Greenland Ice Cap Data

Dangling below the Arctic Circle, the ice sheet on Greenland is a remnant of the last ice age. Other ice sheets at its latitude have long since disappeared, but the Greenland Ice Sheet persists, preserved largely because of its own tremendous size.

It is huge – 2,480 km long and up to 750 kms wide. And it is thick - an average of 2.3 kilometers (1.6 miles) thick. It contains roughly 7-8 percent of all of Earth’s fresh water And it is melting.

At triple the rate of previous studies. Recent research suggests the ice cap is losing 260-300 cubic kilometres of ice per annum. Piece by piece, evidence has accumulated to show that the ice sheet is shrinking at an alarming rate (source: Environmental Defence Fund, Rignot et al, 2008, Mernild et al, 2008).

Why does the Greenland Ice Cap matter?

1. Sea levels:

   As the Greenland Ice Sheet melts, sea level rises. It is a direct, proven effect. This is the biggest reason for concern over Greenland and the melting ice sheet, together with Antarctica, is the single largest contributor to rising sea levels worldwide.

   Although unlikely, if the entire ice sheet melted, sea levels would rise 23 feet, causing a global catastrophe. But even a rise of two to three feet – the high end of current feasible scenarios for the next 20 years – would create serious global problems.

2. Ocean circulation:

   As the ice sheet melts it spreads a slick of fresh water on top of the heavier salt water of the North Atlantic. This change in salinity could depress the Gulf Stream and alter North Atlantic circulation patterns that control weather in Europe. Combined with a loss of Arctic sea ice, this effect could radically change global ocean circulation patterns.

3. Global heat transfer

   The continued loss of Greenland's ice mass could affect global atmospheric heat movement. As the Polar Regions warm, the temperature difference between the equator and the poles is reduced, thus altering global atmospheric circulation patterns by reducing the natural forces that drives equatorial heat energy toward the poles. Much of the world’s current pattern of rainfall would be altered.

4. Regional atmospheric circulation:

   The Greenland ice sheet is up to 3,200 m thick. Like a mountain range, this physical mass affects regional atmospheric circulation patterns. If (as) Greenland’s massive range of ice melts, regional circulation patterns will also change.

   (Source: NASA)

   For further research go to the following links:

   www.acia.uaf.edu
   www.ipcc.ch
   www.nasa.gov