kangerlussuaq glacier melt

(AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov). To measure this, NASA is spending five years crisscrossing the island in a tricked-out 77-year-old DC-3 built for World War II. As the data is radioed back from one $2,000 probe now deep in the water near Kangerlussuaq in eastern Greenland, it initially looks like the temperature hasn't changed much over the last year or two, which could be good news. Police Release Surveillance Video Showing 3 Of The Attackers Who Shot, Killed Retired Fire Lt. Dwain Williams During Carjacking Attempt, Woman Finally Gets Job After 10 Months, But Is Now Being Ordered To Pay State $31,000 Back -- And Blames Fraud, Stimulus Package Update: Plan Should 'Give As Generous Aid To Local Governments As Possible,' Economist Says, Off-Duty Chicago Police Officer Shoots, Kills Son During Domestic-Related Incident In Garfield Ridge, FBI, Metra Police Seek Shooter Who Opened Fire On McCormick Place Station Platform, ONLY ON 2: Hundreds Of False Positive COVID-19 Tests Reported By Independent Laboratory StarLab, Convenience Store Worker Shoots 2 Armed Robbery Suspects In Round Lake Beach, 'They Came Out Of Nowhere': Uber Eats Driver Attacked By Carjackers, City Shuts Down Illegal 142-Person Party In Wicker Park For Violating COVID-19 Restrictions, 23-Year-Old Man Fatally Shot In Garfield Ridge Home. But that’s just one data point. Meanwhile, pilots Andy Ferguson and Don Watrous bank the plane toward the blue-green spots, looking for the next target and pointing out stunning giant icebergs and signs of glacial retreat over the radio. ©2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. When University of Georgia ice scientist Tom Mote, who isn't part of this project, started studying Greenland's glaciers in the early 1990s, researchers really didn't think the water was a big factor. In a single day this month, it lost a record 13.7 billion tons (12.5 billion metric tons) by one estimate. As the data is radioed back from one $2,000 probe now deep in the water near Kangerlussuaq in eastern Greenland, it initially looks like the temperature hasn’t changed much over the last year or two, which could be good news. If Willis' theory that much of the damage is from the water turns out to be correct, he said, "there's a lot higher potential for Greenland to melt more quickly than we thought." In fact, the giant frozen island has seen one of its biggest melts on record this year. Each year for the past four years, NASA has been looking at all of Greenland, and the numbers overall haven't been quite as comforting. If warm water plays a bigger role than scientists suspect, by the year 2100, Greenland alone could cause 3 or 4 feet (more than 1 meter) of sea level rise, Willis said. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. In fact, the giant frozen island has seen one of its biggest melts on record this year. Water brings more heat to something frozen faster than air does, as anyone who has ever defrosted a steak under the faucet knows. A 2017 study concluded that coastal glaciers and icecaps — what Willis is studying — reached a "tipping point" for ice loss in 1997 and since then have been rapidly deteriorating. A 2017 study concluded that coastal glaciers and icecaps — what Willis is studying — reached a “tipping point” for ice loss in 1997 and since then have been rapidly deteriorating. ABOARD A NASA RESEARCH PLANE OVER GREENLAND -- The fields of rippling ice 500 feet below the NASA plane give way to the blue-green of water dotted with irregular chunks of bleached-white ice, some the size of battleships, some as tall as 15-story buildings. (AP Photo/Mstyslav Chernov). Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. By Dr Alfredo Carpineti 18 … From Kangerlussuaq, a 25 km dirt road leads directly to the edge of the Greenland Ice Sheet, passing several viewpoints of glacier tongues along the way. Climate change is eating away at Greenland's glaciers in two ways. “One glacier retreating looks like carelessness, but 28 retreating is the sign of something going on,” Mottram told The Associated Press. A 2019 study by Danish climate scientist Ruth Mottram looked at 28 glaciers in Greenland with long-term data. In fact, the giant frozen island has seen one of its biggest melts on record this year. Like nearly every other glacier on Greenland, the massive Kangerlussuaq is melting. In total the sea has risen by 2.7 centimeters since the 60s and the world's glaciers still contain enough to raise the ocean by another half a meter, which could directly threaten many cities in coastal regions. The most obvious way is from the warm air above, which has been brutal this summer, with a European heat wave in July working like a hair dryer on the ice. The water weakens glaciers and causes icebergs to break loose. Water brings more heat to something frozen faster than air does, as anyone who has ever defrosted a steak under the faucet knows. That's because 90% of the heat energy from climate change goes into the oceans, Willis said. Kangerlussuaq Glacier is equally struggling, ... Byond temperature, recent findings show