NASA Model Predicts Stunning Future for Greenland Ice Sheet

Published On: July 3, 2019
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Scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute used data from NASA’s Operation IceBridge to develop a more accurate model of how the Greenland Ice Sheet might respond to climate change in the future, finding that it could generate more sea level rise than previously thought.

Watch a narrated NASA model visualization

In the next 50 years, the model shows that melting at the present rate could contribute one to four inches to global sea level rise. This number jumps to five to 13 inches by 2100 and 19 to 63 inches by 2200. These numbers are considerably higher than previous estimates, which forecasted up to 35 inches of sea level rise by 2200. The updated model is the first to include outlet glaciers — river-like bodies of ice that connect to the ocean.

Outlet glaciers play a key role in how ice sheets melt, but previous models lacked the data to adequately represent their complex flow patterns. The study found that melting outlet glaciers could account for up to 40% of the ice mass lost from Greenland in the next 200 years.

By incorporating ice thickness data from IceBridge and identifying sources of statistical uncertainty within the model, the study creates a more accurate picture of how human-generated greenhouse gas emissions and a warming climate may affect Greenland in the future.

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About the Author: Chris Machens

Chris Machens
Chris covers the climate since 2011, and when not posting articles to the site he usually works on our next video production.
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    Krusty
    Krusty
    5 years ago

    “the study creates a more accurate picture of how human-generated greenhouse gas emissions and a warming climate may affect Greenland in the future.”
    Uh no, it doesn’t. This summary should read:
    The study creates a predictive model that compares Temperature profiles to changing ice thickness.

    The study makes no attempt to correlate CO2 level to temperature profiles, nor does it scientifically illustrate what caused the temperature change. It merely infers that the temperature increase, real or modeled, is caused by change in CO2 levels.