The Greenland ice sheet is moving faster than previously thought, according to new research from the National Geological Survey for Denmark and Greenland (Geus). Scientists have discovered that the ice in an area near the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier in West Greenland, located 100 kilometers from the edge of the ice sheet, is moving between 5 and 15 percent faster now compared to measurements from 1959. This acceleration in the ice’s movement could have significant consequences for future projections of sea level rise, necessitating a reassessment of current models and understandings of ice dynamics in Greenland.
Anja Løkkegaard, a postdoc at Geus and the lead author of the study, stated in a press release that while it was known that the ice moves quickly along the edge of the ice sheet, it was surprising to find similar speeds so far into the ice cap. “We expected the ice in the middle to be more slow-moving, but that is not the case in the area we examined,” she said. The researchers emphasize the importance of these new findings, as they can contribute to a more precise understanding of how the movements of the ice sheet will affect sea levels globally. This is crucial for planning and preparing for future climate changes and their impact on both local and global scales.