Greenland Glacier Loss Could Have Covered Manhanttan In 1,000 Ft Ice
Satellites of NASA and European Space Agency have picked up what is being described as one of most drastic loss of glacier ice due to global warming.
Mashable reports that the fast-flowing Jakobshavn Isbrae Glacier in Greenland lost around 12.8 square kilometers of ice between July 31 and August 16. The extent of ice lost could have covered Manhattan Island in 1,000 feet of ice.
Studies in the past have shown that the glacier's ice loss has sped since 1990s and contributing increasing to global sea level rise.
"The calving events of Jakobshavn are becoming more spectacular with time, and I am in awe with the calving speed and retreat rate of this glacier. These images are a very good example of the changes taking place in Greenland. What is important is that the ice front, or calving front, keeps retreating inland at galloping speeds," said Eric Rignot, a glaciologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Climate experts believe that the ice loss can be attributed to warmer and shorter Greenland summers combined with warmer ocean waters.
Loss of ice from glaciers and ice shelves have been witnessed in both Greenland and Antarctica over the last decade, with several studies tying climate change and increasing greenhouse emissions which may cause ocean levels to rise by as much as 38 inches by 2100 if emissions continued unabated.
