

    (INP)

  • N. C. Jourdain

    (INP)

  • A. Bjørk

    (University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

The glaciers of North Greenland are hosting enough ice to raise sea level by 2.1 m, and have long considered to be stable. This part of Greenland is buttressed by the last remaining ice shelves of the ice sheet. Here, we show that since 1978, ice shelves in North Greenland have lost more than 35% of their total volume, three of them collapsing completely. For the floating ice shelves that remain we observe a widespread increase in ice shelf mass losses, that are dominated by enhanced basal melting rates. Between 2000 and 2020, there was a widespread increase in basal melt rates that closely follows a rise in the ocean temperature. These glaciers are showing a direct dynamical response to ice shelf changes with retreating grounding lines and increased ice discharge. These results suggest that, under future projections of ocean thermal forcing, basal melting rates will continue to rise or remain at high level, which may have dramatic consequences for the stability of Greenlandic glaciers.

Suggested Citation

  • R. Millan & E. Jager & J. Mouginot & M. H. Wood & S. H. Larsen & P. Mathiot & N. C. Jourdain & A. Bjørk, 2023. "Rapid disintegration and weakening of ice shelves in North Greenland," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-42198-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42198-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chad A. Greene & Alex S. Gardner & Nicole-Jeanne Schlegel & Alexander D. Fraser, 2022. "Antarctic calving loss rivals ice-shelf thinning," Nature, Nature, vol. 609(7929), pages 948-953, September.
    2. Shfaqat A. Khan & Kurt H. Kjær & Michael Bevis & Jonathan L. Bamber & John Wahr & Kristian K. Kjeldsen & Anders A. Bjørk & Niels J. Korsgaard & Leigh A. Stearns & Michiel R. van den Broeke & Lin Liu &, 2014. "Sustained mass loss of the northeast Greenland ice sheet triggered by regional warming," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 4(4), pages 292-299, April.
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