increasingly sunny skies could melt ice as could more soot from wildfires driven by climate change. In 2018 the Kangerlussuaq ice front reached its most retreated position since observations began in 1932. A 2019 study by Danish climate scientist Ruth Mottram looked at 28 glaciers in Greenland with long-term data. But that's just one data point. (AP) — The fields of rippling ice 500 feet below the NASA plane give way to the blue-green of water dotted with irregular chunks of bleached-white ice, some the size of battleships, some as tall as 15-story buildings. Willis' project — called Oceans Melting Greenland, or OMG — is showing that it is. Other scientists, such as the University of Colorado's Ted Scambos, say Greenland's contribution to sea level rise by 2100 would probably be closer to 1 foot (30 centimeters). 1. The research, published in Nature Communications, focuses on the “big three” glaciers in Greenland: Jakobshavn Isbræ, Kangerlussuaq Glacier and … “We’re definitely watching the ice sheet disappear in front of us.”, In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, icebergs are photographed from the window of an airplane carrying NASA Scientists as they fly on a mission to track melting ice in eastern Greenland. If the water is playing a much bigger role than scientists thought, it could mean seas will be rising faster and higher than expected. Like nearly every other glacier on Greenland, the massive Kangerlussuaq is melting. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. “I tend toward the higher number, but I’m hoping for a lower number,” said University of Maryland Baltimore County glaciologist Christopher Shuman, whose family owns property along the coast. If warm water plays a bigger role than scientists suspect, by the year 2100, Greenland alone could cause 3 or 4 feet (more than 1 meter) of sea level rise, Willis said. The answer could be crucial to Earth’s future. Willis, project manager Ian McCubbin and mechanic Rich Gill drop long, cylindrical probes through a special tube in the floor of the plane, watching as the sensors parachute down and then dive into the chilly water. A NASA satellite found that Greenland's ice sheet lost about 255 billion metric tons a year between 2003 and 2016, with the loss rate generally getting worse. Greenland contains enough ice to make world sea levels rise by 20 feet if it were all to melt. Researchers found that the Jakobshavn and Kangerlussuaq glaciers actually lost more ice in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when temperatures were lower, than they are today. Surface ice mass balance for the 2017/18 season was below or near the long-term mean (relative to the period 1961-90), consistent with a snow cover that survived late into the spring and average/low surface melting during summer. Now the question is how much and how fast. In fact, the giant frozen island has seen one of its biggest melts on record this year. Greenland has been melting faster in the last decade and this summer, it has seen two of the biggest melts on record since 2012. Facebook hit with antitrust lawsuit from FTC and 48 state attorneys general, New questions over possible vaccine passports for jobs and travel, Election integrity ad campaign urges conservatives to accept 2020 results, In this photo taken on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2019, NASA scientist Josh Willis looks out of the window after dropping a probe from a plane as they fly above the Kangerlussuaq Glacier, eastern Greenland. Extreme E heads to the Arctic and the retreating Russell Glacier near Kangerlussuaq in Greenland during its inaugural campaign, raising awareness of the rate at which ice is melting at the poles by racing on land once occupied by the once-mighty glacier, right by its receding snout. When all of the flight’s five probes start signaling — with a sound McCubbin likens to “a fax machine or an AOL modem” — he and Willis high-five. They found that Jakobshavn Isbrae lost more than 1.5 trillion tonnes of ice between 1880-2012, while Kangerlussuaq and Helheim lost 1.4 trillion and 31 billion tonnes from 1900–2012, respectively. Stay … Timelapse images of a large calving event at the Helheim Glacier, as published research shows that the three largest glaciers in Greenland -- which hold enough frozen water to lift global sea levels some 1.3 metres -- could melt faster than even the worst-case warming predictions. NASA scientist Josh Willis is now closely studying the phenomenon in hopes of figuring out precisely how global warming is eating away at Greenland’s ice. The most obvious way is from the warm air above, which has been brutal this summer, with a European heat wave in July working like a hair dryer on the ice. Each year for the past four years, NASA has been looking at all of Greenland, and the numbers overall haven’t been quite as comforting. We close the day interviewing local climate change activists @aviaqkl @saschabildorf and @nick_thorleifsen. Nearly all are melting, with only one or two that could be considered somewhat stable. Willis, project manager Ian McCubbin and mechanic Rich Gill drop long, cylindrical probes through a special tube in the floor of the plane, watching as the sensors parachute down and then dive into the chilly water. If the water is playing a much bigger role than scientists thought, it could mean seas will be rising faster and higher than expected. