Greenland Ice Sheet Melting at Historic Rates
A recent study, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, shows that the rate at which the Greenland ice sheet is melting will outpace anything seen in over 12,000 years.
Published in the Nature, the study is based on work done by scientists from the University of Buffalo. Researchers, led by geologist Jason Briner, developed models of the ice melt. These models are able to reconstruct the climate thousands of years ago, and use that information to produce their findings.
With their data and the models, they are able to more accurately understand the Greenland ice sheet. Not only do the models let them better understand the past in the area, but also better predict the future.
What they have found in their predictions of the future, and their understanding of the present, is astounding.
“Basically, we’ve altered our planet so much that the rates of ice sheet melt this century are on pace to be greater than anything we’ve seen under natural variability of the ice sheet over the past 12,000 years,” says Briner.
“We’ll blow that out of the water if we don’t make severe reductions to greenhouse gas emissions.”
The results of this study, add to the mountains of climate change data that scientists have amassed in recent years. Unfortunately, many politicians still choose to ignore or discount the findings.
Based on their data, Briner and his team are urging leaders in countries world-wide to make the necessary changes to slow the decline of ice sheets and their impact on sea level rise.
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