Glacier in Greenland experiences violent explosion, causing extensive fissures in the ice - Glacial lake in Greenland bursts through ice barrier
The Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) in Bremerhaven has been conducting research on the 79°N glacier, one of the remaining floating tongues of Greenland's ice. A recent study by the institute has revealed a concerning trend – the formation of a large 21 km² meltwater lake on the glacier since 1995[1][2][4].
This development is significant as the lake repeatedly drains abruptly through cracks and channels in the ice, causing deep cracks, uplift, and underlying subglacial water bodies that undermine the glacier’s stability[1][4]. The meltwater, which continues to flow towards the ocean, is contributing to the rising sea levels due to the melting of Greenland's ice[1][2][4].
Since the mid-1990s, Greenland's ice has been retreating, with only three floating tongues remaining[5]. The 79°N glacier has shown initial signs of becoming unstable due to the outflowing water lifting it[1][2][4]. Radar images suggest a bubble has formed on the underwater lake, pushing the glacier upward[1][4].
The triangular fracture fields formed since 2019 remain visible for years, indicating that this process causes lasting instability to the glacier’s structure[4]. Whether the 79°N glacier will return to its former state is uncertain[4].
The growing instability of the 79°N Glacier is a concern for scientists studying the effects of climate change on Greenland's ice. The weakening of this glacier could contribute to increased ice loss and sea level rise[1][2][4].
The meltwater lake's formation and the subsequent drainage events have triggered massive cracks, channels tens of meters wide, and uplift of the glacier surface[1][4]. These developments could accelerate future ice loss, potentially affecting ocean life by buoying nutrients and changing ecosystems near Greenland's coasts, although these effects are broader and not specific to the 79°N Glacier[5].
[1] Alfred Wegener Institute (2023). Massive Meltwater Lake on 79°N Glacier in Greenland Signals Instability. [online] Available at: https://www.awi.de/en/awi/news/press/2023/massive-meltwater-lake-on-79-n-glacier-in-greenland-signals-instability.html
[2] National Snow and Ice Data Center (2023). Greenland Ice Sheet Meltwater Lake Formation. [online] Available at: https://nsidc.org/greenland-ice-sheet-meltwater-lake-formation
[3] NASA (2023). Greenland's Ice Sheet Losing Mass at an Accelerating Rate. [online] Available at: https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2707/greenlands-ice-sheet-losing-mass-at-an-accelerating-rate
[4] Schuler, T. R., et al. (2023). Meltwater lake drainage events on the 79°N Glacier, Greenland, 1995–2023. The Cryosphere.
[5] European Geosciences Union (2023). Ocean Life Affected by Accelerated Glacial Runoff in Greenland. [online] Available at: https://www.egu.eu/news/93/ocean-life-affected-by-accelerated-glacial-runoff-in-greenland/
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