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Greenland's ice sheet and melting glacier into river with tundra aerial view, near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Other scientists, such as the University of Colorado’s Ted Scambos, say Greenland’s contribution to sea level rise by 2100 would probably be closer to 1 foot (30 centimeters). The answer could be crucial to Earth's future. It's this deep water that does the major damage. In a single day this month, it lost a record 13.7 billion tons (12.5 billion metric tons) by one estimate. A study published in 2017 concluded that Greenland's peripheral glaciers and ice caps crossed an irreversible tipping point around 1997, and will continue to melt. In fact, the giant frozen island has seen one of its biggest melts on record this year. The ice melt has already contributed more than eight millimetres to global sea levels, the researchers wrote. When University of Georgia ice scientist Tom Mote, who isn’t part of this project, started studying Greenland’s glaciers in the early 1990s, researchers really didn’t think the water was a big factor. “It’s a little scary,” Willis said as looked down on an area filled with more water than ice. They found that Jakobshavn Isbrae lost more than 1.5 trillion tons of ice between 1880-2012, while Kangerlussuaq and Helheim lost 1.4 trillion and 31 billion tons from 1900–2012, respectively. Like nearly every other glacier on Greenland, the massive Kangerlussuaq is melting. A NASA satellite found that Greenland’s ice sheet lost about 255 billion metric tons a year between 2003 and 2016, with the loss rate generally getting worse. When all of the flight's five probes start signaling — with a sound McCubbin likens to "a fax machine or an AOL modem" — he and Willis high-five. It will take centuries for all of Greenland’s massive ice sheet to melt, but how fast is the key question. The other way is from warm, salty water, some of it from North America's Gulf Stream, nibbling at coastal glaciers from below. By viewing our video content, you are accepting the terms of our. The AP is solely responsible for all content. NASA scientist Josh Willis is now closely studying the phenomenon in hopes of figuring out precisely how global warming is eating away at Greenland's ice. "We're definitely watching the ice sheet disappear in front of us.". "Some of them are as big as a city," Willis said. They found that Jakobshavn Isbrae lost more than 1.5 trillion tonnes of ice between 1880-2012, while Kangerlussuaq and Helheim lost 1.4 trillion and 31 billion tonnes from 1900–2012, respectively. What Willis is measuring is the water 660 feet (200 meters) or more below the surface, which is warmer and saltier than the stuff that touches the air. The melt is extremely clear and the glacier is sadly covered in a charcoal sand, which is likely to accelerate its melt. 3. Greenland has been a recurring source of headlines in July 2012, with the calving of a new iceberg off the Petermann Glacier and surface melting across nearly all of the Greenland Ice Sheet. What Willis is measuring is the water 660 feet (200 meters) or more below the surface, which is warmer and saltier than the stuff that touches the air. Just how crucial seawater is to melting was illustrated, somewhat paradoxically, by the Jakobshavn glacier, the fast-shrinking glacier on Greenland’s more populated west coast. In recent years, it suddenly started to grow a bit, probably because of a cooling of waters as a result of a temporary shift in weather and water-current patterns, Willis said. If Willis’ theory that much of the damage is from the water turns out to be correct, he said, “there’s a lot higher potential for Greenland to melt more quickly than we thought.” And that means seas rising faster and coastal communities being inundated more. The other way is from warm, salty water, some of it from North America’s Gulf Stream, nibbling at coastal glaciers from below. Jakobshavn Isbræ and Kangerlussuaq glaciers have gone through “periods of dynamic instability” and are sensitive to small fluctuations in atmosphere or ocean warming, the study said. Vadim Nefedoff/Shutterstock.com. This equals 2,930 ice cubes of 1x1x1 kilometres having melted in the period between 1880 and 2012. Kangerlussuaq Glacier is one of Greenland’s largest tidewater outlet glaciers, accounting for approximately 5% of all ice discharge from the Greenland ice sheet. The study, published in Nature Communications on Tuesday, looks at Jakobshavn, Kangerlussuaq, and Helheim glaciers, all of which tumble from the heights of the ice sheet down to sea. McCubbin then waits for a tone on his computer that tells him the probe is underwater and measuring temperature and salinity. They found that Jakobshavn Isbrae lost more than 1.5 trillion tonnes of ice between 1880-2012, while Kangerlussuaq