Greenland’s largest floating ice tongue, located at the 79 North Glacier (79NG), has experienced significant thinning since 1998, according to new studies released within the past month. Ground-based measuring devices, aircraft radar, and satellite data reveal that the primary causes of this thinning include warm ocean water flowing beneath the glacier tongue and high air temperatures leading to lake formation on the surface, which then drains into the ocean through huge channels in the ice.
Causes of Thinning
Warm ocean water flowing beneath the glacier tongue is one of the primary drivers of the thinning. This warm water has led to increased melting of the glacier from underneath. Additionally, high air temperatures have resulted in the formation of large lakes on the surface of the glacier tongue. These lakes then drain into the ocean through massive channels that form in the ice, further contributing to the thinning.
Implications
The thinning of the 79NG glacier tongue has significant implications for the region. As the glacier continues to thin, it becomes more vulnerable to further melting and potential collapse, which could have far-reaching consequences for the local ecosystem and global sea levels.