Greenland ice sheet aerial

The Greenland ice sheet, the second largest ice mass on Earth, covers 1.7 million km² and holds enough water to raise global sea levels by 7 meters.

About this subject

The Greenland ice sheet is a vast body of ice covering about 80% of Greenland's surface. It is the second largest ice sheet on Earth after Antarctica, spanning an area of approximately 1.7 million square kilometers. Its average thickness is 1.6 km, with a maximum thickness exceeding 3 km. The ice sheet contains roughly 2.9 million cubic kilometers of ice, which if completely melted would raise global sea levels by about 7.4 meters.

Scientists drill ice cores from the sheet to reconstruct past climates, with records spanning hundreds of thousands of years. Trapped air bubbles and oxygen isotopes reveal ancient temperatures and atmospheric composition. Currently, the ice sheet is losing mass due to global warming, contributing to accelerating sea level rise. Surface melting occurs mainly in summer, and meltwater can reach the base, lubricating ice flow toward the ocean.

A striking feature is the formation of deep blue meltwater lakes on the surface. These lakes can drain rapidly through crevasses, creating spectacular vertical plumes. Satellite and field monitoring make the ice sheet a key indicator of climate change and essential for understanding ice-ocean interactions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average thickness of the Greenland ice sheet?

The average thickness is about 1.6 km, with a maximum of over 3 km in some areas.

How much would sea levels rise if the entire ice sheet melted?

If it completely melted, global sea levels would rise by about 7.4 meters.

How do scientists study past climate using the ice sheet?

By analyzing ice cores that contain trapped air bubbles and isotopes, allowing reconstruction of ancient temperatures and atmospheric composition.