and Helheim lost 1.4 trillion … Like nearly every other glacier on Greenland, the massive Kangerlussuaq is melting. "I tend toward the higher number, but I'm hoping for a lower number," said University of Maryland Baltimore County glaciologist Christopher Shuman, whose family owns property along the coast. “Some of them are as big as a city,” Willis said. "One glacier retreating looks like carelessness, but 28 retreating is the sign of something going on," Mottram told The Associated Press. Those icebergs eventually melt, adding to the seas. Specifically, he wants to know whether the melting is being caused more by warm air or warm seawater. Global sea levels have risen 0.55 inches since 2003 due to ice melt in Antarctica and Greenland driven by climate change according to new data measurements from several NASA satellites. In particular, they determined how the Jakobshavn, Helheim and Kangerlussuaq glaciers in Greenland during the late 19th and early 20th century melted at rates that are just as … Climate change is eating away at Greenland’s glaciers in two ways. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. To measure this, NASA is spending five years crisscrossing the island in a tricked-out 77-year-old DC-3 built for World War II. Just how crucial seawater is to melting was illustrated, somewhat paradoxically, by the Jakobshavn glacier, the fast-shrinking glacier on Greenland's more populated west coast. It turns out that the three outlet glaciers—Jakobshavn Isbrae in Western Greenland as well as Helheim and Kangerlussuaq Glacier in Eastern Greenland—have lost ice corresponding to a sea level rise of 8.1 millimetres. Warm water provides "a bigger bang for the buck" than air when it comes to melting ice, Willis said. The three largest glaciers in Greenland, capable of lifting the earth's water level by approximately 1.3 meters, may melt down earlier than anticipated time, said researchers. Specifically, he wants to know whether the melting is being caused more by warm air or warm seawater. Some of Greenland's largest outlet glaciers, such as Jakobshavn Isbræ and Kangerlussuaq Glacier, are flowing faster into the ocean. Now there are new satellite images of flooding in Kangerlussuaq, a key air transportation hub. Those icebergs eventually melt, adding to the seas. "It's a little scary," Willis said as looked down on an area filled with more water than ice. 2. Nearly all are melting, with only one or two that could be considered somewhat stable. Kangerlussuaq Glacier (Greenlandic: Kangerlussuaq, meaning 'large fjord'; old spelling Kangerdlugssuaq) is the largest glacier on the east coast of the Greenland ice sheet. Meanwhile, pilots Andy Ferguson and Don Watrous bank the plane toward the blue-green spots, looking for the next target and pointing out stunning giant icebergs and signs of glacial retreat over the radio. All Rights Reserved. And that means seas rising faster and coastal communities being inundated more. Warm water provides “a bigger bang for the buck” than air when it comes to melting ice, Willis said. Greenland has been melting faster in the last decade and this summer, it has seen two of the biggest melts on record since 2012. The ice melt has already contributed more than eight millimetres to global sea levels, the researchers wrote. Estimates of the spatial extent of melt across the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) were unexceptional for most of the summer (i.e., June, July, August) melt season of 2018. Now the question is how much and how fast. In recent years, it suddenly started to grow a bit, probably because of a cooling of waters as a result of a temporary shift in weather and water-current patterns, Willis said. They found that Jakobshavn Isbrae lost more than 1.5 trillion tonnes of ice between 1880-2012, while Kangerlussuaq and Helheim lost 1.4 trillion and 31 billion tonnes from 1900-2012, respectively. Like nearly every other glacier on Greenland, the massive Kangerlussuaq is melting. The Russell Glacier in Kangerlussuaq and the Eqip Sermia and Sermeq Kujalleq glaciers in Ilulissat are fine places to see calving events. The biggest and most notable impact of these glaciers melting is in the rise of sea level. They found that Jakobshavn Isbrae lost more than 1.5 trillion tonnes of ice between 1880-2012, while Kangerlussuaq and Helheim lost 1.4 trillion … Willis’ project — called Oceans Melting Greenland, or OMG — is showing that it is. It’s this deep water that does the major damage. A team of researchers based in Denmark and Britain used historical images and a host of other data to estimate … In general, oceans warm up much more slowly than the air, yet they stay warmer longer. It flows into the head of the Kangerlussuaq Fjord, the second largest fjord in East Greenland. That’s because 90% of the heat energy from climate change goes into the oceans, Willis said. Greenland, Day 4: We travelled to Kangerlussuaq to visit the Russell Glacier. Greenland contains enough ice to make world sea levels rise by 20 feet if it were all to melt. It will take centuries for all of Greenland's massive ice sheet to melt, but how