In an era marked by rising sea levels, a recent study by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) presents a contrasting narrative with the discovery of significant Greenland land uplift. Over the past decade, Greenland’s bedrock has risen at an unprecedented pace, showing an increase of up to 20 cm, which translates to an estimated 2 meters per century. This rate notably surpasses the current sea level rise in Greenland.
This remarkable Greenland land uplift is primarily attributed to the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet. As the ice melts, it reduces the pressure on the underlying bedrock, allowing the land to rise. Danjal Longfors Berg, a Ph.D. student at DTU Space and leader of the research team, emphasized the rapid local changes in Greenland, impacting its ecosystem and leading to the formation of new landforms like islands and skerries.
Central to this study is the use of GNET, a network of 61 measurement stations across Greenland’s coasts, enabling precise monitoring of ice melt and land uplift with millimeter precision. Morten Hvidberg, Vice Director of the Agency for Data Supply and Infrastructure, highlighted GNET’s critical role in providing data essential for understanding climate change effects, particularly in monitoring Greenland land uplift.
The phenomenon of Greenland land uplift is not just a result of the natural post-ice age recovery process. The recent acceleration in uplift rates is closely linked to increased ice sheet melting, a direct consequence of global warming. Professor Shfaqat Abbas Khan, a co-author of the study, pointed out that the current land uplift in Greenland extends beyond natural post-ice age developments, emphasizing the significant impact of current global climate changes.
This study by DTU not only documents Greenland’s unique geological response to climate change but also highlights the intricate and localized impacts of climate change, challenging our understanding of its global effects. The research underscores the necessity of continuous observation and study using advanced monitoring technologies like GNET. It serves as a crucial reminder of the complex dynamics of our changing planet, particularly as Greenland continues its uplift above rising sea levels. This research provides invaluable insights into the rapid environmental changes occurring in Greenland and the critical role of advanced monitoring technologies in understanding the multifaceted nature of these changes.
https://www.earth.com/news/greenland-no-longer-has-to-worry-about-rising-sea-levels/