New measurements: University of Graz researchers show what causes Greenland's glaciers to melt

The glaciers on the Flade Isblink ice cap in northern Greenland are melting at an exceptionally rapid rate. A team from the University of Graz has collected initial data to investigate the phenomenon in more detail. Photo: University of Graz/Jonathan Fipper

Melting glaciers in the Arctic are causing sea levels to rise, threatening coastal regions. The meltwater flowing into the North Atlantic can change ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream, which have a significant influence on the climate in Europe. In order to better explain glacier retreat, a research team from the University of Graz has now analysed air temperature and weather conditions at the Flade Isblink ice cap in northern Greenland. This second-largest body of ice on the island has been increasingly losing thickness since 2008. The results have been published in the journal The Cryosphere.

"Our observations indicate that Flade Isblink is losing more and more ice and is therefore contributing to rising sea levels," reports Jonathan Fipper from the Department of Geography and Regional Science at the University of Graz. However, until now there have been few local measurements of air temperature at different altitudes to help better understand the glacier and climate changes. The scientists used uncrewed aerial vehicles to determine 130 vertical temperature profiles over various terrain surfaces. "Up to an altitude of around 100 metres, the surface cover type - i.e. ice, rock or water - has a significant influence on the air temperature," says Fipper, summarising the results.
The team used the data collected to investigate the relationship between glacier melt and temperature conditions. "As the ice cap is comparatively flat, it can melt particularly strongly due to global warming," adds the researcher. The insights gained from the study are a first step towards better understanding the development. Further studies on the changing environmental conditions in the region are now needed.

Publication:
Jonathan Fipper, Jakob Abermann, Ingo Sasgen, Henrik Skov, Lise Lotte Sørensen, Wolfgang Schöner: The vertical structure of the troposphere and its connection to the surface mass balance of Flade Isblink in northeast Greenland

Dagmar Eklaude

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