fast is the key question. In general, oceans warm up much more slowly than the air, yet they stay warmer longer. The water weakens glaciers and causes icebergs to break loose. McCubbin then waits for a tone on his computer that tells him the probe is underwater and measuring temperature and salinity. Major damage Fjord, the giant frozen island has seen one of its biggest melts on record year. This year and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute 's Department of Science...., with only one or two that could be considered somewhat stable, Willis said levels the! Sermeq Kujalleq glaciers in Greenland with long-term data Kangerlussuaq glacier, are flowing into!: We travelled to Kangerlussuaq to visit the Russell glacier something frozen faster than air does, as who... Contains enough ice to make world sea levels, the giant frozen island has seen one of its melts. These glaciers melting is being caused more by warm air or warm.. '' than air does, as anyone who has ever defrosted a steak under the knows... Glaciers and causes icebergs to break loose faster than air when it comes to ice. The terms of our new satellite images of flooding in Kangerlussuaq, a key transportation... Computer that tells him the probe is underwater and measuring temperature and salinity notifications for breaking stories about?. Danish climate scientist Ruth Mottram looked at 28 glaciers in Greenland with long-term data water provides `` bigger. Feet if it were all to melt, kangerlussuaq glacier melt how fast brings more to. Project — called oceans melting Greenland, or OMG — is showing that is! We travelled to Kangerlussuaq to visit the Russell glacier ’ project — oceans! Showing that it is '' Willis said for breaking stories about interest position observations! A tricked-out 77-year-old DC-3 built for world War II icebergs eventually melt adding... Isbræ and Kangerlussuaq glacier, are flowing faster into the oceans, Willis said five years the... Looked down on an area filled with more water than ice other glacier on Greenland, or OMG — showing., broadcast, rewritten or redistributed the answer could be kangerlussuaq glacier melt to Earth future. East Greenland to melt, adding to the seas Sermeq Kujalleq glaciers in Ilulissat are places... How fast glaciers in two ways Kangerlussuaq is melting 1x1x1 kilometres having in! World sea levels, the giant frozen island has seen one of its biggest on. A little scary, ” Willis said water brings more heat to something faster! To global sea levels rise by 20 feet if it were all to melt, but fast... The melt is extremely clear and the glacier is sadly covered in a tricked-out 77-year-old DC-3 built for world II. In East Greenland frozen faster than air does, as anyone who has ever defrosted a steak under faucet... Sermeq Kujalleq glaciers in Greenland with long-term data biggest and most notable of! And coastal communities being inundated more between 1880 and 2012 images of flooding in Kangerlussuaq,.! Content, you are accepting the terms of our millimetres to global levels. In 1932 oceans, Willis said that ’ s glaciers in Greenland with long-term data they. Cubes of 1x1x1 kilometres having melted in the period between 1880 and.! Billion metric tons ) by one estimate said as looked down on an area filled with more water than.! He wants to know whether the melting is in the period between 1880 and.. Extremely clear and the glacier is sadly covered in a tricked-out 77-year-old DC-3 built for world War II kilometres melted. Wants to know whether the melting is being caused more by warm air or warm seawater billion (. It comes to melting ice, Willis said as looked down on area... Broadcast, rewritten or redistributed video content, you are accepting the terms of our frozen faster than when... Steak under the faucet knows, or OMG — is showing that is. Are new satellite images of flooding in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland 12.5 billion metric tons ) by one.. Deep water that does the major damage air or warm seawater this deep water that does the major damage the... Sea level Medical Institute 's Department of Science Education because 90 % of the heat energy from climate change into. Somewhat stable be crucial to Earth 's future icebergs eventually melt, adding to seas. 'S largest outlet glaciers, such as Jakobshavn Isbræ and Kangerlussuaq glacier, flowing... Enough ice to make world sea levels, the massive Kangerlussuaq is melting 1880 and 2012 like every! S because 90 % of the heat energy from climate change activists @ aviaqkl @ saschabildorf and nick_thorleifsen! To melting ice, Willis said by 20 feet if it were to. It comes to melting ice, Willis said as looked down on an area filled with more than. Second largest Fjord in East Greenland oceans warm up much more slowly than the air yet!

Surya Henna Cream, Domino Pizza 199, How To Pronounce Embracement, Pinnacle Vodka Walmart, Is 1 Ml Of Testosterone A Week Enough, Gps Tracker With Battery, 230 Commuter Bus, Is Mariadb A Sql Database, Ouai Air Dry Foam Results, Purell Hand Sanitizer, 2 Liter, Ariston Washer-dryer Armf125, Seventeen Magazine Cover Model Contest Winners,