Greenland Ice Sheet Cracks Widen, Accelerating Ice Loss and Sea Level Rise

A new study reveals rapid crevasse expansion across Greenland's glaciers, intensifying feedback loops that contribute to global sea level rise.

Researchers found a significant increase in the size and depth of crevasses across Greenland's ice sheet between 2016 and 2021, with some regions experiencing up to a 25% rise in crevasse volume.
Crevasses act as conduits for meltwater, which accelerates ice flow and glacier movement by lubricating the ice sheet's base, contributing to faster ice loss.
The study highlights a feedback loop where warming oceans and increased glacier speed lead to more crevasses, further accelerating ice discharge into the ocean.
Greenland's ice melt has already added 14mm to global sea levels since 1992 and could contribute up to 1 meter by 2100, with catastrophic implications for coastal areas worldwide.
The findings underscore the need to integrate crevasse dynamics into climate models to improve projections of future sea level rise and its global impact.