Scientists have recently made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the Greenland Ice Sheet, revealing that its hidden plume-like structures are caused by thermal convection, a phenomenon typically associated with the Earth’s mantle. This new study, conducted by researchers from the University of Bergen, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and the University of Oxford, is reshaping our understanding of the dynamics within this massive ice sheet.
Professor Andreas Born from the University of Bergen, a co-author of the study, expressed excitement about the findings, stating, “We typically think of ice as a solid material, so the discovery that parts of the Greenland Ice Sheet actually undergo thermal convection, resembling a boiling pot of pasta, is as wild as it is fascinating.” The lead author of the study, Dr. Robert Law, emphasized that this finding challenges common intuitions about ice, mentioning that while it is significantly softer than the Earth’s mantle, the physics behind the convection process are valid, making it “an exciting freak of nature.”
This research brings optimism for improving projections related to ice sheet mass balance and sea-level rise. Professor Born noted, “Our discovery could be key to reducing uncertainties in models of future ice sheet mass balance and sea-level rise.” However, the researchers caution that while the deep ice may be around ten times softer than previously thought, this does not automatically imply a faster melting rate. Dr. Law stressed the need for more studies to precisely understand the implications of softer ice on future melting and sea levels.
The study underscores the complex and dynamic nature of Greenland, a region that is unique not only for its extraordinary ice sheet, which has persisted for over a millennium but also for its cultural significance, being the only ice sheet on Earth with a nearby permanent population. “The more we learn about the hidden processes inside the ice, the better prepared we’ll be for the changes coming to coastlines around the world,” Dr. Law asserted.
The findings of this study have been published in the journal The Cryosphere, marking a significant step forward in our understanding of ice dynamics and the broader implications for global sea-level changes.