Greenland ice melt: 563 cubic miles lost in 13 years
A new recording based on satellite data from NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) reveals 13 years of melting in Greenland's ice sheet. The study, published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, shows that from 2010 to 2023, Greenland lost 563 cubic miles of ice, equivalent to the volume of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in Africa.
The data indicate that the ice sheet's edges are melting significantly faster than its center, especially where glaciers flow into the sea. According to Live Science, the average ice thickness loss was about 4 feet, but in some areas, like the Zachariae Isstrøm glacier, a loss of up to 246 feet was recorded. Satellite images show that most ice loss occurs when glaciers meet the ocean. Red areas on the visualization depict the greatest losses. It can be viewed below:
Greenland melting
The study, conducted by researchers from Northumbria University and published in Geophysical Research Letters, measured ice loss and compared results obtained by two satellites: CryoSat-2 from ESA and ICESat-2 from NASA. CryoSat-2 uses radar to measure Earth's surface height, while ICESat-2 uses laser technology. Both satellites monitor changes in the thickness of Greenland's ice sheet.
Comparing the data showed that the measurements of both satellites differed by only 3%, confirming their high accuracy and the possibility of combining results, as highlighted by Live Science. Since 2020, both satellites have been following the same orbits, synchronizing their observations.
Greenland's ice sheet has been losing mass since 1998, making it the second-largest contributor to rising sea levels worldwide. Researchers noted that the worst situations occurred in 2021 and 2019, when Greenland experienced exceptionally warm summers, leading to an average annual loss of more than 96 cubic miles of ice.
Thorsten Markus, a NASA scientist overseeing the ICESat-2 mission, emphasized in a statement: "It is great to see that the data from sister missions' are providing a consistent picture of the changes going on in Greenland. Understanding the similarities and differences between radar and lidar ice sheet height measurements allow us to fully exploit the complementary nature of those satellite missions. Studies like this are critical to put a comprehensive time series of the ICESat, CryoSat-2, ICESat-2, and, in the future, CRISTAL missions together."
The research results are extremely useful since ice sheet mass loss is a crucial factor contributing to the global rise in sea levels. In the future, satellite data may play a significant role in preparing for and adapting to the impacts of climate change.
